Original Abstracts on Yupo to Delight Your Heart
My paintings in the “Visual Insights into Life’s Beauty” series explore how we celebrate life with our words. Literature inspires me: words build bridges between colors and shapes. The paintings are visual meditations on language connecting us to ourselves and others. I work on yupo, a non-absorbent medium. You may find me in a cold studio to extend the drying process or in my garden in sunlight watching water disappear before my eyes. These aspects of the process bring me back to the power of words: sometimes they note fleeting moments, other times they stick around for years.
Commissions
Do you have an idea for a unique painting? I would love to create a work of art you will love. Prices range from $65 (4 x 6") to $450 (30 x 20"). Contact me.
Bring My Artworks to Your Home
You are invited to shop my paintings at the locations below or on Instagram. Follow along for a daily color boost!
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Exhibitions and Happenings
Current Exhibitions
In-person: Group Show at OASIS Montgomery Art Association, Rockville, MD Jan-Apr 2023
In-person: Group Show * Bluebird Yoga Studio, Washington, DC Nov 2022-Feb 2023
In-person: "Joyful Life" Brookland Busboys & Poets, Washington, DC Nov 2022-Feb 2023
Online: Monthly Topic Montgomery Art Association, Ongoing 2022
In-Person: #ArtHappensHere AHCMC, National Capital Trolley Museum, Silver Spring, MD Jul 2021-Present
Upcoming Exhibitions
In-person: Celebrating Life's Beauty Solo Show at Chesapeake Framing Company, Kensington, MD Mar 2023
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
Features
"Meet Martina Sestakova" CanvasRebel, Dec 2022
"Conversations with Martina Sestakova" Voyage Baltimore, Dec 2022
"Interview with Martina Sestakova" The Art Coaching Club Podcast, Oct 2022
"Featured Artist" DC Creators Network, Sep 2022
"Relief from the Heat" Montgomery Community Media, Aug 2022
Natur(ally), A Virtual Community Art Exhibition in Celebration of Earth Day, Apr 2022
Women's History Month: 5 Artists and 5 Questions, Montgomery Art Association, Mar 2022
Bringing Joy to Children Through Local Art Community, North Bethesda Neighbors Magazine, Mar 2022
Art Workshop, Art + Design & Craft Club, Feb 2022
Podcast, Environmental Professional's Radio, Jan 2022
Studio Visit (via Zoom), Silver Spring Town Center, Jan 2022 Zoom Passcode: E4.gD3B?)
The Joys of Watercolor, Washington Beacon Magazine, Dec 2021
Artist's Feature, Kensington Neighbors Magazine, Nov 2021
Nature's Gift to Artists, Plenty Magazine, Fall Issue, 2021
Capitol Hill Art League’s Mind of the Artist Feature, Jan 2021
How Art Classes at Retirement Communities Connect Past and Present and Build Future, HealthCommU, Apr 2018
Awards
2nd Place MAA "Rhapsody of a Hug" Paint the Town Show, Kensington, MD 2022 Juror: Lenny Campello
3rd Place CHAL "Rupture" Online, Juror: Nan Raphael, 2022
Honorable Mention CHAL "Every Moment is Precious", Juror: Elin Whitney-Smith, 2021
3rd Place CHAL "The Bridges We've Built" Online, Juror: Jaime Sonnenberg, 2021
Honorable Mention CHAL "Laughing with Friends", Juror: Erik Ramsey, 2021
Winner #ArtHappensHere Mural/Banner Project AHCMC, Silver Spring, MD 2021
3rd Place “Creative Expressions 2019”, Chevy Chase, MD, Juror: Gaby Mizes, 2019
Grants
Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund, Montgomery County Government, 2020 & 2021
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
Montgomery Art Association (Social Media Committee Chair), Kensington, MD
Washington Water Color Association, Washington, DC
Online Artist Directories
Culture Spot MC
DC Creators Network
Fine Art America
Maryland State Arts Council, Artist Directory, Baltimore, MD
Now Be Here
Plogix Art Gallery
VisArts Faculty/Artist Shop
Where Are the Women Artists
Past Exhibitions
In-person: Group Show at OASIS Montgomery Art Association, Rockville, MD Jan-Apr 2023
In-person: Group Show * Bluebird Yoga Studio, Washington, DC Nov 2022-Feb 2023
In-person: "Joyful Life" Brookland Busboys & Poets, Washington, DC Nov 2022-Feb 2023
Online: Monthly Topic Montgomery Art Association, Ongoing 2022
In-Person: #ArtHappensHere AHCMC, National Capital Trolley Museum, Silver Spring, MD Jul 2021-Present
Upcoming Exhibitions
In-person: Celebrating Life's Beauty Solo Show at Chesapeake Framing Company, Kensington, MD Mar 2023
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
Features
"Meet Martina Sestakova" CanvasRebel, Dec 2022
"Conversations with Martina Sestakova" Voyage Baltimore, Dec 2022
"Interview with Martina Sestakova" The Art Coaching Club Podcast, Oct 2022
"Featured Artist" DC Creators Network, Sep 2022
"Relief from the Heat" Montgomery Community Media, Aug 2022
Natur(ally), A Virtual Community Art Exhibition in Celebration of Earth Day, Apr 2022
Women's History Month: 5 Artists and 5 Questions, Montgomery Art Association, Mar 2022
Bringing Joy to Children Through Local Art Community, North Bethesda Neighbors Magazine, Mar 2022
Art Workshop, Art + Design & Craft Club, Feb 2022
Podcast, Environmental Professional's Radio, Jan 2022
Studio Visit (via Zoom), Silver Spring Town Center, Jan 2022 Zoom Passcode: E4.gD3B?)
The Joys of Watercolor, Washington Beacon Magazine, Dec 2021
Artist's Feature, Kensington Neighbors Magazine, Nov 2021
Nature's Gift to Artists, Plenty Magazine, Fall Issue, 2021
Capitol Hill Art League’s Mind of the Artist Feature, Jan 2021
How Art Classes at Retirement Communities Connect Past and Present and Build Future, HealthCommU, Apr 2018
Awards
2nd Place MAA "Rhapsody of a Hug" Paint the Town Show, Kensington, MD 2022 Juror: Lenny Campello
3rd Place CHAL "Rupture" Online, Juror: Nan Raphael, 2022
Honorable Mention CHAL "Every Moment is Precious", Juror: Elin Whitney-Smith, 2021
3rd Place CHAL "The Bridges We've Built" Online, Juror: Jaime Sonnenberg, 2021
Honorable Mention CHAL "Laughing with Friends", Juror: Erik Ramsey, 2021
Winner #ArtHappensHere Mural/Banner Project AHCMC, Silver Spring, MD 2021
3rd Place “Creative Expressions 2019”, Chevy Chase, MD, Juror: Gaby Mizes, 2019
Grants
Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund, Montgomery County Government, 2020 & 2021
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
Montgomery Art Association (Social Media Committee Chair), Kensington, MD
Washington Water Color Association, Washington, DC
Online Artist Directories
Culture Spot MC
DC Creators Network
Fine Art America
Maryland State Arts Council, Artist Directory, Baltimore, MD
Now Be Here
Plogix Art Gallery
VisArts Faculty/Artist Shop
Where Are the Women Artists
Past Exhibitions