Marta Gotlība
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Latest art pieces from Marta Gotlība

Welcome to my blog. Here, you’ll find my latest Instagram posts, offering a glimpse into my creative journey, works in progress, and the stories behind my illustrations and oil paintings. Stay a while, explore, and join me in celebrating the beauty of nature through art!

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Recently many new followers have joined my arristi Recently many new followers have joined my arristic journey, and I am very happy about it. Welcome guys! ❤️ I am Marta, a Latvian artist with a main focus and passion on birds (specific to Latvia). I work with two mediums - coloured pencils and oils. Recently I finished a series of owls which will be exhibited in several venues this year, starting with a fantastic restaurant @pavarumaja 🥰 since the begining of year till end of April.
In the photo I am holding a barn swallow illustration that has returned to me after visiting @kunstiruumestonia gallery for some time. This artwork amongst others in my e-shop is available for purchase. Link is in my profle. In case of any questions I am availble via DM. 🤗

Reference Gerard Carr.
Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), one of the m Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), one of the most beautiful Latvian birds. Its seemingly black and white ploumage blossoms into greenish, blue and magenta  metallic shades when seen in a sunny day. 🥰 
Have you heard the lapwings song? It is unmistakeable and charming. 💙💙💙

Coloured pencils on a paper. Reference Daniil Komov (Unsplash). 🙏
It doesn't get any cuter than a Norther lapwing ba It doesn't get any cuter than a Norther lapwing baby. 🖤🖤🖤 I was super excited to see this little bundle of joy amongst many other awesome photos of @caperelux and am thankful that I could illustrate it. 🥰  Illustrating birds take me to a wonderful place where I can observe these magical creatures in close-up. ❤️ Next in line - lapwing parent. 😊 Imagine, its ploumage looks nothing like its childs. 🤗

Coloured pencils on a paper. Reference Rob van Mourick. 🙏
I’m grateful to be exhibiting at Ķekava Art Sch I’m grateful to be exhibiting at Ķekava Art School, visiting my younger fellow artists with my solo show “Observing the Living. Fragments of Nature.”
The exhibition brings together layered colored-pencil works and oil paintings inspired by Latvian wildlife.

Alongside the show, I’ll be sharing my colored-pencil layering technique with the students — talking about patience, light, and building depth through thin layers of pigment.
If you asked me three years ago, I would never hav If you asked me three years ago, I would never have imagined that studying painting would lead to a group exhibiting at the European Union House in Riga.
“Dialogue with the Students in the Renaissance Style” is, for me, a quiet testament to discipline, patience and trust in the classical tradition. Under the guidance of phenomenal Latvian painter @anitamusha , we have been learning not only technique, but how to truly observe - light, form, structure, and the inner life of a subject.
In this exhibition I present bird and animal portraits, as well as a copy after a Rachel Ruysch large botanical work - a painting I am especially proud of, created over nine months of careful, layered painting. It was a profound exercise in humility and dedication.
Grateful to my teacher and fellow students for this shared journey - and for the opportunity to show our work in such a meaningful space.
The exhibition is available till the end of March with a prior appointment at the @esmajalv . To arrange a visit, please contact: telpas@esmaja.lv
Waxwing and berries. 🖤 One of the inspiring pho Waxwing and berries. 🖤 One of the inspiring photos of @tarja_naturephotos I fell in love and had to illustrate. 🥰 birds + berries combo is very dear to me, I enjoy every time I have a chance to explore it with my pencils. 🥰
Time is a limited resource. All these years when s Time is a limited resource. All these years when stumbling up on a breathtaking photo, I have thought to myself - oh, this is amazing shot, one day I should draw it! This "one day" had to come one day. So... I decided to illustrate the most inspiring photos that have excited me as of this year. Because when if not now? 🤗
And this is the first one - moorhen baby with weirdly wonderful feet and an odd head. 🖤 The nature's little wonder. 🥰
Thank you stance_every (sorry but Insta does not allow me to tag you 🫩) for your permission, it was truly marvelous to observe ans capture this bird on a paper. 🙏
What an explosion of blues! 💙💙💙 This comm What an explosion of blues! 💙💙💙 This commission was like a gift after all these brownish grey months. 🥰 Don't get me wrong, I loved the owl project, but got tired towards the finish. 😊

Coloured pencils on a paper. Ref Marco Federmann. 🙏
Long ear owl baby. 🖤 A bit sad, a bit grumpy, p Long ear owl baby. 🖤 A bit sad, a bit grumpy, perhaps tired. As it should look the last member of the owl series. 🤗 That's it, a five month project is finalized from my side. There will be several exhibitions for the owl series this year (the first one is already in happening - in @pavarumaja ), the information will follow. 
I am grateful for the opportunity to observe the members from the magical owl family,.each one unique and surprising. These illustrations will be used by our local Ornithology society @lob_lv for educational purposes. I am proud that my work has added value. ❤️ 
The next bird will not be an owl. Different color palette,  cannot wait to start. 💙

Coloured pencils and pastel pigments on a paper. Reference Ele Watts. 🙏
Barn owl - a beautiful creature with a dreadful vo Barn owl - a beautiful creature with a dreadful voice. 🫢 I am approaching a final stage of the owl series project, one last owlet left. 😊 I have to say that this year has started with a new energy, several exhibitions scheduled, and new collaboration offers on a plate. Love it, bring it on 2026! 🤗 I am ready to spread my artistic wings! 🖤 

Coloured pencils on a paper. Reference for owl: Sarah Emery, for a tree stump: Ivan Ignatovich.
I’m incredibly happy to share that this exhibiti I’m incredibly happy to share that this exhibition will take place at the wonderful @pavarumaja — a truly special restaurant where fine cuisine and a deep respect for nature come together. I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and excited to see my works living in such a beautiful and thoughtfully curated space.

“Be Here and Now” is an invitation to a mindful presence in nature. In these works, birds and animals are not only accurately observed subjects, but quiet companions — encouraging the viewer to pause, observe, and reconnect with the natural rhythm of life, here and now.
The exhibition will be open for 3 month as of tomorrow, January 20. 🤗 Welcome to experience the top level restaurant and the local wildlife art. ❤️
So I continue with the owl series, this time tawny So I continue with the owl series, this time tawny owl owlets. 🤗 All the owl illustrations will be used by @lob_lv for educational purposes. And the originals are planned to be exhibited in several venues this year, starting with next week (info will soon follow). 😊
Reference photo for this drawing is from @wallmika 🙏 who is talented photograph and has such a wonderful Insta account dedicated to Nordic birds. 💙
I hope and feel that this year will be full of good events and activities. 
And there's a way you can help me. If you like my art, if you believe that the birds should have more attention, please like, share or/and comment my content. This might seem like a small action but the algorithm reacts on your reactions so... please help me to stand out in the virtual crowd. 🙏 Thank you. ❤️
Tawny owl. 🩶🤎 The most common of the owls in Tawny owl. 🩶🤎 The most common of the owls in Latvia. Those black big eyes fascinate me. 😍

Coloured pencils on a paper. Reference Ele Watts. 🙏

For those interested in buying an ilustration from owls series - the whole collection will be available towards the wmd of the year. There will.be several exhibitions throughout the year where you can see the illustrations. More info will follow. 🙂
When I started to dip into the world of birds, I t When I started to dip into the world of birds, I thought that these owls were called little because of their size. Turned out after a while that it is species -.little owl. 😄 This little bad boy "marinated" on my table.half done for three weeks because... well, there was no light. No sun, no energy for Marta. No energy -> no mojo on pencils. 🤷‍♀️ I hope this dark period will end and the sun will be switched back on. I heard today that the sun shined for less than an hour in total here in Latvia. An hour! 🙈🙈🙈🙈 
Swipe to the next photo to see the owl's gorgeous fluffy legs close-up. 😍 Toasty, as my triend would say 😄

Coloured pencils and pastel pigments on a paper. Reference @chard.brian_photo_wildlife . 🙏
Happy Independence Day my dear Latvia! 🇱🇻 Be Happy Independence Day my dear Latvia! 🇱🇻 Be strong and wise. Let our skies be calm and sun - bright. ❤️ 
Eagle owl is the most complicated of all owls I've illustrated so far. Extremely detailed and attention demanding. I am satisfied with the result even though it took me almost twice as much time as I initially planned. 😊
Coloured pencils and pastel pigments on a paper. Reference Andrea Ward.
Me, magpies and the rest of the flock will be in @ Me, magpies and the rest of the flock will be in @bazart_art_ waiting for visitors this friday from 12-19pm. Come and meet me if you're nearby! Let's see a good art and chat! ❤️

Ref for the background painting - A.Woodcock 🙏
Tengmalm's or Boreal owl. 🖤 Here's something ha Tengmalm's or Boreal owl. 🖤 Here's something hand drawn, slowly and patiently layering pigment on a pigment. This is +- a week long work. I am thankful that in a world where AI creates unbelievable pictures with a click in a few seconds, there are people who appreciate real art, made by a human being. 🙏 I hope the day never comes when AI art dominates world. Let us support the artists, performing in visual art, music field or theatre. 🙏 
Coloured pencils on a paper. Reference @edakocian 🙏
I am happy to announce an exhibition, this time in I am happy to announce an exhibition, this time in collaboration with the talented @paperceramicstudio ❤️ Our works can be seen and also purchased in @bazart_art_ 👌 
"Between heaven and earth" combines earthy ceramic works of Ilze Dilāne with my airy flock and is supplemented with several wonderful paper design lamps. 🥰
Boreal or Tengmalm's owlets. 🖤🖤 These fall i Boreal or Tengmalm's owlets. 🖤🖤 These fall into category "creepy but cute". 🤭 Very Halloween, I'd say. 🤗

Coloured pencils and pastel pigments on a paper. Reference @eriktig 🙏
Snowy owl. 🤍 This was the most difficult of all Snowy owl. 🤍 This was the most difficult of all the owls I'd drawn. 🥵 And halfway through I still wasn't sure if it wasn't a bin material. But there, trust the process - is what I have learned in my coloured pencil journey - and it paid off. I am glad with the result. Next... well, next will be something cute. ❤️
Coloured pencils and pastel pigments on a paper. Reference Linda MacMillan. 🙏
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