By Martina Sestakova

Members of Montgomery Art Association come from all walks of life and their artworks and creative processes reflect this wonderful variety. In this blog, we invite you to enjoy a selection of pieces that explore the power of the color orange. Scroll down to enjoy a lovely array of ideas!

Martina Sestakova, Touch the Earth (26x20", acrylics/watercolors on yupo). This painting's title is inspired by a line in Mary Oliver's poem, "Song for Autumn". Aerial view of Earth? Maybe. More like the coolness of grass, the dirt on my fingers, the warmth of sun rays, gentle footsteps, dandelions swaying in the wind. Touching the Earth is splendid. I so enjoyed adding orange into the field of greens. That colors wakes up the piece.

Pritha Srinivasan, Fiery Heart (12x16”, watercolor). This is my portrait of rockstar Shirley Manson, with her vibrant orange hair!

Jenny Wilson, Daylily Garden (20x30", acrylic on canvas). 

Fran Sokol Simon, Night Falls in the Garden (11x14", acrylic and crayon on paper).

Rosemary Behizadeh Yue, Rice Lake Sunset (16x20”, acrylic on canvas painted with palette knife). My good friend sends me photos from her vacations and I really loved this one. I originally started correcting the orange to pink as cameras often turn sunsets orange, but she said the sunset was actually bright orange.

Shayne Heller, Orange Squeeze (6x6", fused glass tile). Inspired by our vintage glass citrus juicer. Ahh! Fresh-squeezed orange juice. 

Alan Rich, Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana? (3.5x5", pen and watercolor on toned paper).

Karen Merkin, Florida Orange (12x12", oil on board).

Jamie Downs, Hibiscus (30x30", acrylic on deep canvas). Inspired by flowers on Sanibel Island.

Anastasia Walsh, Escape to Creek (12x12", alcohol inks on plastic box). During the pandemic, I witnessed more families enjoying time together along the Northwest Branch creek. Usually hikers and joggers stay on the trail, but last summer and fall families picnicked along the creek.

Elizabeth Levine Steel, Blue Rising, Orange Going Down (20x16", acrylic mixed on canvas). Created November 8, 2020. 

Dora Patin, Last Act (9x12", oil on panel). My painting "Last Act" is a reference to the presidential election 2020. The orange represents the 45th president. The orange is in the limelight on a stage. The stage is a cutting board and the orange is being peeled to be consumed. The curtains are closed which signifies the end of the performance. The surroundings are different shades of blue, the color of Democrats. Blue also happens to be the opposite of orange. I finished this painting on the day of the election not knowing the outcome, but hoping for a change.

Mary Jordan, F*** off ED; It's an Orange, not Poison (9x12"; mixed media/acrylic on canvas). When struggling with an eating disorder (ED), to choose an orange as a snack, to eat it (not just 1/2 a slice but the whole orange) and to savor the juiciness, the tart sweetness - that it is an act of defiance.

Eva Zang Tkatch, Gathering Romance (12x12", cold wax and alcohol inks on deep canvas). Since the pandemic, I have been painting more and more abstract florals. I love the uplift it gives to me and hopefully, the viewer.

Kim Williams, At River's Edge (16x20", acrylic on canvas). I am drawn to the water because it is a place to reflect.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoying the artworks of our members! Be sure to check out our other blogs as we celebrate the unique artworks of DMV-based artists.