This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, register by clicking the RSVP button above or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org.

You will receive the Zoom information no later than the morning of your program.

with Martina Sestakova

Music-Inspired Abstract Art

Relaxation through Art and Music

Enjoy a relaxing workshop of listening to music and painting with art educator Martina Sestakova. Let’s pause to the music by Mozart, Louis Armstrong, Edith Piaf, and others and use their musical creations for our own intuitive visual explorations. May music’s healing aspects be interpreted as colors, shapes, and energy? Join in and see! You will appreciate the exciting interaction of tunes and watercolors in abstract compositions.

 

No experience is needed: just your curious self!

 

Supplies:

  • 5-8 sheets of watercolor paper (cut to 6″ x 6″)
  • 2-2 sheets of watercolor paper (9″ x 12”)
  • 1 cup for water
  • 1 watercolor paints (trays or tubes)
  • 1 brush (or a variety)
  • 1 pencil
  • paper for notes

Suggested Donation: $10


About Martina Sestakova

Martina Sestakova

Martina Sestakova (owner at RADOST) engages in textile design, painting, and art education. Martina creates scarves that invoke stories of life experiences. Her scarves have been featured on Voice of America and at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC). In her paintings on yupo, she communicates words through colors and shapes. Her artworks have been shown at the Adah Rose Gallery (MD) and Latela Curatorial (DC) and other art institutions. As an art educator, Martina offers workshops and brings creativity to the public and communities with limited access to the arts. Martina Sestakova resides in Kensington, MD.

This program is being offered virtually through Zoom. In order to participate and receive the Zoom link, you must register here or by emailing carla@smithcenter.org

with Martina Sestakova

Enjoy a workshop of poetry reading and abstract painting with art educator Martina Sestakova. We will refer to Mary Oliver’s poems for inspiration for intuitive explorations in watercolors. May words be interpreted through colors, shapes, and textures? Join in and see.

No experience is needed: just your curious self!

Supplies:

  • 2 sheets of watercolor paper (9×12”)
  • 5-7 sheets of watercolor paper (5×7”)
  • 1 cup for water
  • 1 watercolor paints (trays or tubes)
  • 1 brush (or a variety)
  • 1 pencil
  • paper for notes

Suggested Donation: $10


About Martina Sestakova

Martina Sestakova (owner at RADOST) engages in textile design, painting, and art education. Martina creates scarves that invoke stories of life experiences. Her scarves have been featured on Voice of America and at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (DC). In her paintings on yupo, she communicates words through colors and shapes. Her artworks have been shown at the Adah Rose Gallery (MD) and Latela Curatorial (DC) and other art institutions. As an art educator, Martina offers workshops and brings creativity to the public and communities with limited access to the arts. Martina Sestakova resides in Kensington, MD.

This program is now full. Please check back for future dates.

with Rick Black

In an online workshop, book artist Rick Black will lead participants through the steps of making a dos-a-dos book. Which, in short, is two books with one cover. This is simpler than you’d think to make. And it’s a great form that can capture two sides of a theme: sisters, mother and father, languages, politics, you name it. We will concentrate on the actual bookmaking but we are more than glad to help in terms of themes, etc.


We will be mailing the necessary supplies directly to you so you can complete your own dos-a-dos book. Registration will close on Monday, April 26th. 

This program is limited to 5 participants.

Suggested Donation: $20 (includes supplies)


About Rick Black

A poet, book artist and photographer, Rick Black is the founder and owner of Turtle Light Press, a small publishing company that specializes in handcrafted books, fine art prints and note cards.

In recent years, Rick has won several awards for his own poetry as well as books that he has published. He has given readings at the Library of Congress and elsewhere around the country. He often takes bike rides in the region and can be spotted taking photographs in and around Arlington, Falls Church, and Washington, D.C.

As he has gotten to know the area, he has begun turning his digital photos into artistic paintings – luminous, colorful and playful. His images have been selected to adorn the rooms of the Hilton Garden Inn in Falls Church. He has exhibited widely in the mid-Atlantic region and his work can be found in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

For close to twenty years, he worked as a journalist, including a three-year stint in the Jerusalem bureau of The New York Times. He also has freelanced for numerous national newspapers and magazines, including The Los Angeles TimesThe Boston GlobeThe Chicago Tribune, and other publications.

To see more of Rick’s books or his artistic photographs, please visit his website: www.turtlelightpress.com