It is hard to believe that Martha Pike left the art world over 40 years ago. In 2004, she retired from her professional life as a psychotherapist in Knoxville, TN and moved to top of Roan Mountain, NC to return to the art world.

Past cultures have intrigued Martha therefore her method has been to explore these cultures in attempt to understand their beliefs and customs so that she can become more comfortable while working in their media and to feel a type of connection with the artwork. She has maintained her love for oil painting and continues to paint in that media. She has studied in past few years with the focus on learning other media.

Martha has researched the history behind the actual of making of ancient Greek, Russian and Syrian Icons just as it was done over 2000 years ago also the history of making Pysanky Eggs from Russia, Ukraine and Syria a technique that is over 4000 years old. In addition, she has been studying under local and renowned watercolorists, pastel and charcoal for portraits painting and oil painting instructors. During the summers, Martha attends a session Penland School of Crafts. The process has been ongoing thus encouraging explore other ways and techniques. The process has helped her to be more at ease when she leaps from what is familiar to the unknown. At Penland one summer, she studied under a Russian Master to explore the process making miniature oil paintings and found another passion that she enjoys. What is of interest to note is she learned that this technique is over 6000 years old. The Russian miniature painting process takes huge amount of patience with intense focus. In fact it so similar to the process of making Icons and Pysanky egg making. Perhaps, her calling is more to identify with ancient cultures and customs than with modern cultures and customs in art.

Martha’s goal as an Artisan is to give voice and convey her passion in her paintings.