Martha Allen was born in Temple, Texas and now lives near San Antonio, Texas.  She holds a degree in art education from the University of Texas at Huntsville, has worked in fashion and advertising, illustrated two children’s books published by Prentice Hall and was an illustrator of medical subjects at the Academy of Health Sciences in San Antonio.  The first painting in her Mexico series was purchased by actor Robert Goulet in 1984.  Martha has explored nineteen cities and numerous villages researching the lifeways of Mexico’s indigenous people.

  Martha describes her watercolors as romantic realism since her goal is to show the richness of exotic cultures through compelling portraits typical of Latin America.  Her portraits are executed in dazzling detail as she captures the profound expression on the faces of people and the authenticity of their dress.  Her trademark is the accurate depiction of costumes native to dancers throughout Mexico.