From the Mouth of Jeffrey Martinez

I was raised in New York City (New York City – Wikipedia) and for as far back as I can remember I always would draw. There in NYC I was fortunate enough to be in an environment where there was always inspiration. Museums, galleries, etc. and that fueled my enthusiasm for art. I began painting with oils at around 14 and would try to emulate the styles of the illustrators that I most looked up to such as Frank Frazetta Frazetta Art Museum Official Website (frazettamuseum.com), Boris Vallejo Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell | Official Website (borisjulie.com) as well as the classic American illustrators. After graduating high school in 1984, I was fortunate to study at the Art Students League in NYC Home | Art Students League with master illustrator Earl Mayan Earl Mayan – Wikipedia who was a contemporary and fellow Saturday Evening Post illustrator alongside Norman Rockwell Norman Rockwell Archives | The Saturday Evening Post. It was an awesome experience to learn hands on with this great man. I studied painting technique and life drawing with this great man for 2 years. From there I attended continuing education classes at the School of Visual Arts School of Visual Arts | Art College in New York City | BFA, MFA, MA, MPS and Continuing Education (sva.edu) where I studied illustration and painting. Jack Potter in particular was a great inspiration. I studied at the School of Visual Arts for another 2 years. I was then 22 years old and eager to work. I was lucky enough to get a job at the then very trendy, “Unique Boutique” in the village in the artwave department alongside 7 other fantastic young artists. It was at this time that I was introduced to the airbrush. After around 2 years of employment at Unique Boutique, I landed a job at an art gallery. “Andrew Kolb and son” which was then located at 30th street and Madison Avenue NYC where I had a studio in the basement reproducing classic artworks. My supervisor was a great painter from Poland who helped to shape my painting technique even further. From there began my adventures and I worked many odd jobs but throughout was lucky enough to get good jobs where I was able to employ the airbrush. Fast forward to 1992 I landed a job at an airbrush shop in Cordova Mall in Pensacola Florida where I really dominated the airbrush. From there I went to Puerto Rico to start my own custom airbrush business which was very successful from 1993-1997. I returned to NYC in 1998 where I continued to earn a living and got a huge break working as a background artist for the Cartoon Network production, “Courage the Cowardly Dog” Courage the Cowardly Dog – Wikipedia. I was employed there at stretch films from 2000-2002. After my tenure at stretch films, I continued to work at an artistic capacity for quite a few places and would take what jobs I could. Other events led me to Puerto Rico, Argentina where I met some friends and fantastic colleagues and from there, I wound up here in Little Egg Harbor NJ Little Egg Harbor Township (leht.com). Where my father is here retired. I have set up studio and currently work.

Email: jeffm4art@gmail.com

Social Media Platform: https://www.facebook.com/jeffrey.martinez.50767

Telephone (Voicemail only): 609-713-6045