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 acrylic inks and 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 acrylic inks and 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.
Contact Me About Commissions
Do you have a specific idea for a unique painting in mind? I would love to create a work of art that you will love. Prices range from $65 (4 x 6") to $395 (30 x 20"). Contact me.
What my clients have to say about their commissioned artworks...
"Our wedding date is the 27th - but I couldn’t wait any longer and showed him your incredible painting this morning! He loves it. I love it. We can’t wait to hang it on our wall! We’re thinking right over our bed or on the wall of our dining room. We’ve already discussed commissioning more from you to add to our collection. Thank you again for such a perfect and unique expression of this moment in time for us. This will be an heirloom we pass down for generations to come." (Nikki)
"IT IS BEAUTIFUL. Oh my goodness this is the best Christmas present ever!!! This is so wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!" (Jessica)
"Thank you sooo much! It's beautiful. I love it. My first commissioned piece. I like colorful pieces that are meaningful." (Sonia)
"Our wedding date is the 27th - but I couldn’t wait any longer and showed him your incredible painting this morning! He loves it. I love it. We can’t wait to hang it on our wall! We’re thinking right over our bed or on the wall of our dining room. We’ve already discussed commissioning more from you to add to our collection. Thank you again for such a perfect and unique expression of this moment in time for us. This will be an heirloom we pass down for generations to come." (Nikki)
"IT IS BEAUTIFUL. Oh my goodness this is the best Christmas present ever!!! This is so wonderful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!" (Jessica)
"Thank you sooo much! It's beautiful. I love it. My first commissioned piece. I like colorful pieces that are meaningful." (Sonia)
Bring My Artworks to Your Home
You are welcome to shop my artworks at the locations below or in my online shop. I post paintings on Instagram. Follow along for a daily color boost. Enjoy!
- Adah Rose Gallery (Kensington, MD)
- Locally Crafted (Gaithersburg, MD)
- MissPrints & MasterPieces (online)
- OAK (Kensington, MD)
- Studio K Collective (Alexandria, VA)
- The Muse (Frederick, MD)
Work created by Martina Sestakova is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County and the Maryland State Arts Council.
Exhibitions and Happenings
Current Exhibitions
In-person: "Faculty Show" VisArts, Rockville, MD Jan-Feb 2022
Online: "Tiny Art Show" Shop53 Tattoo Studio, Dec 2021
In-Person: #ArtHappensHere AHCMC, National Capital Trolley Museum, Jul-Dec 2021
In-person: "Beauty is Everywhere" Capitol Hill Art League, Apr-Dec 2021
In-person: "Renew, Refresh, Revitalize" Capitol Hill Art League, Apr-Dec 2021
In-person: "Abstracts" Arlington Dermatology, Jun-Dec 2021
Upcoming Exhibitions
In-person: "MAA at OASIS Art Gallery" Bethesda, MD Jan-Apr 2022
In-person: "MAA at Windridge" Darnestown, MD Jan-Apr 2022
Online: "BEST in Show" Emerge Gallery, Artsy, Jan-Mar 2022
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 CHAL "The Bridges We've Built" Online, Juror: Jaime Sonnenberg, 2021
Honorable Mention CHAL "Laughing with Friends" Online, Juror: Erik Ramsey, 2021
Winner #ArtHappensHere Mural/Banner Project AHCMC, Silver Spring, MD 2021
3rd Place “Creative Expressions 2019”, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019, Juror: Gaby Mizes
Grants
Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund, Montgomery County Government, 2020
Maryland State Arts Council Emergency Fund, State of Maryland, 2021
Affiliations
Capitol Hill Art League, Washington, DC
Ch/Art Chevy Chase Artists, Chevy Chase, MD
Maryland State Arts Council, Artist Directory, Baltimore, MD
Montgomery Art Association (Social Media Committee Chair), Kensington, MD
Washington Water Color Association, Washington, DC
Women's Caucus for Art of Greater Washington, DC
Online Artist Directories
Culture Spot MC
Fine Art America
Maryland State Arts Council
Now Be Here
Plogix Art Gallery
VisArts Faculty/Artist Shop
Where Are the Women Artists
Past Exhibitions
In-Person: "Solo Show" Kensington Park Library, Kensington, MD, Dec 2021
Online: "PETIT" Emerge Gallery, Artsy, Nov-Dec 2021
In-person: "Cultivating Joy" Nishan Halim DMD Dentistry, Jul-Dec 2021
Online: "Artist's Sunday" World Wide Web, Nov 28, 2021
In-person: "10x10" Show & Sale" MAA at Goldman Gallery, Oct-Nov 2021
In-Person: "Solo Show" Davis Library, Bethesda, MD, Oct 2021
In-person: Solo Show Plaza Art Bethesda, Jul-Aug 2021
Online: "Creative Expressions" Montgomery Art Association, Jun-Jul 2021
Online: "Our Stories, Our Journeys" Montgomery Art Association, Apr-Jun 2021
Online: "Out of Order" Maryland Art Place, May 2021
Online: "Fotographia" Emerge Gallery on Artsy, Apr-May 2021
Online: "SHE DC" Shop Made in DC, Mar-Apr 2021
Online: "Light & Hope" Montgomery Art Association, Feb-Apr 2021
Online: "12th Annual Abstracts Art Exhibition" Light Space & Time Gallery, Mar 2021
Online: "Virtual Exhibition" Hill Center Galleries & Capitol Hill Art League, Jan-Mar 2021
Online: "Faculty Show" VisArts, Jan-Feb 2021
In-person: "Symbolism" Frame of Mine Gallery, Washington, DC Dec-Jan 2021
Online: "Abstracts" Montgomery Art Association, Nov-Dec 2020
Online: "Portraits" Montgomery Art Association, Oct-Nov 2020
Online: "Self-Portrait" Ruby Projects, Fairfax, VA Nov-Dec 2020
Online: "Latela Curatorial x Artsy: Women in the Arts Online Exhibition", Oct-Dec 2020
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
In-person: "Faculty Show" VisArts, Rockville, MD Jan-Feb 2022
Online: "Tiny Art Show" Shop53 Tattoo Studio, Dec 2021
In-Person: #ArtHappensHere AHCMC, National Capital Trolley Museum, Jul-Dec 2021
In-person: "Beauty is Everywhere" Capitol Hill Art League, Apr-Dec 2021
In-person: "Renew, Refresh, Revitalize" Capitol Hill Art League, Apr-Dec 2021
In-person: "Abstracts" Arlington Dermatology, Jun-Dec 2021
Upcoming Exhibitions
In-person: "MAA at OASIS Art Gallery" Bethesda, MD Jan-Apr 2022
In-person: "MAA at Windridge" Darnestown, MD Jan-Apr 2022
Online: "BEST in Show" Emerge Gallery, Artsy, Jan-Mar 2022
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 CHAL "The Bridges We've Built" Online, Juror: Jaime Sonnenberg, 2021
Honorable Mention CHAL "Laughing with Friends" Online, Juror: Erik Ramsey, 2021
Winner #ArtHappensHere Mural/Banner Project AHCMC, Silver Spring, MD 2021
3rd Place “Creative Expressions 2019”, Chevy Chase, MD, 2019, Juror: Gaby Mizes
Grants
Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund, Montgomery County Government, 2020
Maryland State Arts Council Emergency Fund, State of Maryland, 2021
Affiliations
Capitol Hill Art League, Washington, DC
Ch/Art Chevy Chase Artists, Chevy Chase, MD
Maryland State Arts Council, Artist Directory, Baltimore, MD
Montgomery Art Association (Social Media Committee Chair), Kensington, MD
Washington Water Color Association, Washington, DC
Women's Caucus for Art of Greater Washington, DC
Online Artist Directories
Culture Spot MC
Fine Art America
Maryland State Arts Council
Now Be Here
Plogix Art Gallery
VisArts Faculty/Artist Shop
Where Are the Women Artists
Past Exhibitions
In-Person: "Solo Show" Kensington Park Library, Kensington, MD, Dec 2021
Online: "PETIT" Emerge Gallery, Artsy, Nov-Dec 2021
In-person: "Cultivating Joy" Nishan Halim DMD Dentistry, Jul-Dec 2021
Online: "Artist's Sunday" World Wide Web, Nov 28, 2021
In-person: "10x10" Show & Sale" MAA at Goldman Gallery, Oct-Nov 2021
In-Person: "Solo Show" Davis Library, Bethesda, MD, Oct 2021
In-person: Solo Show Plaza Art Bethesda, Jul-Aug 2021
Online: "Creative Expressions" Montgomery Art Association, Jun-Jul 2021
Online: "Our Stories, Our Journeys" Montgomery Art Association, Apr-Jun 2021
Online: "Out of Order" Maryland Art Place, May 2021
Online: "Fotographia" Emerge Gallery on Artsy, Apr-May 2021
Online: "SHE DC" Shop Made in DC, Mar-Apr 2021
Online: "Light & Hope" Montgomery Art Association, Feb-Apr 2021
Online: "12th Annual Abstracts Art Exhibition" Light Space & Time Gallery, Mar 2021
Online: "Virtual Exhibition" Hill Center Galleries & Capitol Hill Art League, Jan-Mar 2021
Online: "Faculty Show" VisArts, Jan-Feb 2021
In-person: "Symbolism" Frame of Mine Gallery, Washington, DC Dec-Jan 2021
Online: "Abstracts" Montgomery Art Association, Nov-Dec 2020
Online: "Portraits" Montgomery Art Association, Oct-Nov 2020
Online: "Self-Portrait" Ruby Projects, Fairfax, VA Nov-Dec 2020
Online: "Latela Curatorial x Artsy: Women in the Arts Online Exhibition", Oct-Dec 2020
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