BILL MARTIN - Mendocino Art Center

Seashells
Bill is the author of three books, The Joy of
Drawing, Bill Martin’s Paintings 1969 – 1979, and
Lost Legends, a beautiful presentation of 36 of his
most compelling works, with accompanying
stories about the myths and archetypes
represented by the paintings. This book is also a tribute
to his
abilities as a writer.
Bill feels that
the comm
u n i t y
is a
Bill is a man with a
fantastic
sense of humor and a
deep appreciation
for life’s ironies. Any conversation with him is
always punctuated with laughter. Bill is also a devoted
family man, and owes much to the support of his
wife, Shelley, his children Shanti and Gabriel, and his
grand daughters Lauren and Brooke.
With a wonderful family and a distinguished
career in this world, and a brilliant imagination that
enables him to envision the stunning landscapes and
the grandeur of the next world, Bill Martin truly does
have “the best of both worlds.”
*Quoted from the Introduction by Michael Babcock to
Lost Legends.
Between Worlds
source of support and inspiration to him. When he
came to Mendocino in 1980, he felt right at home.
Bill says the Art Center was really essential to him:
“An artist’s life is a solitary one. You are kind of a
‘lone weirdo,’ but the Art Center was full of weirdos
so I felt right at home there, hanging out with other
artists. I just loved it – the camaraderie of others with
the same obsessive personalities.” Bill joined MAC’s
evolving figure drawing group, led at that time by Bob
Ross. Wherever he has gone, he has sought out a drawing
group, because he states, “I paint better if I am
drawing well.” Bill has been the mentor of the MAC
figure drawing group for many years.
For all his serious themes and important issues,
Spider Web
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