On a hot afternoon last week an artist stood at his easel on the Town Common creating an oil painting of Needham Town Hall.
As the Impressionistic image took shape on his canvas, David Martinez said he enjoyed painting outdoors. “During the summer and during the spring, I like to get out and do plein air.”
A recent transplant from Indiana, Martinez said he chose Town Hall because of what it evokes — and its potential marketability. “It’s a recognizable location. I feel like people would be more interested in buying a painting like a landmark that reminds them of home.” And he said he just likes the architecture. “I think a lot of the architecture of government buildings or churches around here are somewhat intricate. I feel like I don’t see a lot of buildings like this in the Midwest.”
Martinez started painting four years ago while an art student at Ball State University. He makes his own paints, mixing dry pigment with linseed oil. He hopes to make painting his career. “I want to do this professionally. And then hopefully move out maybe somewhere more west. But I do like the East Coast a bit more than the Midwest.”
It took him about three hours to complete the 8-by-10 painting of Town Hall. The finished work, along with Martinez’s other paintings and illustrations, can be seen at his website.
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