As an amateur photographer with a long-standing passion for visual storytelling and the endless possibilities of digital art, my creative journey has been a slow but continuous exploration of the captivating intersection between the tangible and the virtual, surfaces and what lies underneath.
My work now is driven by the desire to not only find my own artistic vision but to also encourage and elevate the creations of fellow artists. Time spent in graduate courses studying the cultural and art history of the United States provided an intellectual understanding of art and its function within society. Immersion in national art settings in the District of Columbia and New York while working in Washington D.C. further deepened and broadened my appreciation of art and their creators across time and space.
I purchased my first camera when I was in my twenties, mostly to produce a visual record of the places I visited and to act as a means to remember activities in my life. It was decades before I learned to use a camera as a means to find more meaning, depth, and emotion in the visual world that I encountered.
Only very recently did I begin to explore what can be done with the digital pictures my camera produces, using image transfer techniques and digital art filters to create imagery that transforms the original photograph into something very different. Almost like releasing a sculpture from a block of stone, digital tools allow me to find something I didn’t ‘see’ when I initially pointed my camera at a subject and pressed the shutter release.
I draw inspiration from the world around me, capturing moments that embody the essence of my experience, nature’s wonders, and the many urban and rural landscapes that surround us. My lens acts as a bridge between reality and imagination, allowing me to try and infuse my own unique perspective into every frame.
Yet, my modest forays into artistic expression extends beyond my personal endeavors. I am passionate about supporting and collaborating with other artists. I believe in the power of community and the collective spirit that fuels creativity. Through collaborative projects and supporting emerging talent, I strive to foster an environment where artists can thrive, learn, and grow together.
Gregory Martin
Amateur Photographer and Digital Artist
Sudden Valley Art In the Barn 