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 theme of Fall. Scroll down to enjoy a lovely array of ideas!

Jean Fin, "Purple Dream" (18x20” acrylic on canvas). This was one of my first attempts to paint more than one blossom.

Maria-Elena Lazarte, "Purple African Violets" (oil painting on linen panel 5x7”). I love to paint flowers and gardening. I have different colors of the African violets growing in my home and this one of them.

Marti Wells, "Enchanted Autumn" (4x8" watercolor). I put down some colors I liked. With a wet brush I shaped the trees.

Martina Sestakova, "What Is Best for You" (Acrylic on yupo 10x8"). This painting is a visual meditation on our best interest in terms of our mental and physical health. Being aware of keeps us going and brings us joy. Enjoy this vibrant piece!

Christopher Hoppe (oil on canvas 24x36"). My perspective of looking up at really tall trees laying on the forest ground during fall.

Judith Levine, "Cloud Walker" (9x12" watercolor on paper). I didn't really have a vision other than a figure when I started, just soaked my paper and began adding paints. And then, suddenly, it was there and it felt right.

Amelia De Silva, "Iris" (oil on canvas 8x11"). Irises are the flowers of my childhood. My mom`s garden was filled with the purple ones. Love them for their magnificent colors, tonality and intriguingly shaped petals..

Jennifer Crouch, “Grapes I” (7x9" oil on paper). Purple is my favorite color so I love that this simple, loose study allowed me to use so many variations of the color.

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. 

Our exhibition team has been busy designing a varied and creative lineup of shows for 2022, including several venues that are new to us. Below is the schedule for the year ahead, so that you can start planning.

Tasting Room at Windridge Vineyard - ongoing

We're thrilled to continue our quarterly installments at vineyard in Darnestown, Maryland. Windridge's owner curates the display, selecting from your submissions. The next show is themed "seasonal inspirations." Submissions accepted December 2-12. Show manager: Kathy Tynan. More info

MAA at the Oasis Gallery: January 10-April 15

Registration opens November 17 for this in-person show at the Oasis Gallery inside Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda, Maryland. MAA members will also offer workshops for Oasis' lifelong learners. Show manager: Helen Wood. More info

Two Kensington Park Library Shows: February & November

February's show will feature 25 wall works, plus some 3D pieces, all meeting the theme "Ode to Joy." November's show provides an opportunity to showcase small works meeting the theme "For the Love of Books." Show manager: Amelia DeSilva. More info

The Nature of Art, Brookside Gardens: March 15-April 4

MAA will be there as spring blossoms in one of the county's prettiest parks. We'll display nature-themed artwork on the walls of the spacious and light-filled visitor center. This is often one of our most popular shows! Show manager: Mita Lazarte

Benjamin Gaither Center Exhibition: April-June

New! The center offers day and evening classes and special events, resulting in consistent visitors throughout its art-lined halls. We'll show around 40 works for a three-month span. Show managers: Holly Buehler and Therese Capal

MAA at Busboys & Poets: May-July

New! Busboys & Poets is a restaurant and bookstore “where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted." That mission is the theme of a three-month show at the Takoma (DC) location. Show managers: Lily Kak and Deb Walmer

All Abstracts at the Daily Dish: May-June

New! The brightly hued walls at this Silver Spring restaurant lend themselves well to abstract paintings. We'll host a small show of all abstracts to start summer. Show manager: Jamie Downs

Creative Expressions: June

We always look forward to this marquee event on our annual calendar, with a judge awarding prizes in multiple categories. Show managers: Sandra Cane and Amelia DeSilva

Paint the Town Labor Day Show: September 3-5

Our biggest event of the year! The annual Paint the Town Labor Day Show and plein air competition is September 3-5 in Kensington, Maryland. Show managers: Anastasia Walsh and Paula Zeller

Our Stories: Loving our Planet: November-December

Our third annual online show provides an opportunity for artists to write a short vignette to tell the story behind their piece of art. The theme of the 2022 show is "loving our planet." Show manager: Martina Sestakova

MAA at the Goldman Art Gallery: TBD

Our 2021 show "GIFTED: 10x10 Works" was such a success that the Goldman Art Gallery team has asked us to return next year. Details to come.

• More Info: Full details about these exhibitions will be added to our website as soon as they become available. Additional shows may be added, too, and all shows and dates are subject to change. We'll always send you info via email and post it on social media; check our 2022 calendar for updates, too.
  
  
• Volunteer with Us: Interested in being a show manager or helping to produce a show? Email us.

Lives in: Silver Spring, Maryland

Website: www.rosaarroyo.com

Social Media: Instagram @larosaarroyo

Media and subjects: Photography and Painting

Why you joined MAA: To become a part of a local artist's community to help facilitate my encouragement and growth and those of my fellow members. 

Something fun about you: I am inspired by the two to three sketchbooks my 12-year-old daughter fills in a week. I live my life vicariously through her art and hope that one day I can be as dedicated as she is.

Artist Biography LaRosa is an art teacher with 29 years of experience. She is originally from Columbia, South Carolina. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from Winthrop University and an MAT from the University of South Carolina. In addition, she is a National Board-Certified Teacher. and a member of the ART21 cohort program. During her summers, she enjoys attending workshops and her favorite is SCAD in Savannah, GA. She is married with 2 children and a cockapoo.

Please enjoy viewing several of LaRosa's beautiful artworks. 

    

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 theme of Fall. Scroll down to enjoy a lovely array of ideas!

Rosemary Behizadeh Yue, "Russet Grasses" (12x12” acrylic on canvas). Tressa Hummel, reference photo credit. Although the tree is still green, we can tell from the grasses that Fall is already here.

Maria-Elena Lazarte, "Autumn" (16x20” acrylics on canvas). This painting is one of my early paintings on acrylics. I did the setup for this painting dried hydrangeas and purple coneflowers, one of my favorite purple bottles and the tiny Pumpkin to represent Fall.

Anastasia Walsh, “Falling in Love” (paper collage on ceramic tile 6x6”). I was inspired by Zora Neale Hurston’s quote, “I didn’t just fall in love. I made a parachute jump.”

Christopher Hoppe, "Autumn's Crimson Passion" (oil on canvas 18x24"). Fall is my favorite time and was painting trees because I love painting trees.

Vicky Surles, “December Deer” (watercolor 18x22”). A visiting deer hoping for a food handout at Massanutten Mountain resort.

Martina Sestakova, "The River Keeps Flowing" (Acrylic ink on yupo, 4x6"). This painting is a result of my recent camping adventures, often by delightful creeks. What better adventure in the Fall! Water is so healing. An ever-changing stream that just keeps going: a sign of hope to me. I hope you find this piece calming, yet exciting. A vivid exploration of indigo, which is so lovely.

Leslie Kraff, "Hues of October" (11x14" oil).

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. 

by Jennifer Crouch
MAA Volunteer

Forty hours. That's how long it took Alden Schofield to complete Passage of Time, the recipient of the Bertha Clum Award, the top award at MAA's Paint the Town art show this September.

Working from an original photo, Schofield switched gears after he started the piece, deciding to incorporate an older engine to show the changes in time, rather than the Marc train that is in the inspiration photo.

"My goal was to give people the view of changes throughout time, to reminisce about the past and how it would have appeared. In addition, painting from a different approach than normally expected," Alden said.

Though Schofield's style is typically realistic, he more often paints landscapes. Attempting a painting that was both "mechanical and ghostly" stretched his creativity, obviously, to successful results.

With many pieces in the Kensington category in this year's Paint the Town art show, competition was high for the top award. A distinction Schofield appreciated, "I am very honored to receive such a prestigious award." 

Schofield's words of wisdom for other artists? "I feel that challenging oneself to do new things is quite rewarding in many ways. It continues your growth as an artist and hopefully the recognition."

The Bertha Clum Award is named for a lifelong Kensington resident passionate about art and gardening. She passed away in 1986. She was an original founder of the Paint the Town art show.

Montgomery Municipal Cable published this video about the local icon earlier this year in honor of Women's History Month: Remembering Kensington Icon Bertha Clum.

Lives in: North Bethesda, Maryland

Media: Oil, Watercolor, Tempera, Pastel, Chinese Brush Painting, Calligraphy, Photography 

Subjects: Landscapes, people, animals, flowers

Website: www.sushilaarts.com

Social media: instagram/com/sushila.arts

Why you joined MAA: My husband who is an art enthusiast encouraged me to share my arts with local community and to engage with them. 

Something fun about you: I love to disguise myself and go trick-or-treating at my siblings’ homes. 

Artist’s biography: "Born and grew up in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sushila has been drawing and painting since she was a small child. A graduate of Corcoran School of the Art & Design, Washington, DC, Sushila works as a graphic designer while enjoying fine arts and photography. Sushila’s paintings and photographs have been displayed at numerous galleries and cultural events both here and abroad including the World Bank and the Young Professionals Association of the United Nations, National Gallery of Sri Lanka and through the Maryland Institute College of Art’s (MICA) study abroad art program in Greece."

Congratulations and a round of applause to Sushila on winning an honorable mention in our 2021 Paint the Town Plein Air Competition. Please enjoy viewing a sample of Sushila's wonderful work.

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 theme of travel. Scroll down to enjoy a lovely array of ideas!

Maria-Elena Lazarte, Laguna de Paron (acrylic on canvas 20x16”). This painting is from a picture that I took when I was visiting my hometown Caraz-Peru in 2019. This is lake is so beautiful with the turquoise water surrounding by the highest snow mountains.

Freddi Batt Weiner, Purple Mountains Majesty. Inspired by my recent travel to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone.

Jean Fin, Glacier Lake (acrylic on board 12x12"). I was fascinated by the colorful stones under the clear water.

Rosemary Behizadeh Yue, Fall Fields (acrylic on canvas 12x12”). This is part of my highway series inspired by an autumn drive down route 81.

Judith Levine, Superstition Saguaros (crayon on paper 9X12"). I did this while in Arizona. I love saguaro cactuses and these two made me smile as the looked like they were dancing together. 

Pritha Srinivasan, Tuscan Heat (watercolor 16x12”). This is based on my trip to the ancient beautiful Tuscan town of Volterra during a heatwave! Every alley provided a gelato break.

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.  

By Joey P. Manlapaz
Judge, 2021 Paint the Town Labor Day Show

It is never easy to categorize excellence among more than 400 pieces of top-notch artwork, and yet I was faced with such a challenge in judging this show. I was very impressed with the craftsmanship in the execution of each work and have deep admiration for each artist’s sincerity in their creation. I am certain that you will agree with me that the awardees very much deserve all the merit and applause for works well done.

Kensington Category

1st place (Bertha Clum Award): Passage of Time by Alden Schofield
2nd place: Manse at a Glance by Carol Leo
3rd place: The Under Appreciated Beauty of Howard Avenue by David Sommers
Honorable mentions: Across from the Bookshop by Susan Friend; Aqua Flora by Nancy Randa; Train Station Crossing by Antonia Tiu

Landscape Category

1st place: Darth Vader by Ann Gordon
2nd place: Shed by Sharon Reinckens
3rd place: Basil Glow by Jennifer Barlow
Honorable mentions: Summer Skies by Rosemary Yue; Falling Leaves by Ruja Shemer; Middletown Ice Cream by Susan Sinclair Galego; Rising Above by Christina Haslinger; Under Africa Sky by Helen Wood; Calm After the Storm by Francisca Oviedo

Still Life Category

1st place: At the Diner by Kathleen Tevnan
2nd place: Clean Up by Ellen Yahuda
3rd place: Last Flowers of Spring by Ann Pielert
Honorable mentions: Lemons by Mita Lazarte, Coming and Going by Angela Lacy; Glad Tidings by Pat Coates

Abstract / 3D Category

1st place: Pareidolia #10 by Susan diRende
2nd place: Deep Blue Companion by Jenny Wilson
3rd place: It Takes a Village by Ann Albright
Honorable mentions: At Last by Laura Aikman; Chasm by Anastasia Walsh; Tempest by Cathy Hirsh

Portrait Category

1st place: Gone Man by Jack Hammond
2nd place: Giddy Up by Amelia de Silva
3rd place: The Courage in His Eyes by Pritha Srinivasan
Honorable mentions: Royalty is a Birthright by Deb Walmer; The Italian by Ann Gordon; A Good Place by Jean Finkleman

Plein Air Competition

1st place: Circle Park by Rajendra KC
2nd place: Bethesda Chimney by Rob Pearlman
3rd place: Band Play in the Park by Vicky Zhou
Honorable mentions: Antique Row by Beverly Hollrah; Johnsons by Marci Green; Chat by Sushila M. Bloom

Artist Invitational

1st place: Snow Day by Alison Leigh Menke
2nd place: Amish Farm 3 by Jean Hirons
3rd place: Bottles by Michael Shibley
Honorable mention: Fall Colors in Rock Creek Park by Gonzalo Ruiz Navarro

Blandine Broomfield, Hiral Joshi, Anastasiya Kavalenka, David Sommers and Ellen Yahuda teamed up to artistically interpret the quote “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief … You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.”

One major communality emerged among each person’s thoughts: grief with hope. Each artist went on to create an individual piece of art emulating the theme and then the group assembled and collaged the paintings to create a cohesive piece of artwork.

Grief with Hope will be displayed at the Goldman Art Gallery at the Bender JCC in Rockville through October 10. The reception is September 23 from 5:30-7 pm.

Lives in: Poolesville  

Social Media: Instagram: @shasha_w_t_f

Media and subjects: I am continuously seeking opportunities to grow by practicing figure and life drawings.  In my studio, I mostly work in oil paint and I do a lot of animal and human portraits as well as landscapes. I also recently collaborated with a storyteller who wrote a collection of short autobiographical stories; I produced accompanying digital Illustrations.

 Why you joined MAA: I recently moved back to Maryland after living in Davis, California, for 8 years. While in Davis, I was involved in artist groups and was on the board of directors for an artist collective. Working with and around other artists gave me opportunities to grow and learn. I joined MAA to connect with other artists here in the DC area. 

Something fun about you: While moving across country I traveled with 6 chickens, 2 cats and a dog which proved to be pretty self-sustaining since the chickens continued to lay eggs every day of the trip!

Artist biography: Shannon is a self-taught painter and illustrator currently living in Poolesville. She spent the last 8 years painting on the west coast in Davis, CA, where she was on the Board of Directors of Third Space Arts Collective. Shannon enjoys painting oil landscapes and portraits, as well as digital illustration.  During the past year she illustrated a collection of short stories by a California based author. Since moving to Poolesville this summer Shannon has enjoyed painting some of the local farmscapes and hopes to participate in some local workshops and meet local artists. When she isn’t doing art, Shannon is currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education.

Please enjoy viewing a sample of Shannon’s work: