Learn more about MAA's Executive Board, in their own words! We look forward to meeting you and working with you this coming year.

Sylvia Douglin, President

I started creating at age four, and after a 30-year detour in Corporate America, I retired and found my way back—now making one-of-a-kind portraits from recycled cardboard and paper. Nothing in my work is painted or drawn—each element is cut, shaped, and crafted from these materials. Initially, my pieces resembled stylized masks, but over time, I’ve focused on bringing more lifelike features into each portrait, capturing the essence and expression of the human face. Each creation is truly one-of-a-kind and made with love and joy.

Lily Kak, 1st Vice President, Programs

I am a watercolor artist who was born and raised in India. I recently retired from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); my career has taken me to multiple countries in Africa and Asia.  The vibrant and diverse cultures that I experienced during those travels and the beautiful landscape in my own backyard in Maryland are a deep source of inspiration for my artwork. My watercolors combine a controlled representational style while embracing the unexpected loose characteristics so unique to the watercolor medium.  My recent approach of combining watercolor with collage has expanded my art to the limitless possibilities of mixed media and collage textures.  I am the Vice President of Programs at the Montgomery Art Association and am a Signature Artist of the Baltimore Watercolor Society and of the Potomac Valley Watercolor Society.

Rose McManus Coleman, Secretary

I’m a visual storyteller working at the intersection of photography and painting, where curiosity guides my process and connection shapes my perspective. My work explores how layers—of color, memory, and perception—can shift the way we see ourselves and the world around us. I often reimagine existing pieces, allowing something familiar to become something entirely new. Each image is both a moment and a mirror—an invitation to pause, reflect, and imagine what else might be possible.

Teresa Sites, 3rd Vice President, Communications

I work in a variety of 2d media --drawing, painting and collage-- and also create the occasional cartoon. I love to create work spontaneously and can be found around town urban sketching and painting en plein air. I'm always up for new artistic experiments: in addition to markers, ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolor and gouache mediums, I also use metallic markers, fluorescent medias and various colored paper supports (and don't forget the sparkly paper for collage). I love a good theme, and a recent project I created was a series of 51 sketches inspired by my brother's vacation photos of 50 states and DC called "My Brother's Vacations, My Vicarious Travel Sketchbook." Say hi on Instagram (@teresaelizabethsites) for, as my bio states, "art, coffee, then more art!"

Kathy Tynan, 2nd Vice President, Shows

I dabbled in art in college, but life moved me in other directions. It wasn’t until I stepped away from my career in finance that I finally had the space—and the stillness—to return to what had quietly called me for years.  My art begins in moments that stir my heart, often before I can explain why. I’m especially drawn to landscapes that evoke a deep emotional response. My process is intuitive and personal; it starts with a feeling, a quiet sense that this is a place that touches my soul.  Pastel as a medium feels delicate and responsive, capable of expressing subtleties that often go beyond words…the perfect medium for me. It also has a rich, tactile quality that brings me joy. There’s something deeply personal about this direct contact—it grounds me in the moment and draws me into a close, intimate relationship with each piece I create.

Anastasia Walsh, Treasurer

I'm Anastasia Walsh, an artist who favors using unusual materials and methodologies in creation. I've painted on glass, created mosaics on old tools, and used colored paper as brushstrokes in collage. 

A Note from our New MAA President

As I step into the role of President of the Montgomery Art Association on June 1, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and share how honored I am to be part of this vibrant community of artists.

My own artistic journey has been anything but traditional. After a career in corporate training within the hospitality industry, I returned to my creative roots and began exploring a more instinctual form of expression—transforming everyday materials into meaningful works of art. From cardboard portraits to hand-painted denim, my art is grounded in the belief that beauty can be found—and made—from the unexpected.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some of you already, and I look forward to getting to know more of you in the months ahead. MAA has a rich history of supporting local artists, and I’m excited to work alongside our talented board and dedicated members to continue offering a strong platform for artists throughout Maryland.

Here’s to new ideas, shared inspiration, and a year filled with creativity!

Warmly,
Sylvia Douglin
President, Montgomery Art Association

November's Member Spotlight

Name: Theresa Rideout
Lives in: Greenbelt, MD
Websites: https://www.theresarideout.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/theresakrideout/ 
Media and subjects: I primarily focus on wildlife photography, but I am also learning botanical and landscape illustration with watercolors and ink wash. 
Projects you’re currently working on: I do most of my photography a 10-minute walk from my house, at Buddy Attick Park/Greenbelt Lake. Someday, I would love to put together a photo book of the wildlife of Greenbelt after building up a solid collection that represents an entire year. And I'm working on the botanical illustration certificate offered by Cornell's Horticulture distance learning program. I'm also writing a novel, but that's a different story! 

Why you joined MAA: I moved to Maryland almost a year ago, and I was excited to find this way to 'put down roots' and join the local artistic community! I look forward to learning from MAA about the business side of being an artist, and having opportunities to connect with everyone and have more artist friends :) 
Something fun about you: I got my start in professional art by selling tiny crochet Pokemon. 

Artist Biography: I am a writer, photographer, and artist in Greenbelt, MD. In addition to 'day jobs' in science writing and public health communications, my wildlife photography and botanical illustration are additional paths to share my view of the natural world with others. My favorite pieces capture a moment of calm and attention to detail. I look forward to spending more time with MAA!

Member Spotlight: Dr. Alicia Christy

Lives in: Kensington, Maryland.

Website: https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/alicia-christy  https://www.redbubble.com/people/blackvet/shop

Media and subjects:  Watercolor, social justice, portraits, honoring military, florals.

Projects you’re currently working on: Three pieces in Paint the Town (civil rights paintings), Voting and democracy related artwork for Vot+ER, Portraits of Kamala Harris (Artists for Harris), Faces of the Fallen Healthcare Heroes exhibit Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (portraits of nine healthcare providers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan), Faces of the Fallen Montgomery County Rockville Memorial Library (portraits of the nine Montgomery County residents who died in Iraq and Afghanistan), cover artwork for obstetrics and gynecology journal, Faces of the Fallen exhibit at the Maryland State House (January 2025, portraits of the 128 Maryland residents who died in Iraq and Afghanistan), Princeton Faces of the Fallen Vietnam (portraits of the Princeton University alumni who died in Vietnam).

Why you joined MAA: Opportunity to share my artwork more broadly, opportunity to learn more about the business aspect of art, and an opportunity to learn more about fund raising for non-profits.

Something fun about you: I use my art as political humor, I love to laugh, and I am told I have a good sense of humor.

Artist Biography: Dr. Alicia Christy is an African American author, illustrator, physician, and Army Veteran. She retired as Deputy Director of Reproductive Health, Veteran Health Affairs. She holds the rank of professor at the Uniformed Services University, and adjunct professor at Howard University School of Medicine.

Her artwork is her voice for social justice. Her painting, "When Will Black Lives Matter," was selected from 1,000 entries for the online "Art Against Racism" exhibit. Dr. Christy provided the cover art and artist statement, "We Must Speak for the Voiceless and Vulnerable," for "Academic Medicine."  Her backstory, "A Legacy of Activism" | ACOG, was published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Her portraits were on display at Dulles airport. Her watercolor piece, "Boots of Valor," paintings of boots from WWI-Afghanistan, will be on display at Reagan airport. In 2022, her artwork was part of an exhibit at the Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-10322/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMWf0xUy3Y0&t=161s Her artwork was featured on YouTube:  "Aiming for the Moon(shot): Health Equity for Black Veterans Drives Progress in Cancer Care" - YouTube and the VA Health Equity Art Gallery inaugural exhibition, Responding to Social Justice and Equity. https://www.va.gov/HEALTHEQUITY/Responding_to_Social_Justice_and_Equity.asp
Her story of using her artwork to honor women Veterans can be found at "Honoring Women Who Have Served" | ACOG. Her collection of portraits, "Celebrating Influential Women," was on display during Women’s History Month at Walter Reed in March of 2024.

In 2020, Dr. Christy received the Humanism in Medicine Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for her work with women Veterans and homeless women.
Dr. Christy’s writing and artwork have been published in Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, and Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. She also provided cover art for the inaugural issue of Fertility and Sterility Science. Dr. Christy’s work and artist statements have been published in the American Medical Association Journal of Ethics and Journal of Narrative Medicine. Her artist statements and artwork related to health advocacy have been published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2023/02/art-and-activism-creating-space-as-form-of-resistance
https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2024/02/standing-with-and-for-my-patients-art-and-activism
https://www.acog.org/news/news-articles/2024/03/black-doctors-telling-the-stories-of-black-mothers

Her artwork “No Muslim Ban” is part of the permanent collection at the Busboy and Poets Brookland location. Her work was featured at the Honfleur Gallery in Washington DC and the Hunter Gallery in New Jersey. https://thehuntergallery.net/shop/ols/search?keywords=alicia%20christy&sortOption=descend_by_match
The Healing Arts exhibit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. https://www.dvidshub.net/news/408445/healing-art-art-healing-exhibit-highlights-healing-power-art

Her artwork has also been featured on the social media platforms of several medical societies.

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists https://twitter.com/acog/status/1760318556200190023 , https://twitter.com/acog/status/1500921732684783617?lang=en,  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/acog_blackhistorymonth-activity-7166084241984856065-3yP1/ , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/acog_womenshistorymonth-activity-6906690022230368257-TlNq/?trk=public_profile_like_view
• National Medical Association https://twitter.com/NationalMedAssn/status/1 528345054313697285
• American Society of Reproductive Medicine https://twitter.com/ASRM_org/status/1577690306857803777

Dr. Christy illustrated a children’s book, Chuckie and Punkin Rule the World, which is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart, Politics and Prose and Books a Million. https://www.mologlobalpublishing.com/product/chuckie-and-punkin-rule-the-world/#
Her work is available at Fine Art America, https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/alicia-christy  Redbubble https://www.redbubble.com/people/blackvet/shop  and UnitingUS.org https://unitingus.org/

The proceeds from Dr. Christy’s art sales benefit a military artist non-profit, UnitingUS.org.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 Paint the Town Labor Day Show.

Kensington

1st Place: Sam Guindon, Obscured (shown above)

2nd Place: Sandra Cane, Hope Chest (Kensington Past)

3rd Place: Tess Perez, Night Painting

Honorable Mention: David Sommers, A Summer Evening in Kensington

Landscape

1st Place: Christina Haslinger, No Rush in the Reeds (shown above)

2nd Place: David Allen, Riley's Loch #24

3rd Place: Janet DeWoskin, In Harmony

Honorable Mentions: Carolyn Boccella Bagin, Tranquility at Monet's Giverny; Jing-Jy Chen, Ginko in Gold; Ann Gordon, Two Heads; Lily Kak, Summer on the C&O Canal; Dorothy McGeorge, Water Lilies; Rebecca Ravenal, Marsh; and Paula Tobenfeld, Red Pollinator

Portrait

1st Place: Lian Sever, La Vie En Rose (shown above)

2nd Place: Mary Vinograd, Jasper's World

3rd Place: Sally Oconnell, Fawn Surprise

Honorable Mentions: Sylvia Douglin, Malika; Susan Uberman, Girl with Zentangle Hair; and Lis Zadravec, A Wind Rose

Still Life

1st Place: Malathi Jayawickrama, Night Lilies (shown above)

2nd Place: Jennifer Barlow, Heirloom

3rd Place: Galina Kolosovskaya, Bouquet of Lisianthus

Honorable Mentions: Janis Crichton, Houseplant and Wine; Zeinat Gelli, Full English, No Tomatoes or Hash Browns;  and Debbie Miller, Flowers and Fruit

Abstract

1st Place: Hiral Joshi, Red Roses (shown above)

2nd Place: Michael, Schoppman, Step Up

3rd Place: Rachael Rice, Fall in the Forest

Honorable Mentions: Rachel Hingst, A Thousand Leagues of Blue; Terry Pellmar, Spiral Road; Katrina Villavicencio, Fisherman's Prayer; and Anastasia Walsh, Carol's Peonies

Photography

1^st Place: Arindam Dasgupta, Shake It Off (shown above)

2^nd Place: Alan Kolnik, Craggy Gardens Sunset

3^rd Place: Jennifer Baum, Dead Horse Point, Ut

Sculpture / 3D

1st Place: Nancy Jakubowski, Interdependence (shown above)

2nd Place: Anastasia Walsh, Saw Boat

3rd Place: Cassandra Karyshyn, The Sewing Paradox

Student Invitational

1st Place: Christopher Barrett, Singer (shown above)

2nd Place: Antonio Santiago-Perez, Yara in Georgetown

Honorable Mentions: Hongxiang Gu, Dead Silence; and Cassandra Karyshyn, Jilian's Swing

Saturday Plein Air Competition

1st place: Lana Portolano (piece shown above)

2nd place: Lauren McDanell

3rd place: Madeleine Greenwald

Name: Eugina M. Becton

Lives in: Kensington
Website: www.melodyscadence.com
Media and subjects: Acrylic paint and flowers
Projects you are currently working on: I am expanding my artistic
horizons by experimenting with new mediums, specifically gouache,
and soft pastels.
Why you joined MAA: Learn, collaborate, volunteer, discover, and
network.

Something fun about you: I will try roller skating again. If that
fails, I plan to crochet.
Artist Biography: Eugina M. Becton is a self-taught artist who discovered her
talent in 2021.  She relies on her intuitive feelings to guide her creative process. Her
acrylic paintings showcase vibrant abstract floral themes, with layering, thick, and
impasto techniques creating depth and texture, with highlights of black and white that
acknowledge the duality within all of us.  Her art encourages us to embrace our true
selves and unique journeys.

On July 6, MAA artists gathered at Shirley Povich Field to capture the Bethesda Big Train baseball team in action. The following week, all artworks were offered for sale at the ballpark. Here's a look at the fabulous pieces!

At the request of our plein air aficionados, we are planning ahead more, providing you with a schedule of plein air outings for the next few months. Here's our lineup for the coming months.

Check our registration page for signup pages as they become available. All events are subject to change and weather dependent.

Sunset and nocturne painting

Kensington, Maryland
June 11, 8-11 pm

Take in the quaint small town in the evening, producing lovely nocturnes in the style of Hopper or your own.

Painting in Friendship Heights

Friendship Heights, Maryland
June 22, 9 am-1:30 pm

MAA is pleased to co-sponsor this plein air event with the Friendship Heights Village Center and Plaza Artist Materials. The neighborhood's visual delights include decorative old houses, three parks, tall apartment buildings, and picturesque restaurants and other businesses – plus a farmers’ market.

Plein air and baseball with the Bethesda Big Train

July 6, 4 pm-onward
Shirley Povich Field, Rockville, Maryland

Artists may use any medium desired to artistically embody the energy and setting of this Bethesda Big Train Baseball team and stadium as they take on the Olney Cropdusters. 

Sunday Is for Sunflowers

July 14, 8-11 am
McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, Poolesville, Maryland

Conditions are quite naturalistic and the sun can be hot, but the scene is simply spectacular. Acres upon acres of sunflowers fill the landscape, with forests and cerulean blue skies their backdrop. You'll feel like you were transported to the South of France!

Paint the Town Labor Day Show Plein Air Competition

August 30-31
Kensington, Maryland

Our annual plein air competition during the Paint the Town Labor Day Show will have extended hours this year. You may get your substrate stamped on Friday night, August 31, and paint any time that evening or until 3 pm the next day. Prizes will be awarded in adult and youth categories.

Montgomery County Agricultural Farm

September 15, 10 am-1 pm
Derwood, Maryland

Fall at the Vineyard

October 7 or 8, 9 am-noon
Windridge Vineyards, Poolesville, Maryland

Garrett Park Victorians

November 10, 9 am-noon
Garret Park, Maryland

June's Member Spotlight: Paul Locher

Lives in:  Silver Spring, MD

Media:  Photographer

Social Media:  Instagram and Facebook: paullocherjr

Website: Locher.photoshelter.com

I started my photography journey about 10 years ago when I bought my first full-frame camera, knowing that photography would carry me through retirement, and beyond. Little did I know how consuming a hobby it can be…and nothing like using the point-and-shoot cameras in days gone by.

As with any journey, it starts with those first steps and eventually evolves into a travelogue. Personally, I always appreciated the statement that “if you want to take interesting pictures, take your camera to interesting places”.   Since then, it’s been interesting at every step, as are the challenges to get better, every day.

I think the learning curve with these cameras is huge, and the intricacies are infinite, which is part of the appeal. Almost every day, there are new places to explore and new ways to look at the variances of light, shadow, and especially color. Even old places are different, depending on the time of day, and season.

Since that first camera, I’ve been fortunate to accumulate some photos that are of interest to others. Photography has really brought out the artistic side that wasn’t fully developed by taking art classes in college. There have now been shows at Buck Gardens, Brookside Gardens, and Windridge Winery. 

Thanks to the Montgomery Art Association, who has been wonderful in providing access to shows, lessons, and member events. Also, a big call out to Colin Treado at American Reprographics where I do all my printing. He has helped me define which camera settings work with today’s printers, and has no problem saying, “That’s not worth printing”.  Also, I really like his attitude, “fix the shot in the camera”, before pressing the trigger.

Congratulations to all who were elected to the MAA Board of Directors for 2024-25. We have 19 members who will serve as officers and committee chairs, with terms running from June 1, 2024-May 31, 2025.

Thank you for giving your time and service to the association!

Officers

• President: Jennifer Barlow
• 1st VP, Programs: Frank Mancino
• 2nd VP, Shows: Kathy Tynan
• 3rd VP, Communications & Marketing: Teresa Sites
• Secretary: Lea Truman
• Treasurer: Anastasia Walsh

Committee Chairs

• Art Community Partnership Chair: Paula Zeller
• Children's activities: Judith Levine
• Equipment: Joyce Koeneman
• Field Trip Chair: Jonathan Ege
• Marketing: Ella Soroori
• Membership: Roxana Rojas
• Online Shows: Wendy Shiau
• Paint the Town Labor Day Show: Anastasia Walsh
• Plein Air Events: Lynn Lewis & Patti Connell (co-chairs)
• Programs: Hiral Joshi
• Publicity: Marta Lopez Teigeiro & Mars Davis (co-chairs)
• Workshops: Angie Coulson