ARTIST STATEMENT: My paintings in the “Visual Insights into Life’s Beauty” series celebrate life and how we choose to honor it with our words. Words are powerful expressions of the human experience. Words are transcendent – building bridges between color, shape, and texture and telling stories that translate into all languages. Poetry, literature, and words inspire my artworks. When words move me, I let my intuition drive my creativity, helping me to discover how a word or several words look and feel. I use vibrant colors to form shapes and create textures by dabbing materials into the surface or by removing paint. Meditation allows me to physically pause and process my mind’s movements to capture them intuitively with a brush in hand.
Working in watercolors on yupo – a non-absorbent medium – fascinates me. Exploring the relationship between my paints, brush, and water brings me joy. Water evaporation on yupo affects textures and color brightness. On any given day, you may find me creating in a cold studio to extend the drying process or in my garden in bright light watching water disappear before my eyes. These aspects of the painting process bring me back to the power of our words: they may note fleeting moments or stick with us for years.
Working in watercolors on yupo – a non-absorbent medium – fascinates me. Exploring the relationship between my paints, brush, and water brings me joy. Water evaporation on yupo affects textures and color brightness. On any given day, you may find me creating in a cold studio to extend the drying process or in my garden in bright light watching water disappear before my eyes. These aspects of the painting process bring me back to the power of our words: they may note fleeting moments or stick with us for years.
COMISSIONS: Do you have a specific idea for a unique painting in mind? Lyrics you love that could become a title? Whatever your needs, I would to create a work of art that you will love. Commissioned artwork prices range from $60 (4 x 6") to $350 (26 x 20"). Contact me to start your unique project.
Work created by Martina Sestakova is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Work created by Martina Sestakova is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Watercolors on Textiles: "Sculpted Paintings"
My other creative adventure merges my two passions: textiles and colors. I work on cotton and other surfaces applying watercolors and other mediums. The drape of textiles has always delighted me visually. I fold, gather, stretch, and manipulate the fabric in numerous ways creating a painted 3-dimensional sculpture. My sculpted paintings are on display in a variety of private and public settings.
Exhibitions and Happenings
Current Exhibitions
Online: "Latela Curatorial x Artsy: Women in the Arts Online Exhibition", Oct-Nov 2020
Online: "Abstracts" Montgomery Art Association, Nov-Dec 2020
Online: "Self-Portrait" Ruby Projects, Fairfax, VA Nov 2020
Online: "Portraits" Montgomery Art Association, Oct-Nov 2020
Past Exhibitions
Online: "Creative Distance" Shop Made in DC, Oct-Nov 2020
Online: "Life's Simple Pleasures" Washington Water Color Association, Sep-Oct 2020
Online: "Urban Landscapes" Montgomery Art Association, Aug-Sep 2020
Online: "Orange Juiced" Emerge Gallery on Artsy, Sep-Nov 2020
In-person: "Making New Connections" Frame of Mine Gallery, Washington, DC Sep 2020
Online: "Art All Night" Tenleytown Main Street, Sep 2020
Online: "Natural Landscapes" Montgomery Art Association, Jul-Aug 2020
Online: "Isolation" Emerge Gallery on Artsy, Aug-Sep 2020
"Carte Blanche" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, Jul-Aug 2020
"Selected Artworks of Kensington" Kensington Town Hall, Kensington, MD, 2019/2020
Online: "20th Anniversary" Artomatic, Jul-Aug 2020
Online: "Creative Expressions" Montgomery Art Association, Jun-Jul 2020
"Art from the Heart" Art Watch DC, Bethesda, MD, Jul 2020
Online: "Our Stories" Montgomery Art Association, May-Jun 2020
Online: "Mother May I" Art Works Gallery Richmond, May-Jun 2020
"World Central Kitchen Fundraiser" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, Jun 2020
Online: "Art at a Distance" Art Works Gallery Richmond, Apr-May 2020
Online: "Colorful Explorations" Montgomery Art Association, Apr 2020
Online: "Oasis Art Show" Montgomery Art Association, Apr 2020
Online: "Art & Poetry" Kensington Park Library, Kensington, MD, Apr 2020
"Solo Show" Davis Library, Bethesda, MD, Mar 2020
"Colorful Explorations" Glenview Mansion, Rockville, MD, Mar 1-27 2020
"Montgomery Art Association Show" Oasis Art Gallery, Bethesda, MD, Jan 13-Apr 10 2020
"Solo Show" Java Nation, Kensington, MD, Feb/Mar 2020
"Solo Show" Simon Says Yoga Studio, Bethesda, MD, Feb 2020
"2020 Faculty Show" VisArts, Rockville, MD, Jan 10-Feb 9 2020
"True Blue Bliss" Meeting House Gallery, Columbia, MD, Nov 2019-Jan 11 2020
"Sounds of Winter" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, Dec 2019
"Paint the Town Labor Day Show" Kensington Armory, Kensington, MD, 2019
"Charmed, I'm Sure" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2019
"Seasonal Visions" Montgomery Art Association at Artists & Makers, Rockville, MD, 2019
"Spring/Summer 2019 Exhibition" Oasis Art Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 2019
“It's a Wonderful World” Friendship Heights Center, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019
"Visual Insights into Life's Beauty" (solo) Plaza Artist, Bethesda, MD, 2018-2019
“Creative Expressions” Friendship Heights Center, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019
"Into the World" The Daily Dish Restaurant, Silver Spring, MD, 2019
"Montgomery Art Association Show" Oasis Art Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 2019
“One House by Art Watch DC" BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, 2018
“Ebb & Flow” 505 North Gallery & Studio, Frederick, MD, 2018
“Rust Is An Artist” (solo) The Muse, Frederick, MD, 2018
“1460 Wallmountables” DC Art Center, Washington, DC, 2017
Exhibitions Co-curated
"Carte Blanche" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2020
"Wesley Berg: The Infinity in the Intimate" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2020
"Charmed, I'm Sure" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2019
Awards
3rd Place “Creative Expressions 2019”, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019, Juror: Gaby Mizes
Grants
Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund, Montgomery County Government, 2020
Affiliations
Montgomery Art Association (Social Media Committee Chair), Kensington, MD
Capitol Hill Art League, Washington, DC
Washington Water Color Association, Washington, DC
Online: "Latela Curatorial x Artsy: Women in the Arts Online Exhibition", Oct-Nov 2020
Online: "Abstracts" Montgomery Art Association, Nov-Dec 2020
Online: "Self-Portrait" Ruby Projects, Fairfax, VA Nov 2020
Online: "Portraits" Montgomery Art Association, Oct-Nov 2020
Past Exhibitions
Online: "Creative Distance" Shop Made in DC, Oct-Nov 2020
Online: "Life's Simple Pleasures" Washington Water Color Association, Sep-Oct 2020
Online: "Urban Landscapes" Montgomery Art Association, Aug-Sep 2020
Online: "Orange Juiced" Emerge Gallery on Artsy, Sep-Nov 2020
In-person: "Making New Connections" Frame of Mine Gallery, Washington, DC Sep 2020
Online: "Art All Night" Tenleytown Main Street, Sep 2020
Online: "Natural Landscapes" Montgomery Art Association, Jul-Aug 2020
Online: "Isolation" Emerge Gallery on Artsy, Aug-Sep 2020
"Carte Blanche" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, Jul-Aug 2020
"Selected Artworks of Kensington" Kensington Town Hall, Kensington, MD, 2019/2020
Online: "20th Anniversary" Artomatic, Jul-Aug 2020
Online: "Creative Expressions" Montgomery Art Association, Jun-Jul 2020
"Art from the Heart" Art Watch DC, Bethesda, MD, Jul 2020
Online: "Our Stories" Montgomery Art Association, May-Jun 2020
Online: "Mother May I" Art Works Gallery Richmond, May-Jun 2020
"World Central Kitchen Fundraiser" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, Jun 2020
Online: "Art at a Distance" Art Works Gallery Richmond, Apr-May 2020
Online: "Colorful Explorations" Montgomery Art Association, Apr 2020
Online: "Oasis Art Show" Montgomery Art Association, Apr 2020
Online: "Art & Poetry" Kensington Park Library, Kensington, MD, Apr 2020
"Solo Show" Davis Library, Bethesda, MD, Mar 2020
"Colorful Explorations" Glenview Mansion, Rockville, MD, Mar 1-27 2020
"Montgomery Art Association Show" Oasis Art Gallery, Bethesda, MD, Jan 13-Apr 10 2020
"Solo Show" Java Nation, Kensington, MD, Feb/Mar 2020
"Solo Show" Simon Says Yoga Studio, Bethesda, MD, Feb 2020
"2020 Faculty Show" VisArts, Rockville, MD, Jan 10-Feb 9 2020
"True Blue Bliss" Meeting House Gallery, Columbia, MD, Nov 2019-Jan 11 2020
"Sounds of Winter" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, Dec 2019
"Paint the Town Labor Day Show" Kensington Armory, Kensington, MD, 2019
"Charmed, I'm Sure" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2019
"Seasonal Visions" Montgomery Art Association at Artists & Makers, Rockville, MD, 2019
"Spring/Summer 2019 Exhibition" Oasis Art Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 2019
“It's a Wonderful World” Friendship Heights Center, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019
"Visual Insights into Life's Beauty" (solo) Plaza Artist, Bethesda, MD, 2018-2019
“Creative Expressions” Friendship Heights Center, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019
"Into the World" The Daily Dish Restaurant, Silver Spring, MD, 2019
"Montgomery Art Association Show" Oasis Art Gallery, Bethesda, MD, 2019
“One House by Art Watch DC" BlackRock Center for the Arts, Germantown, MD, 2018
“Ebb & Flow” 505 North Gallery & Studio, Frederick, MD, 2018
“Rust Is An Artist” (solo) The Muse, Frederick, MD, 2018
“1460 Wallmountables” DC Art Center, Washington, DC, 2017
Exhibitions Co-curated
"Carte Blanche" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2020
"Wesley Berg: The Infinity in the Intimate" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2020
"Charmed, I'm Sure" Adah Rose Gallery, Kensington, MD, 2019
Awards
3rd Place “Creative Expressions 2019”, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019, Juror: Gaby Mizes
Grants
Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund, Montgomery County Government, 2020
Affiliations
Montgomery Art Association (Social Media Committee Chair), Kensington, MD
Capitol Hill Art League, Washington, DC
Washington Water Color Association, Washington, DC