Jose Martinez is a painter, educator, and community arts facilitator, and a resident artist at Mare Island Art Studios. He holds a BA in Studio Painting and Art History from San Francisco State University and works primarily in oil on canvas and panel.
Jose’s paintings portray everyday people—often those who have personally shaped his life—capturing quiet moments, layered emotions, and the subtle beauty of lived experience. Through careful use of light, shadow, and color, his work reveals narrative and feeling, inviting viewers into moments suspended in time.
Beyond his studio practice, Jose is deeply committed to art as a tool for healing, growth, and self-expression. He is a trusted youth advocate through his work at Aldea Children & Family Services and regularly facilitates art workshops that support young people in discovering their voices and building confidence. Jose believes creativity nurtures character, encourages self-reflection, and offers a powerful pathway toward self-discovery and empowerment.
Jose also founded Napa Valley Painting, through which he produces and facilitates paint-and-sip events, pop-up workshops, and community fundraisers throughout the Napa region and the greater Bay Area. These events create welcoming, social spaces where participants can engage with art in an accessible and joyful way.
At Mare Island Art Studios, Jose leads Paint & Sip Fundraising Workshops, supports Education initiatives, and brings his Napa Valley Painting program into the studios’ community-focused programming.
Contact:
Instagram: @jmartinezart
Facebook: @jmartinezart