ABOUT MARTHA LAVERTY
	I was born in Westmount, Canada.  I have a B.A., Dip. Ed., and M.L.I.S. from McGill University. As a primary school teacher I was a great success with children and parents, but a maverick in the view of the administration, which led to an early search for an alternative career. I began transparent watercolour painting with Helmut Gerth, AWS, and soon found my own direction and subjects.  Further development of my skills came from working in the field and by formal courses at The Visual Arts Centre in Westmount. I became informally and closely acquainted with a group of artists in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State.  On many occasions, including the frequent artists' gatherings,  painters Tim Fortune and Nina Holland gave me much help and encouragement. Throughout my life my interest in warmer climates has led to many visits to the southern U.S.A. and the West Indies.  To satisfy my strong interest in tropical subjects, I have intimately explored  Balenbouche Estate, a Heritage Trust Property in St.Lucia, West Indies.  The generous proprietor, Uta Lawaetz, was the first person to buy my paintings. Opportunities to sell my paintings were infrequent until Oli Wallace, a St. Lucian artist and gallerist, invited me to show my work.  Thus I began my relationship with the printer Caribbean Giclée, and with the galleries in Soufrière and Castries, St. Lucia.  This was my main marketing location, as well as Balenbouche Estate. Eventually I took a workshop with Greg LaRock, a well-known oil painter who resides in California.  With his sound teaching skills, he inspired me to put more emphasis on oil painting.   SHOWS   Nov - Dec  2018   Federation of Canadian Artists (Calendar Show, juried)   Nov - Dec  2017   Federation of Canadian Artists (Calendar Show, juried)   Apr - Jul  2015   Society of Canadian Artists (juried)   Oct - Nov  2013   OPAS Annual Show, Hangman Gallery, Toronto   Aug - Nov  2013   Capital One Show, Toronto (juried)   Jul  2010   Saranac Lake Library   Oct  2005   Lake Placid Center for the Arts (juried)   May  2004   Ottawa Watercolour Society (juried)   Mar  2004   Adirondack Guild, Saranac Lake (juried)       WORKSHOPS   Feb - Oct  2022   Mastering Composition with Ian Roberts   Dec 2020 - Mar 2021   Online classes with Deborah Paris   Aug   2019   Ken DeWaard in Rockland, Maine   Jan - Dec  2016   Online classes with Deborah Paris   Nov  2014   Valerie Craig in St. Simons Island, Georgia   Nov  2011   Greg LaRock in Easton, Maryland   Aug  2003   Cheng-Khee Chee in Petoskey, Michigan       ART AFFILIATIONS   Oil Painters of America (Associate Member)
	http://marthalaverty.com  - - -