Painting the town: How a local teacher rekindled her passion for art in downtown Lafayette

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Natalie Martinez jokes that an award she received in fifth grade for "best handwriting" initially shot her into stardom, but her love for art and typography runs much deeper than that.

While art has been her passion for as far back as her memory goes, Martinez, an art teacher at Rossville High School, said over the past year she could feel she was in a rut with her own artwork.

"Over our winter break, I was able to really focus on myself as an artist," Martinez explained. "I was inspired by a friend of mine, who is also an art teacher, after she made a social media post about how she was leaving teaching because she was putting so much energy into inspiring others that she'd forgotten to inspire herself in her own artwork. Even though she'd posted that months before, it was something I couldn't stop thinking about."

In December, Martinez said she made a commitment to herself to reinvest in her artistic passions, launching her business, Lafayette Lettering, where she offers custom window art, murals and signs for local businesses.

By March, Martinez has found herself busy among Lafayette businesses, painting window art for The Charcutie Girl in Market Square, Flora Candle Company in downtown, and most recently at Flourish Studio and Classroom, where she also was hired to paint murals inside their store.

Amanda Kennedy, owner of Flourish Studio and Classroom, said Martinez worked in her studio while earning her bachelor's degree from Purdue University, staying in touch with one another even after Martinez found her current teaching job.

"Being an art education grad from Purdue myself, I really like to foster that experience for anyone pursuing this field," Kennedy said. "Natalie just always had so many creative ideas, so many of which we still utilize in the studio to this day, and of course she's a natural artist and is just so good at what she does."

When Martinez confided in Kennedy about her dreams of offering art services, Kennedy said she was all on board to help elevate her business.

"As our business continues to grow, I find myself busier and busier with limited time," Kennedy said. "We change our window decorations pretty frequently, which I use to be the one painting our windows, but allowing Natalie the chance to do it fulfills both of our needs. All we have to do is tell Natalie the theme we are thinking and she just works her magic."

Martinez said painting on a scale as large as a window can be a little daunting, but the mural-size opportunities are where she finds herself thriving. Window paint pen in hand, Martinez brings the illustration she previously mapped out on her phone to life with easy. Doodle-style is how Martinez characterizes her work, seen prominently in her paint-spill inspired window art for Flourish Studio and Classroom.

In just 20 minutes, Martinez brings her vision to life, brushing the illustrations with easy, and nearly identical to the initial sketch seen on her phone screen. Using acrylic paint markers, Martinez explained the window art will last for long periods of time, despite any heavy rain that spring may bring.

Knowing that majority of her prospective clients could be small businesses on a budget, Martinez said she will typically offer clients three tiers of pricing per square foot and for color. For an all white illustration, her pricing begins at $10 per square foot of window space. While her window art and murals have continued taking off, Martinez said she also hopes to find clients interested in hand-painted signs for their businesses, weddings or other personal events.

"I know everyone is on a budget, so I always try to be flexible with anyone where I can," she said. "It's a balance of earning business while trying not to sell myself short."

While Martinez puts the finishing touches on Flourish's window, a young girl leaving the business inquisitively asks what Martinez is doing.

"I'm painting a little picture," Martinez explains.

"Can I try," the girl asks. Her mother laughs, explaining to her that Martinez is a professional artist.

"I bet you're a good artist," the girl says. "I want to be an art teacher — that's my dream."

Martinez explains to her that being an art teacher is what she does during the day, while her window art is something she does on the side. After a bit more chatting about being an artist, the girl and her parents left with smiles, while Martinez had a smile painted on her face as well.

Moments like that, Martinez said, remind her why she's continually inspired to create, hoping to inspire others to create with their hands as well.

Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. She can be reached by email at jellison@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ellison_writes.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: How a local art teacher rekindled her passion by painting downtown businesses