Her hometown of Los Angeles, and the vibrant diversity of its population, moves her. When about town, she takes mental snapshots of the people she sees all around her, and then transfers the sights stored in her head onto paper and canvas.

It’s this vision of the Greek goddess that has inspired L.A.-based artist America Martin, in a rich new series paintings picturing valiant women. “This new series is an ode to spring, to Persephone, when she emerges from the shadows of the underworld, and with her grace makes the flowers bloom, the fruit grow and the winter fade away,”