About the Artist

Martha Inman Lorch is known for watercolors of her favorite places, in a style that combines masterful technique with a contemporary eye while expressing her obvious affection for her subject. Inspired by her international travels as well as her experiences closer to home, she demonstrates her unique perspective of what makes each place special. 

She thinks of her style as strongly representational, but showing a fondness for abstract expressionism – all in the service of conveying her love of places she has traveled and cultures she has experienced.  In particular, she uses layering, wet-in-wet techniques, and visual texture to express the soulfulness she feels for her subjects.  

Her award-winning paintings have been included in many juried exhibitions. Notably, her work was selected for the 145th Annual International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society, was awarded Best of Show in the National Watercolor Society Donors Exhibition, and won an Honorable Mention in the National PaintAmerica Competition.  Her work is in private collections in the U.S. and abroad.

Martha first began to paint as a teenager in North Carolina, earning an early award for her work in oils. Later, she began watercolors as an artistic interest to balance the demands of her high tech career in Silicon Valley.  Now living in Santa Barbara, she enjoys painting on location as well as in her studio. She works mostly in watercolor, but also occasionally in other media.

Awards and Publications

* Santa Barbara Art Association show, Channing Peake Gallery, 2022, Second Place.
* Cover Artist, Montecito Magazine, Spring 2014 edition
* National Watercolor Society Donors Exhibition.  2012.  Platinum Palette Award (Best of Show).
* Santa Barbara Art Roots show, presented by the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, Channing Peake Gallery, 2011, Award.
* PaintAmerica Competition, 2010, Honorable Mention
* Biennial Statewide Watercolor Competition & Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA, November 2000   January 2001.   Honorable Mention.
* Bodega Bay Allied Arts Show, Bodega Bay, CA, 1996.  Award of Excellence.

Featured Artist Shows

* Solo show, Far From Home, Gallery Los Olivos.  June 2024.

* Solo show, Artist with a Passport, Gallery Los Olivos.  October 2011.
* Four-person show, Around Every Corner, Gallery Ten-Twenty-Nine, Santa Barbara.  August-September 2010.
* Eight-person show, Plein Air Celebration, Gallery Los Olivos.  April 2010.
* Solo show, From Here to Santa Fe, Gallery Los Olivos.  July 2008.
* Two-person shows, Gallery Los Olivos.   August 2002, September 2003, October 2006.
* Two-person show, Borders Books, Camino Real Marketplace, Goleta.  February, 2002.
* Solo show, U.S. Post Office, Bodega Bay, CA.  September, 1997.

National/State Competition Exhibitions

* 145th Annual International Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society.  2012.
* National Watercolor Society Donors Exhibition.  2012.
* Biennial Statewide Watercolor Competition & Exhibition, Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA, November 2000   January 2001.
* 27th Annual Open Competition, California Watercolor Association.  1995.

Selected Juried Shows and Special Events

* Caliente show, Voice Gallery, March 2025.

* Sullivan Goss Gallery's 100 Grand, December 2024.
* Abstract Art Collective, Abstract Is Everything show, Voice Gallery, June 2023.
* Santa Barbara Art Association, various juried exhibitions, Santa Barbara.  2001-present.
* ArtWalk at the Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara.  Many ArtWalks  2001 - 2016.
* Off the Wall, benefit for the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 2012 - 2023
* One Night Stand, benefit for AFS, Gallery 27 at Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara.  2011, 2012, 2013.
* Sak s Arts Primavera Show, Sak s Fifth Avenue, Santa Barbara.  May 2003, October 2003.
* Save Our Unique Landscapes (SOUL) show, Cabrillo Arts Center, Santa Barbara.  2001, 2002.
* SCAPE (S California Artists Painting for the Environment) exhibition, Intimate Glimpses, Marcia Burtt Studio, Santa Barbara.  2002.
* Formulations, Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara.  2002.
* ASID Designer Showcase, Atherton, CA. 1997.
* 17th Annual Juried 4th of July Exhibition, Southport, NC.  1997.
* Bodega Bay Fish Fest, Bodega Bay, CA.  1995, 1997.

Memberships

* Charter Member, North American Watercolor Society
* Associate Member (juried), Women Artists of the West
* Associate Memberships in American Watercolor Society, National Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, California Art Club.
* Local:  Santa Barbara Art Association, Santa Barbara Abstract Art Collective, SCAPE, Goleta Valley Art Association.