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Emma May Martin (January 3, 1865 – February 10, 1957) was a Canadian artist best known for her work in watercolor, primarily depicting landscapes and still life scenes. Martin also occasionally worked in oil and china painting.

Born in Toronto Ontario, Martin began her training with her father, Thomas Mower Martin. Martin later studied at the Toronto Art School under Marmaduke Matthews and George Reid. Martin began exhibiting in 1883, and would continue to show her work for the next sixty years. A member of the Ontario Society of Artists, Martin also had a long teaching career, particularly in the field of watercolor.

Early life

Emma May Martin was born on January 3, 1865, in Toronto, Canada West. Her father, Thomas Mower Martin, was a well-known landscape painter, and her mother, Emma Nichols Martin raised nine children, of which Martin was the eldest. The five daughters and four sons of the Martin family were all involved in the arts as children, through exposure to music, painting and writing in their home. Martin and siblings had private tutors as children, and therefore did not partake in any public schooling.

Training

Thomas Mower Martin is credited with introducing his daughter to painting and facilitating her early training. It is noted that he taught her the rudiments of paintings in 1876 and was her teacher until she attended the Toronto Art School, where she studied under Marmaduke Matthews and George Reid.

Artistic career

Martin began exhibiting watercolors in 1883. By 1886 Martin was successfully entering in all of the major Canadian art shows. She exhibited with the Art Association of Montreal from 1885 to 1915, the Toronto Industrial Exhibition (later known as the Canadian National Exhibition) from 1890 to 1897, and the Royal Canadian Academy from 1887 to 1913. Martin was voted into membership with the Ontario Society of Artists in 1889 and exhibited with the group from 1885 to 1925. Martin would also hold works back from exhibition for years after they were complete, which has created more difficulties when trying to establish a chronological timeline of her existing works.

Technique

Martin's technique noticeably changed as her career progressed. In her earlier years she favored still life scenes and floral depictions. Her scenes were filled with bright colors and defined details. As Martin's career progressed, she started to be viewed as a separate artist, with her works acknowledged by name in newspaper articles and exhibition reviews.

Martin's work was viewed positively for the most part. Her works were lauded for their use of color and general treatment. Her drawing skills and use of light were also viewed as strengths.

Martin also received some negative critiques. It is noted that some reviewers believed she had difficulties with composition, therefore creating crowded scenes.

Teaching career

Alongside painting, Martin had a long teaching career. She taught painting at the Presbyterian Ladies' College in Toronto from 1889 to 1910. It is unclear which of Martin's oeuvre remain due to their location.

One posthumous solo exhibition, Water Colours by E. May Martin, was presented at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, 1980. This continues today to be the only known show solely consisting of Martin's works.