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Poems by the Bald Chameleon, ©2006

25 Poems for the kids, or family to read.
Sparking the imagination for which the mind must feed.

Written by: Gregory A. Martin
Illustrated by: Brian Struc

102 pages

Shoes

From the pitter patter of little feet,
the shoe expresses ourselves
and those we meet.
Climbing, jumping,
or bracing for a fall,
If the shoe fits,
wear them all.

 
Fishy Toe Tale, ©2006

The travels of a fish attached to a little boy's toe,
and the things one does to get the other to let go.

Written by: Gregory A. Martin
Illustrated by: Brian Struc

100 pages

Fishy Toe Tale

A green fish got stuck on my big toe.,
It wiggled and wiggled but couldn’t,
or should I say wouldn’t,
 let go.

Book are $10 each + shipping, or 2 for $20, shipping included in U.S. and Canada

Email: Gregory A. Martin
Phone: 630-736-6201

Biography

     Greg Martin was born in northern California after his mother was evacuated from Alaska following the 1964 Alaskan earthquake.  He has lived many places growing up, Florida , New Mexico , Virginia , Illinois , and Texas .  Greg started drawing in grade school and painting around age 12. He saved up to buy his first acrylic paint set at K-Mart, then started using watercolors.

     Greg states “I took my first art class in 8th grade and didn’t take another art class for 8 years, but continued to paint during this time.  The class taught me the basics of art, but I hated the part where the teacher said you have 50 minutes to draw this, now go.  This wasn’t my style, and even in college teachers did this.  I did argue and handed in a couple of projects late, but defended my actions as the piece was not complete or my perspective was different then they wanted.  Standing my ground and convictions I earned A’s in those classes. 

     Greg served three years as a Medic in the U.S.Army stationed in California and Germany , where he traveled Europe off duty.  Greg graduated in 1990 from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale earning his degree in Advertising with a minor in Art.   While managing his family’s ranch (1995) down in Texas he started carving infertile Emu and Ostrich eggs.  Greg married Suzanne in 1998 in New Orleans and then became a full time artist showing his carved eggs and sometimes his surreal painting all over the country doing 32+ shows a year.  Then the girls arrived, the first blessing in 2001, again in 2003, and once more in 2006 (and at least one has won two art wards already).  Greg started doing less traveling with more local art shows and started customizing the eggs by writing original poems on the back of the egg.  This turned into Greg’s self published first book of children’s poems entitled “Poems by the Bald Chameleon” in 2006.  Shortly afterwards his second poetry book entitled “Fishy Toe Tale” was also self published.  Both books are for children and were illustrated by Brian Struc.

     Greg’s last art show with the eggs was a one man show in Hong Kong in 2006.  This show was in the largest indoor upscale shopping mall in Hong Kong and lasted 6 days.  Greg gave daily shows, demonstrated egg carving, answered questions and carved many Chinese names in Chinese characters for the audience.  Greg still does custom orders for the carved eggs but now his focus is on his mix media paintings.

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     Greg chose the name Chameleon Artist because he also does watercolors, oils, stain glass, acrylics, sculpture, mix media and airbrushing.  One Artist—Many Mediums.  Greg believes his main influences are History, Science Fiction, Women, and Architecture.