Martha Sando, Indianapolis, IN

"I Close My Eyes to See"
Oil
Framed: 39.5" x 33.5"

Martha Sando became an artist at an early age when her mother bought her oil paints, brushes, and an easel. She graduated from Illinois State University with a BA in art as a comprehensive studio major and a master's degree from Webster University in St. Louis.

She taught in St. Louis, MO, Charlottesville, VA, and Indianapolis at Park Tudor and North Central High School where she led classes in Beginning and Advanced Painting and Photography. She also began painting en plein air with IPAPA. 

Martha was chosen as one of six teachers to participate in 2002's Lilly China Exchange partnership with Washington Township Schools allowing teaching and traveling throughout China. In 2007 she was awarded a Lilly Creative Renewal Grant, traveling to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. Great works of art at the Pushkin, Tretyakov, and the Hermitage museums inspired her to reach beyond teaching. In 2010 Martha embarked on painting full-time at her Stutz studio, also national workshops and mentor experiences. Although she focused initially on representational and landscape work, her college training called her back to her earlier passions in abstract.