A Life in Color and Form
Martha Simkins was an American painter whose artistic journey spanned much of the twentieth century. Born in Monticello, United States, she eventually settled in Texas after her family moved to Corsicana. Her formal training began around 1893 when she traveled to Manhattan to enroll at the Art Students League of New York, where she studied under Kenyon Cox, Emil Carlsen, and William Merritt Chase. Her dedication to her craft led her back to New York City to continue her studies with William Merritt Chase in 1906.
Between 1906 and 1915, Simkins pursued her art in Europe, where she befriended Mary Cassatt. During this period, she also met John Singer Sargent. Her career was marked by a nomadic elegance; from 1915 to 1924, she split her time between Dallas and the Woodstock Art Colony in New York, maintaining studios in both locations. By 1925, due to a high demand for her portraits, she remained in the Northeast year-round, spending winters in New York and summers in Woodstock.
Artistic Legacy and Later Years
Simkins was recognized for her depictions of interiors with figures, still lifes, and portraits. Her work was exhibited at prestigious venues, including the Corcoran Gallery, the National Academy of Design, and the Paris Salon. She was also a member of the Pen and Brush Club in New York and the National Association of Women Painters and Sculptors.
In 1934, Simkins returned to Texas permanently to care for her mother and fulfill family obligations. While living in the Dallas area, she continued to be an active artist, accepted portrait commissions, and taught students, including James Brooks. She remained an active figure in the Texas art scene for much of her long life until she died in Los Angeles County, California.
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