Today we’d like to introduce you to CL Martin.
Hi CL, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, especially human faces. I experienced some abuse as a child so I always found it safer to avoid people and observe them from afar. I study them. I form my own characters based on them. And then I draw them. I eventually went to art school to learn technique, art history and critique. Having my art criticized in a discussion was a good experience. It helps to become less emotionally attached to the work itself. Then I founded my own LLC a few years back and I work as a professional artist and graphic/web designer.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
No, it has not been smooth. Nothing ever is. As a result of trauma, I struggle with depression and anxiety; motivation and confidence. Money is also an obstacle. My fear of people is an obstacle. The reason why someone becomes successful in a field like fine art is not about talent, hard work, or dedication – it is about networking and who you know. The more you socialize and “put yourself out there”, the higher the chances of you connecting with someone who has power and who might want to champion you. It is a business. You have to come up with your “story” and sell it to people. I do not like doing this – therefore, I am not very good at it. It is this way in the art world everywhere. It echoes the society in which we live, where ambition, consumption and wealth are the most valued. These things do not interest me. Because they don’t, it is difficult for me to find success as it is defined and rewarded in our culture.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a queer female artist working primarily in Minneapolis. I’m a figurative artist using traditional media to experiment with visual situations involving an enigmatic character with its own unique identity and presence. I like to use numerous references from pop culture, sociology, anthropology, design fundamentals and historical events to invite viewers into examining their own preconceived, psychological projections of identity performance, cultural history and gender roles. I am known for my technique and my exploration of androgyny. I am most proud of learning that the process of making art is more important to me than the finished piece. The process has become my mental anchor – I get “in the zone” and it is like I am meditating. It is the only time I am mentally focused and clear.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I think it would be better to think of art making not as a career but as a hobby. When I started, I was totally naive and romantic about it. I didn’t realize how much social work it took, especially given my fear of other people and open spaces. It would be better to get a nice, dependable side job rather than do art while having a variety of difficult, poorly-paid side jobs. I wish I had gotten a degree in tech instead of art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clmartinart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cl.martin.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artbyclmartin
Image Credits
CL Martin
