Martha graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in studio art from Illinois State University and received her MAT from Webster University in St. Louis, MO. Her pursuit of mastery led to further study under contemporary masters Burton Silverman and Rose Frantzen among others. This progress of continuing education has resulted in an expansive knowledge of portrait and landscape genres.

She has taught art in St. Louis, Charlottesville and Indianapolis. In 2007, Martha was awarded a Lilly Teacher Creativity Grant. Traveling to Russia, visiting the Pushkin, Tretyakov, and Hermitage Museums and doing small en plein air studies gave her the opportunity to see great works of art as well as create her own paintings.

In October 2002, a Lilly China exchange partnership with Washington Township Schools awarded Martha the opportunity to teach Chinese students. In addition, she had the opportunity to travel throughout China and experience its art and culture.

She has taken other workshops with critically acclaimed artists Ken Auster, Carolyn Anderson, Camille Przewodek, Daniel Pinkham, Kim English, Robert Eberle and Todd Reifers.

"Inspiration is highly overrated. If you sit around and wait for the clouds to part, it's not liable to ever happen. More often than not work is salvation."
- Chuck Close