Martinez’ wine barrel artwork will be displayed in the Par Lounge on Wednesday, September 25th, at the Meet the Winemaker Event featuring Hatfield Creek Vineyards & Winery and music by local artist Ashley E. Norton. Martinez will also be at the event, talking about his newest piece.

Martinez’ love for creating artwork started when he was three or four years old. “My Mom was an artist.” He loved to draw while his mother painted in the dining room. He followed her artistic footsteps and continued drawing until he entered the Navy. He started painting again in 2007 and became more serious about it in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012, Martinez was painting portraits and getting bored and uninspired with the repetition of painting photos of a subject’s face. He prayed and told God he didn’t know what to paint. He says God told him that, since all his walls are white, he should paint art on his walls, so he started abstract painting.

Martinez has been playing and experimenting with different styles. “Art is always evolving, and it speaks to people.” He decided to paint subjects without facial features and started with a long-haired, faceless woman in a green shawl. He found that people connected with her and developed an emotional connection to the art. “I don’t do faces because I choose not to,” says Martinez. Painting subjects without faces enables people to connect and project themselves into the piece.

He has been painting wine barrels on and off for several years. “Wine barrels are cool,” says Martinez. People can bring a piece of furniture into their home that doesn’t just go on the wall. It’s a conversation starter. He also painted two murals for the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project. The first one is called “La Quinceañera” and is located at Leslie’s Pool Supplies at 1905 Main Street. The second is a multidimensional image that features two garden visitors, one of which is a hummingbird located at 680 Main St.

“I wanted to do something native to San Diego and colorful,” says Martinez. “Everyone likes hummingbirds, and they are full of color.” The Hummingbird Mural inspiration came from the Anna and Costa Hummingbirds, and he painted a mixture of both. He has a lot of flowers and hummingbird feeders in his backyard, so he has a lot of hummingbird visitors. He adds that hummingbirds face several threats to their habitat.

Martinez and his wife moved to San Diego Country Estates in 2010. The couple met when he was in the Navy. He was 25, and she was 24. “I charmed her,” says Martinez. He met her before his first deployment and got her parents’ address so he could write to her while he was away. He likes to write; he writes poetry and songs.

They love that Ramona, and the Estates, provide a family-based community, especially with their four children. “Once you live here, it’s like a little slice of heaven,” says Martinez. He added that it’s nice to have the benefit of living near a lot of big cities while still being in a small community. He feels safer here and says the people are more wholesome. Martinez is thankful for the Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project for bringing attention to Ramona with the wineries, nature, art, and music.

Check out Martinez’ murals around Ramona and stop by the Par Lounge on September 25th to see and hear about his newest piece while enjoying delicious food and fabulous wine. San Vicente Resort is sponsoring the Meet the Winemaker Event, which is sure to spark creativity for all.

Click here for information about the Ramona Arts, Wine, & Music Festival on Nov. 2.