Untitled (White Peonies)

Date unknown, 18x24

Martha's Last Show

This show opened at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center in December 2009.

Art Show, September 2006

These photos were taken at Martha's art show at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center in September 2006. (Click on any image for a larger view.)

Untitled (Gray flowers)

Date unknown, 2000s

About Martha Sullivan

Sullivan, December 2007

Martha Faye Lane Sullivan was a talented artist and teacher who lived in Breckenridge, Texas. Her earlier work included detailed watercolors and drawings, often of wildlife and nature scenes. In later years, Martha mostly produced oil paintings of still lifes, landscapes, portraits and her absolute favorite subject: flowers.

She was born June 3, 1922, in Denison, Texas, and spent most of her childhood with her grandparents in Rotan, Texas, where she graduated from high school in 1939. After receiving her B.A. degree in zoology and clinical pathology from Texas State College for Women in 1942, Martha left for a grand adventure in Los Angeles, where she interned at Children's Hospital, which later hired her. Martha then worked for Dr. Kermit F. Ryan, a pediatrician in Hollywood.

A World War II romance resulted in her marriage to Jack W. Sullivan of Woodson, Texas, where the couple eventually settled and Martha began teaching. Jack and Martha moved to Crystal Falls, a tiny community near Breckenridge, where they both lived for the rest of their lives. During these years, Martha received her master's degree in psychology and counseling from Abilene Christian College.

She taught biology and chemistry for many years before serving as Breckenridge High School's counselor. After an early retirement, Martha taught art lessons in her home and later become the first director of the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, where she worked for 16 years.

Besides children and arts, Martha loved animals, and took in many strays over the years. Possessing a wicked wit, she was known to say "My life would have been so much less complicated had I hated children and animals." Martha was what many people might call "a character"; she never lost her fiery red hair and loved to tell stories. She was beloved by many.

Always curious, Martha was an avid reader and crossword puzzle enthusiast, and in her 80s, took up guitar and violin lessons. She was a marvelous cook who rarely used a recipe, preferring to "make it from scratch". As her obituary stated, "Martha just enjoyed life!" She died after a brief illness on Jan. 7, 2010.

This Web site, created by her oldest grandson Carl Sullivan, is intended to memorialize her work. It is a work in progress; Martha was a prolific painter and much of her work hasn't yet been photographed. Please contact me if you own some of Martha's art. I would love to include photos of her work that you may own.