When not running Danburg Properties of Boca Raton and working with tenants’ commercial, office and warehouse space needs, we at Danburg are active in competitive dog showing. The friends we’ve made there have been remarkable people. One of these is Heidi B. Martin, a celebrated visual artist who created this portrait of London, the award-winning standard poodle. This is Heidi’s story…

Accomplished visual artist Heidi B. Martin draws on her family’s life-long lineage of breeding and exhibiting champion show dogs to bring her subjects to life in a variety of mediums.

The latest work from this remarkable illustrator: “Envy.” The pencil-on-coquille board drawing captures London, the award-winning standard poodle, catching his own reflection in sharp, reverse-image contrast.

It’s a magnificent portrait by Martin – one that reveals the depth of her understanding, skill and talent of animal portraiture.

Yet, her touch and product come as no surprise to those who know her.

Martin’s family traces its lineage in competitive dog breeding back 55 years – predating her youth in Libertyville, Illinois. Her family raised and was known throughout the sport, or “fancy,” for its champion basset hounds.

A catastrophic 1970 fire took the lives of 24 hounds representing five generations of champion bloodlines. Even with such a loss, the Martin family was undeterred.

“Through our friends and family of show dogs,” she recalls, “we were able to remain in the sport.”

Tragedy touched Martin’s life more than once. While a junior in high school, Martin’s mother passed. “I had just started art class at the time of my mother’s passing. I was very fortunate to have the teachers I did. They saw a talent early on, nurtured it and allowed be to bury myself in my art,” she recalls.

Throughout the loss and challenges, her family remained active in dog competitions. The youngest of three children, Martin’s older brothers and father continued the business of breeding and showing basset hounds; her father remarried and with his new wife, began breeding Wirehaired Dachshunds.

For her part, Martin attended The American Academy of Art in Chicago, where she studied illustration and graphic design. After graduation, she spent 12 years of corporate life with a Chicago-area transportation engineering company creating renderings, displays and models for large-scale projects.

Bored with an industry she admits “was not very creative,” Martin then became an emergency veterinary technician in Chicago where she worked for 13 years. She later spent five years working with a veterinary dermatologist. She left that job in 2010 and decided to pursue animal illustration and portraiture full time.

“It was nice to be able to combine my hobby and history with my passion,” she says.

Her family has since retired from breeding, but they remain active in the sport. Her brother, Bryan, formerly a professional dog handler, today works with the American Kennel Club representing the organization at events. Her other brother, Peter, is a AKC licensed judge. Her father and step-mother are also AKC-licensed judges. Martin has judged sweepstakes for young dogs of various breeds, and she remains active with the Basset Hound Club of America.

Her art is taking Martin to new realms of animal portraiture. For more than a decade, she has been annually commissioned by the Del Valle Dog Club of Livermore, California, to compose three portraits of various breeds. The original is used for promotional purposes and then framed and given to the Best in Show winner.

Her work has also been seen on the cover of various dog-related magazines and featured in the advertising of many top dogs.

Technically trained and detail focused, Martin also produces illustrated breed standards. She has been hired by many AKC Parent Breed Clubs, including Basset Hounds, English Setters, Scottish Terriers, Beagles and Norfolk Terriers, to create educational guides.

“The challenge is to graphically depict the ideal vision of each specific breed as defined in their breed standard,” she says. “You’ll rarely find a perfect dog. My challenge is to create that perfect dog.”

Her portrait work is quintessentially one-of-a-kind, Martin says. “Envy,” for example, is a dramatic, artistic departure from traditional portrait work. Using a photograph taken by show photographer Jeffrey Hanlin, she composed the illustration using black pencil on coquille board. The pebbled surface was ideal for providing halftone effects with very smooth, intricate details on a textured medium that added to the softness.

Moreover, Martin was able to capture features unique to London – as she does with every dog portrait. Martin pays keen attention to the dog’s eyes and other characteristic traits that only an owner may notice. “If I can’t capture the soul in the eyes,” Martin says, “I don’t have my subject.”

When commissioned to do a portrait, she takes pride that it will be unique and personal to the owner.

Lithos, prints, holiday or greeting cards and other marketable pieces likely are in Martin’s future, she says. With her partner, Patty Keenan, who, like her mother, is an AKC licensed judge who has judged at Westminster Kennel Club, the two travel to dog shows. In fact, they were on hand when London in June won his 100th best in show.

“For me, going to the shows is a social experience spent among friends and family – people I’ve known all my life,” she says. “I grew up around some of the greatest dogs in the sport. To be part of that is what dog shows are about. London is a beautiful dog and a great producer who will carry on that magnificent legacy. I’m honored to have been able to capture his beauty to share with others.”

To learn more or to commission Martin to illustrate a portrait of your favorite pet – living or deceased, visit Martin’s Website – www.HeidiBMartin.com, or contact her directly at heidibmartin@yahoo.com or 773-220-8106.