It all always works out. Teresa asked me about 4 or 5 years ago if I would be a model for a painting and here we go! And dare I say: we both needed this time together. 

Teresa Jade Jarzynski is a visual artist who works in oils and watercolors and captures the beauty of daily life. Based in Bethesda, MD, she works and creates about a 10-minute drive from my home studio. A conversation several years ago led to recent quick text messages and over the course of three sessions, Teresa started to create a stunning 30x24" oil painting. I am humbled to be the subject of it and am excited to share the work in progress with you. 

So, why does it all work out? They say timing is everything and in our case, Teresa and I came to spending quality (and oh so lovely) time in her studio. When I first sat down, Teresa was all bubbly with energy and joy. She casually mentioned that her word of the year (a choice she makes as a ritual to reaffirm her life experience) is 'auspicious'. Well, mine is 'home'. Don't these work just perfect together? 

Parallels in our life journey facilitated a delightful experience for both of us. We started with a sketch: Teresa brainstormed composition, the goal of her own creative experience, and how to proceed next. 

Why did we both need this time together? To tell the truth, I just needed to sit. For long stretches of time. To be. To feel home (in her studio) and in my own mind and body. I do a bit of rushing and organizing and sitting down was essential to pondering the next steps in my life and creative practice. Teresa, on the other hand (as it seems to me), needed a fresh new experience: exploration, stepping outside of her comfort, looser brush strokes to capture this opening up. And painting big and no holding back!

​We mixed lively conversations with long periods of quiet time. Dynamic brush strokes on the canvas and music comingled in the background of the cozy studio. 

We are both thinking about how we want to live and create. We also connected over our experience of the DMV art world and as women artists. I rested in my chair while Teresa whispered to herself about the piece of art taking shape in front of her. It was an honor to witness the process: her coming creatively alive in her studio. 

We chatted about books, films, friendships, living where we live, family histories. I find that time in an art studio is just good for the soul. Scroll below for photos of Teresa in action. 

The notions of 'auspicious' and 'home' are coming together in this vivid painting. The collaboration of two female artists may have taken place during chilly weather outside but has brought much warmth on the inside. I say, how fortunate!

​But stick around: this is indeed a work in progress and Teresa and I will be sharing the final artwork at a later date!

To learn more about Teresa's art, check out the resources below. Teresa lives in Bethesda, MD, and may be reached via email at tjade@me.com. In addition to original artworks, prints and commissions are available. Thanks for your support of DMV-based female artists!​

Website: https://www.teresajade.com/
Instagram: @teresasstudio
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​Private in-person art sessions for your friends and colleagues are available in the DMV area. It's all about relaxation into the colorful world of creativity. Create, laugh, and enjoy each other's company. 

What are some fun occasions to create with a group?

• Birthdays and life celebrations
• Friend and family gatherings
• Parent-teen bonding
• Out of town guest entertainment
• Team building

What are you getting?

• Private instruction in a topic of your choice
• 2-hour session (1.5 hours of playtime and 0.5 hour of setup/cleanup)
• All supplies provided
• No experience needed
• Currently booking May, June, and July 2023

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What are the approximate prices? 

• Group up to 6 
  • My private studio in Kensington, MD - $175
  • Your location in the DMV - $225 
• Group up to 12
  • Your location in the DMV - $420

Do you enjoy flowers and their blooms? Are you intrigued by watercolor? Join Martina Sestakova, art educator, for a workshop, during which you will create a colorful 3D flower collage in watercolors. We will tear out shapes, assemble our flowers, and paint them in a variety of bright colors. No experience is necessary as you learn the basics behind watercolors and create a unique floral composition.

Many artworks have been created about the self. In this workshop, join art educator Martina Sestakova, in a visual exploration of your senses and what makes you a unique self. We will take a look at the works of artists such as Sonia Delaunay, Paul Klee, and Karel Appel, while we write, share, and work in watercolors. We will study up on abstract art and create a cool self-portrait. 

Enjoy a workshop of poetry reading and abstract painting with art educator Martina Sestakova. We will refer to poems and songs for inspiration for intuitive visual explorations. May words be interpreted through colors, shapes, and textures? Join in and see! You will explore the exciting interaction of words and watercolors in abstract compositions.

Intrigued with abstract art? Drawn to watercolor? Join art educator Martina Sestakova for a workshop, during which you get to create a unique collage. We will learn about basic watercolor techniques and explore ideas behind colors, shapes, and textures. Then, we will create a deeply meaningful collage through a fun creative process. 

Interested with patterns? Drawn to watercolor? Join art educator Martina Sestakova for a workshop, during which you create a series of abstract patterns inspired by the artworks of Dorothy Liebes (textiles) and Alma Thomas (painting). We will play in colors, shapes, and textures and delve into basic watercolor techniques. 

Did you know flowers are the most popular theme in art? Join art educator Martina Sestakova for a workshop, during which we take a look at famous fabric patterns and create a series of our own small floral paintings in watercolors. We will play with colors, shapes, and textures and delve into basic watercolor techniques. Supplies: watercolors on paper.

Studio Gallery * 2108 R St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 
Wed, Th, and Fr - 1pm-6pm * Sat - 11am-6pm

Interested in working with me? I would love to learn about you and your art and assist in curating your upcoming art exhibition. Contact me for details. 

And how wonderful that the show got reviewed by Mark Jenkins in the Washington Post. Read the review HERE. ​

I am grateful to Olive & Loom - a delightful gift shop in Kensington, MD - for inviting me to showcase my art in their store! Yay! Stop by to see a collection of my sculpted paintings (acrylic inks on manipulated crepe de chine). 

Adah Rose Bitterbaum, owner of the Adah Rose Gallery in Kensington, MD, kindly invited me to curate a section of her space for the annual "Carte blanche" art show. Adah Rose's gallery is a treasure chest of fabulous artworks and I had so much fun selecting a collection of artworks that would tell a visually interesting story and celebrate connections established through colors, shapes, and textures. Read on about my experience and be sure to visit the show through March 25, 2023.

I both create and appreciate art. In my selection of these artworks, I was drawn to abstracts - the focus on my own art practice. I find it so incredibly exciting to see how artists use the same color, how they alter shapes and explore forms, and how they generate textures visually and physically. The colors in this collection are limited - I wanted to highlight just a few - so you could enjoy in depth what can be done. There are beiges in paper and wood sculptures. There are blues in acrylics, watercolors, oils. Black and white textures make an appearance in intricate pen work and cut outs layered on top of each other. And of course, we need a pop of energy: reds come in both strongly and delicately. 

In terms of art appreciation, I find art to be an essential vehicle for a curious and good quality life. What do I mean? I enjoy pausing in front of a piece of art and letting it 'speak' to me. Art evokes emotions and thoughts. It alters our mood: it may make us smile; it may make us reconsider an idea. Ultimately, art changes us. And change is part of life: really, the only true constant of our lives. I invite you to ponder change as you view the display. Do these artworks change in their relationships to others? Do they draw you in? Do they make you lean in or step further away? If you go see the show repeatedly, I promise there will be new discoveries every time. Hence, art captures change and change prompts our curiosity about life. It's a never-ending - and life-affirming - cycle. 

The Adah Rose Gallery is located at 3766 Howard Ave, Kensington, MD 20895. Please check the website for opening hours or call Adah Rose at (301) 922-0162 to make an appointment to view this art exhibition. Follow the gallery on Instagram to learn more about upcoming exhibitions and represented artists. Enjoy!​