About . . .
LILA MARTIN
Hi! I've always been interested in art. Even in kindergarten I received recogniton for my drawing and paintintg and I've been painting in oils for over 25 years. I started that when my daughter was just five years old. I took her to a county fair and paid someone to draw her. When the drawing failed to even resemble her I decided I could do better. I did. A year later I had won prizes at the county fair for oil paintings.
I later became a school administrator for 17 years and didn't paint that much due to 14 hour days. After my retirement I'm painting again and showing my paintings at national shows as well as local events. I also manage our 5 rental houses in Bakersfield, California.
By the way, my daughter that had the poor drawing done of her is now a professional dancer with the San Diego Dance Theater.
I later became a school administrator for 17 years and didn't paint that much due to 14 hour days. After my retirement I'm painting again and showing my paintings at national shows as well as local events. I also manage our 5 rental houses in Bakersfield, California.
By the way, my daughter that had the poor drawing done of her is now a professional dancer with the San Diego Dance Theater.
MARKETING MY ART
Living in a small town has great advantages and also some disadvantages. Some of the advantages are the ability to gain a voice in the city where one lives. I'm on the board of our local Arts Council and on several other arts organizations. One of the disadvantages is lack of the ability to market my work to a larger market. I'm hoping that by developing this web site that I will be able to reach a larger audience for my large inventory.
RECOGNITION
I have received many ribbons and awards over the past years. Among them are several first, second and third prizes at county fairs and regional shows.
I have been juried into several regional shows and two national shows in Morro Bay. I sell my work locally at the Bakersfield Gallery of Art at in the East Hills Mall as well as at doctor's offices, the superintendent of public schools office, and a California Senator's office.
I just painted a large commission (5 by 6 foot) for a local realtor, which was shown at a Christmas home tour. My work is hung in doctor's offices, private collections, and even realtor's offices.