About the Artist

Dave Martin grew up in Cleveland, Boston and Des Moines, IA. He developed a love of drawing at an early age and began his first formal art training at the Des Moines Art Center during his teens.  He studied painting at the Kansas City Art Institute, and, moving to Chicago, earned his BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with an emphasis on painting, drawing and printmaking.  He made his living drawing and painting portraits from his college days, extending into early adulthood.  He supplemented that, creating freelance editorial illustrations for newspapers and magazines over the next decade.  With a young family growing up around him, he shifted to drawing engineering plans for the next two decades.  

Following a decade of significant work as a community peace activist and folk singer through the early 2000’s, Dave returned to visual artwork in 2010. He began painting and drawing regularly at Chicago’s renowned Palette and Chisel Academy.  He painted alongside Errol Jacobson, Lenin Delsol, Larry Paulsen, Mary Qian and others, focusing on figure studies and resuming his love of portrait work. He painted some significant landscapes in oil during this time as well.  He began exhibiting regularly at P&C during this time and remains a member to this day.  

In 2016 Dave began taking etching classes at the Chicago Printmaking Collaborative on Chicago’s north side. He enjoyed his printmaking classes during college. Now, among CPC’s wonderful community of printmakers, Dave flourished.  He found a new home among his inky, apron clad colleagues. He joined CPC in 2018 and continues to exhibit in their shows annually.  About the same time, The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art’s store began representing Dave’s etchings. Having grown up an Iowa boy, showing his work under the same roof as Grant Woods’ national collection was a dream come true. He continues to show and sell his print work in Cedar Rapids.

With the Corona pandemic upon us, Dave set up a printmaking studio in his home. This allowed him to continue creating his beloved etchings without interruption.  He continues working regularly there, focusing on landscape work and exploring some narrative subjects as well. The Proud Fox Gallery in Geneva, IL began representing Dave’s work in 2020. He continues to contribute works to shows here and there, as time permits. His work has begun to garner noteworthy online attention and sales recently.  We hope you enjoy viewing the work here.  Feel free to place an order and ‘take a print home with you’.