Clearing Out the Closet
The Raven
In the high desert and pine-covered mesas of northern New Mexico, ravens are a constant and commanding presence. These intelligent birds are often seen gliding effortlessly on thermal updrafts or perched atop weathered fence posts. They are both watchful scavengers and curious observers. Known for their deep, echoing calls and playful aerial acrobatics, ravens in this region thrive in dry canyonlands and snowy mountain foothills. They form strong mating bonds, often seen traveling in pairs. They are known to cache food and mimic sounds. In Pueblo and Navajo traditions, the raven holds symbolic significance as a trickster, messenger, or guardian spirit, adding a layer of mythic meaning to their dark silhouettes against the New Mexico sky.
Grackles. You either like ‘em or you can’t stand ‘em. Part of CGM’s Backyard Birds of Travis County.
Hi everyone and welcome to my website, cgmfineart.com, an off shoot of austinfemart.com. With Vic’s help, we finally started to go through my closet of all the art I have collected and stored over the years. We’ve created an inventory, photographed most of my pieces (that’s always on going), and started organizing them to sell on Squarespace.
I’ve waited too long to begin this process. Sure, I’ve been selling here and there, mostly to friends and family, shown at galleries now and again. But I’d yet to focus on a target audience, develop a following, or tried to sell online.
On my previous website, Austin Fem Art, I posted all my originals. Vic finds Squarespace to be more user friendly, and he is able to display more of my art. He thinks selling prints online is the way to go. We are working with a great print-on-demand company, making our lives a little easier by not having to stress out about those fulfillment details.
Meanwhile, I continue painting. My latest piece is called Fifth Dimension on a 15 in circular canvas. It’s from the point of view of a person with vast peripheral vision lying on their back, looking into space surrounded by Austin landmarks and icons.
My next piece will feature Mary Magdalene, and I am anxious to get started on that one. I have already done a few paintings with biblical scenes or religious overtones including one I did in Taos of Mary Magdalene washing Jesus’ feet.
Bear with us as we launch this next episode of our lives. Both of us are retired and trying to make the best use of our time and talent. Thanks for your support!
Mary Magdalene washing Jesus’ feet with oil and tears.
The Search for Universal Inspiration
It all begins with an idea.
Inspiration is something every artist looks for. It’s not a mysterious force or a romantic idea—it’s the practical fuel behind making art. Without it, the work stalls. With it, things move. But where does it come from, and how does it show up in the work of artists like Chris Green-Martinez?
Taos Mountain from Cuchillo Road
CGM painted the view from her front yard in Ranchos de Taos. Sometimes inspiration is right in front of you.
The Everyday Search
Most artists don’t wait around for inspiration to strike. They look for it. Sometimes it comes from reading, walking, listening to music, or just paying attention to what’s happening around them. It’s about observation—being present, catching ideas in motion, and knowing when something feels worth exploring.
Inspiration isn’t always profound. It might come from something ordinary: a certain light at a specific time of day, a phrase in a conversation, or a detail in a book or film. What matters is how the artist filters it: the process of noticing, interpreting, and applying.
Common Sources of Inspiration
Nature is a big one. So is personal experience—grief, joy, confusion, change. Artists also respond to stories, symbols, and history. Religious themes, for instance, have fueled centuries of artwork for what they represent: ideas, emotions, and cultural meaning.
CGM’s work often connects observation with symbolism, rooted in both her environment and her internal questions. She doesn’t paint to match a trend—she paints to explore an idea.
How Chris Works with Inspiration
Pentecost Dove
CGM finds inspiration from many sources. The Pentecost story from the bible is just one of many.
Take The Dove. It’s based on Pentecost, a moment in Christian tradition when the Holy Spirit descends from heaven in the form of a dove. Chris approached this theme not by copying a traditional image, but by thinking about what that symbolic moment means —arrival, transformation, and quiet power.
That’s how she tends to work: pulling from specific sources, asking what they mean to her, and then translating that meaning into form, color, and movement. Her inspiration isn’t random—it’s research, reflection, and response.
Why It Matters
People often assume artists wait around for a wave of creativity. In reality, it’s more like tracking weather: watching the sky, feeling the pressure change, and knowing when to act. Chris Green-Martinez’s art is a result of staying alert to those shifts and building work around what she finds.
Inspiration is real, but it’s not magic. It’s part of the job—just like mixing paint or framing a canvas. And when it’s handled with thought and intention, like in Chris’s work, it shows.
Blog Post Title Two
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Three
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.