Variety of color, shapes, lines and textures that are found in people places and objects, have always inspired me. In my mind I see a playful mix of vibrant abstracts, charming still lifes, and awe-inspiring landscapes. And with a dash of imagination, creativity and a splash of fun, things that are already beautiful, can be jazzed up and given a new and exciting perspective. My name is Nadine Martin. I go by my artistic alias, Jazzenay which came about because of my love for jazz music, especially smooth jazz. It's a play on Jazz and Nay, which mostly people call me. You know how people shorten your name the way Clarice becomes Clare or Janet becomes Jan. You get the picture. Anyhoo. I prefer to call myself Jazzenay, as it reflects my love of jazz music and its effect on my creative spirit. I always listen to it when I'm creating my artwork. So, I chose it as my artist name.

I am a self-taught artist. I've always had a longing to create art. As a youngster, I always liked drawing. It was not until I became an adult that I wanted to explore painting. I began teaching myself, well, watching some videos and purchasing books to explore painting as a challenge and to open myself up to the world of color which I find so fascinating. And you know how life sometimes get in the way of things? I allowed my artistic journey to be interrupted. Marriage at the young age of 19, then motherhood, and a plethora of other things in life pushed my passion for art into the background. I am now a senior woman! Whew! Where did the time go? After retirement and no one to take care of but myself, I heard the call of art alot clearer with no other distracting interference. So art became my focus, now here I am, creating artwork to share with the world.

Nadine Martin 'aka' Jazzenay

Baltimore, Maryland