I was born in Harlingen, TX and grew up in the Mission/Harlingen areas.  I graduated from Harlingen in 1954 and attended Texas A & I.  Afterwards, I married a rancher and moved to Orla in West Texas where I helped him manage ranches in Sierra Blanca, Orla and Presidio.  I have two sons and four grandchildren.  My husband passed away in 1989. 

I have trained and showed quarter horses for numerous years.  At one time, I worked with a USDA program in Mexico.  Before moving to Ft. Stockton in the Big Bend area of West Texas in 1988, I worked as a meat inspector for the state and retired from this position in 1991. 

Because I love this locale, I paint West Texas - horses, cowboys, longhorns, birds, jack rabbits, cactus and almost anything relating to this part of the Lone Star State.  Before gourds, I painted and made creations using stained glass; it was an easy switch to gourds.  During the 1960s, I studied art with Frederick Taubes, Jan Herring and Dorothy Geyer.  Around 1991 I found a picture of a gourd in TEXAS MONTHLY magazine and decided to try “gourding.” 

I have been in 30 one-man and group shows winning over 380 awards - both in painting and gourds.  Now, gourds are in the forefront.  Since there are no other “gourders” in this vicinity, I've learned on my own with the help of a few gourd books and Fred Dunlap from Kermit, TX.  Eighteen years later, here I am!

Martha Rhea Webb
Ft. Stockton, Texas