It is sad but true; there will not be a live, three-day MAA art exhibit in the Kensington Armory on Labor Day weekend this year. The town of Kensington has confirmed that the events will not take place due to the pandemic quarantine.

But MAA is getting so adept at putting on online exhibits that we are pressing ahead with six online events to make up for this!

We are keeping the name Paint The Town (PTT) but there are no restrictions about Kensington art this year. Each month from July - December we will conduct a judged online exhibit for a specific category. We will hold an online Zoom reception/award meeting with the judge (each show will have a different judge). We will also hold an online Zoom Artist's Salon during the exhibit to encourage artists to share background about their painting.

Here is the schedule (Reception / Salon dates may change):

Landscape

June 12-19 Call for entries

July 1-31     Landscape exhibit online

July 5          Reception & Awards with Judge

July 19        Artist's Salon

Urban Landscape

July 12-19     Call for entries

August 1-31  Urban Landscape exhibit online

August 2        Reception & Awards with Judge

August 16      Artist's Salon

Plein Air

August 12-19     Call for entries

September 1-30 Plein Air exhibit online

September 6      Reception & Awards with Judge

September 20    Artist's Salon

Portrait

September 12-19 Call for entries

October 1-31        Portrait exhibit online

October 4             Reception & Awards with Judge

October 18           Artist's Salon

Abstract

October 12-19     Call for entries

November 1-30   Abstract exhibit online

November 1        Reception & Awards with Judge

November 15      Artist's Salon

Still Life

November 12-19 Call for entries

December 1-31   Still Life exhibit online

December 6        Reception & Awards with Judge

December 20      Artist's Salon

Registration for each online show will be $5 and will be limited to 1 entry per exhibit. MAA membership is required for participation, and renewals will be needed for the September and beyond online exhibit. As previously mentioned, MAA memberships will be reduced to half price ($25) for renewals prior completed prior to September 1.

Please contact Anastasia Walsh (maatreas@gmail.com) with any questions.

By Martina Sestakova

Several of MAA members undertook a fun project. They captured 'their view' during these times of staying at home. Elissa Poma kicked of the activity by sharing this watercolor capturing the backyard of her home. 

Ellen Wilcox added her artwork in oil on canvas. And what a treat, she is part of the view. 

In his "Quarantined" painting (oil), John MacArthur captured neighbors gathering out front during the Covid-19 pandemic. His piece (sold) was done en plein aire. 

And finally, Jamie Downs added a close-up of bees (acrylic and ink on canvas). She said of this painting, "While isolated in my home, I have been painting the things I look forward to each Spring. For years, I admired bee balm at our family cabin in Pennsylvania and tried to bring it home without success. Now I have it spreading across my yard and can watch the bees and humming birds enjoy it." 

by Ellen Yahuda

During this time in quarantine and solitude, I decided to try something different and challenging in my painting. I noticed on the MAA Members Facebook group a schedule for models. I have tried on several occasions to arrange for a get together with models and fellow students, and it worked only once.

To me, these new Zoom-based sessions provided a fantastic opportunity to have it all, at my “doorstep,” with no driving and no organizing of others. And, there was plenty of time to meet a new challenge.

I emailed Gazelle, the first model whose date for posing suited my timing. Her reply was helpful and encouraging. The cost was only $5.00 per hour, and about an hour before the time for the class, a Zoom ID and password is sent to your email address.

In that first reply, Gazelle explained the details of the arranged poses and dress of the model in the time allotted. Gazelle also helpfully sent me the calendar for the whole week for all of the models.

I did two sessions this past week with two different models. During the sessions the model and other students interact both before class and during the breaks. For instance, yesterday I asked what each person was using, whether it was charcoal, pastel or pencil. It turned out I was the only one attempting oil painting and was cheerfully told I was brave. That art community out there is so friendly.

 

These sessions are under the auspices of the DC Art Model Collective. My experience is that the sessions are professional, with attention paid to lighting, background, dress and pose. The models are all supportive of each other, announcing the next model’s session at the end of their session. There have been 3-5 participants and some models in the sessions I have attended. Art friend have been in sessions with up to 10 artists.

I have already decided which sessions I will do next week. It’s really good to have a choice to do one-, two-, or three-hour sessions. With both models, there were 5 and 10 minute warm-ups.

The models ask kindly that you don’t take photos and if you want, they will send you a photo depending on the quality for either $5  or $10 I am still working on two oil paintings and asked for photos to be sent to me.

It was all so smooth, serious and exhilarating. I highly recommend these events.

If you are interested in participating in a Zoom-based session, with the DC Art Model Collective, look for details on the group's calendar, Facebook page or Instagram page.

Sketches courtesy Ellen Yahuda

Ally Morgan 

Lives in:  Rockville, MD

Website:  www.allyglowackiart.com

Social Media:  www.instagram.com/amorgan.art

Media and subjects:  Watercolor Mixed Media.  

Why you joined MAA:  I joined MAA to get to know other working artists in the area.

Something fun about you: I love playing video games.  It is one of my favorite things to do in my spare time. 

Artist Biography: 

Ally Morgan is a visual artist and art teacher working in Montgomery County, Maryland.  In 2010 she received her BFA in painting from Salisbury University and she received her MFA in drawing and painting from Arizona State University in 2014.  

Ally is a mixed media artist, focusing on watercolors, pens, and colored pencils.  Inspired by the lectures of the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, she endeavors to explore the identity of the “Animal Other” as well as her own personal relationship with them.  Derrida suggested that “the animal looks at us and we are naked before it… thinking perhaps starts here.”  This statement about seeing the animal and the animal confronting our gaze of them has continued to lead Ally’s artistic investigation.  

For more information, visit www.allyglowackiart.com

An exhibition not to be missed! To celebrate it's 65th year of continuous support for the artists of Montgomery County the M AA  will hold an online exhibition from June 1 to June 30, 2020. Normally held at the Friendship Heights Village Center this show is popular with MAA members and is held annually.

This show is always an array of interesting artwork from abstract to realism.  One entry per person. Your entry  will be submitted into one of  five categories - Landscape, Portrait (either people or animals),  Still life, Abstract or Miniatures. Awards will be given in each category for first, second and third places.

The 2020 judge will be Lee Newman (shown), one of the founders of the Washington Studio School in DC. Newman is an established artist in our region who has artwork in the National Gallery of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is a committed art educator as well as an award winning painter and printmaker.

Entries can be submitted from May 10 until May 19. There is a $5 entry fee.

Be part of the action and submit your art to the Creative Expressions show 2020! See more details, including the show prospectus. on our Event page.

-Jan Rowland, show co-manager

By Martina Sestakova

On April 14, we shared a blog that highlighted a fun creative project when our members painted a photograph provided by Dora Patin. Today, we are sharing artworks inspired by Pritha Srinivasan's photo. Keep on following along as we have other fun project in the future! 

Our Inspiration: Photograph Provided by Pritha Srinivasan

Our Interpretations: Artworks Created by MAA Members

Alan Rich, Acrylic on Canvas (Palette Knife Only), 11" x 14"

Dora Patin, Oil on Canvas, 8" x 10"

Ellen Yehuda, Pastel on Paper, 6" x 9" 

Jenny Wilson, Oil Crayon, Charcoal Pencil, Acrylic Paint on Board, 8" x 10"

Maria-Elena Lazarte, Oil on Canvas, 8" x 10" 

Pritha Srinivasan, Watercolor, 4" x 6"

Nina Srinivasan, Watercolor, 4" x 6"

Tena Turner, Colored Pencils, 9" x 8"

By Martina Sestakova

On April 15, Montgomery Art Association held an artwork critique with artist Susan Abbott over Zoom. Many of our members participated and engaged in a lively conversation over ideas and techniques. We are pleased to share an email communication from MAA member Lily Kak to Susan Abbott. Thank you, Lily, for sharing your insights. We are planning on scheduling other critiques in the future. Stay tuned and stay safe.

Hi Susan,

I took a look at the video of the critique - thanks for sharing your thoughts on my painting, which I call "One World: Overcoming Alone, Together." In this 15" x 22" painting, I wanted to contrast angry and sad moods going from the top left diagonally down to the bottom right (red and blue) with hope and triumph on the top right (yellow, orange, rainbow). The purpose was to show angry red virus, which gradually turns lighter around the triumphant child in a rainbow dress who unshackles herself from her rainbow mask unlike the rest of the world where everyone is masked. Every one below her is sad: the masked people, the news reader, the health workers, the man in front of the stock market. The hand washing on the top left washes into the blue below it. I had so much to say in this painting that, as you noted, it is busy with a lot going on! In fact, I had even more to say and had to restrain myself from adding even more thoughts in this painting. I plan to focus only on pandemic paintings this year and hope to make them all uplifting (which will be a challenge).

I thought your comments were very helpful. Thanks for your expert critique.

Lily Kak 

Lily Kak, "One World: Overcoming Alone, Together"

Disclaimer: Copy of email and artwork published with written permission by Lily Kak.

By Martina Sestakova

There is no shortage of creative ideas among our members. Dora Patin suggested to use a photograph as a source of inspiration and encouraged us to create artworks in our preferred mediums. A quick post on our MAA Member Facebook page turned into a fun project for many. One idea, different interpretations. This activity celebrated the diversity of our members' work. Want to participate? Check out the MAA Member Facebook page for ongoing conversations and activities about anything and everything art. Scroll below to see submitted artworks and the variety of mediums used. 

Our Inspiration: Photograph Provided by Dora Patin

Our Interpretations: Artworks Created by MAA Members

Carol Starr, Watercolor on Yupo

Alan Rich, Acrylics

Anastasia Walsh, Mosaic

Dora Patin, Oil on Canvas

Tena Turner, Colored Pencils

Ellen Yahuda, Pastel on Paper

Anastasia Walsh, Alcohol Inks

Roxana Rojas Luzon, Collage

Marti Wells, Watercolor

Glenview Mansion is currently closed, and all artwork is still on the walls and secure. As a today, our “Colorful Explorations” show is scheduled to run until May 8, with artwork pickup scheduled for May 11. Please delete the March 30 pickup date from your calendars. If you need to pick up your artwork sooner, please email Elissa Poma to make arrangements.

Oasis Gallery Show is closed until further notice. Participants' artwork is still on the walls and secure. As of today, pick up is still scheduled for April 13-14. Contact: Helen Wood

Danielle Glosser’s workshop, “The SMART Artist: A Strategic Planning Workshop” on April 4 has been cancelled. Registrants will receive a refund, and we will work to reschedule the workshop for a date later in the year. Contact: Anastasia Walsh

The April 8 members' meeting is cancelled. Contact: Alan Rich

The Kensington Day of the Book Festival on April 26 has been cancelled, so there is no need for an MAA booth.

Our scheduled show at Art Enables in DC starting in May is likely to be postponed until late summer. We're discussing rescheduling for July or August.

As of today, there are no updates about our May show at Kensington Library.

Kat Peterson 

Lives in:  Bethesda, MD

Website:  katpeterson.crevado.com

Facebook:  Kat Peterson

Instagram:  kat.petersonstudio  

Media and Subjects: I love any form of illustration because it inherently tells a story of a person, place or time. Even with just one image, it can visually communicate a message. I work in any media that supports the enhancement of this visual communication. Recently, I have been working mostly in watercolor.

Why you joined MAA:  I joined MAA to be able to network with other artists and to learn to market myself better.

Something fun about you:  It was so much fun for me to be able to own my own women’s clothing store. I could do all of the artistic things I enjoy like fashion buying and illustration for the store. It was so enjoyable to be my own boss and I learned I have an entrepreneurial spirit. I’m certain this will come in handy as I further develop my art business. 

Artist Biography:  I think I have done every media possible throughout my life. I was fortunate to be able to take private classes in watercolor as a young girl. While still in high school I was recommended to learn printmaking/lithography skills at The National Portrait Gallery. During this time, I also was able to take ceramic classes at The Corcoran School of Art. I went on to learn skills and techniques in many media at Montgomery College including photography, drawing and painting. I also furthered my study of the figure, composition, color, printmaking and sculpture while there. I was accepted into Maryland Institute College of Art where I received a BFA, majoring in Illustration. While at MICA, I found a love of portraiture, advertising, fashion and book illustration. I also found that I am very enthusiastic about learning to understand other cultures through the art they produce. I went on to receive a Master’s in Counselor Education from McDaniel College, where I studied diversity issues and the many ways teaching methods can be facilitated and advanced through the arts. I have taught at a variety of schools and exhibited locally. Later, classes at the Delaplaine Arts Center I found to be very inspiring. Last January, I was honored to be asked to exhibit at the Town Hall in Mount Airy, MD.