art making & exhibiting 2023

abbey martin

The creation of the untitled gouache painting allowed Martin to create a portrayal of the Shared Characteristics between Mother and Daughter with the central theme of pressure of maternalism. The cyclical nature of motherhood is pushed on all womanly beings, specifically in the dairy industry where cows are forcibly impregnated to upkeep demands. Martin portrays the antithesis, the positive aspect of the forced relationship, care and nurture, despite hardship. Contrary, to Unit Three, where teddy bear, portrayed a representation of her own relationship with her mother. The subject matter is manipulated with the depiction of cows to extend her message into the life of animals and show how the oppression of femininity has impacted all corners of the world. The process of the painting involved a red ink background which creates the border of the artwork and evokes a sense of isolation that is paradoxical when paired with the subjects feeding, nurturing, and taking up the same area of space. The soft browns and purples of the cow and calf are contrasted with the red to display togetherness while still acknowledging the harsh reality, that the relationship of forced upon them, and will continue to be forced across their female lineage.