This past month, I had two very different but exciting opportunities to share my passion for painting with others in person! It was a wonderful and welcome challenge to bring this practice of talking about my work into the real world.

Adam’s Morgan Art Walk Artist Talk

The first opportunity I had to talk about art was an artist talk I hosted in partnership with the Adams Morgan Art Walk. For the month-long art walk event, I was partnered with Sorso, a new prosecco bar in the neighborhood. The event organizers wanted to create opportunities for deeper engagement with the work and the local businesses and urged artists and businesses to host artist talks.

I had never done an artist talk before, but it seemed like an incredible opportunity to practice talking about my art and process. The works I chose to display for the show were a variety of pieces from the past year that I felt fit the restaurant’s light, airy atmosphere.

It was challenging to develop a succinct overview of the work and my process to incorporate the variety of work I created last year. The best part of the event was the incredibly interesting and thoughtful questions that folks asked me about my work, which allowed me to think deeper and share on a more personal level.

Since then, I have connected with multiple friends who were energized to explore their own creative outlets, which is the most rewarding outcome for me.

Sitar Arts Center Earth Day Painting Workshop

Last month, I also got to share the process itself through hosting a painting workshop with the Sitar Arts Center, a local community arts organization for children and youth. This workshop was a pop-up to celebrate Earth Day.

Running an art workshop for kids required lots of flexibility. Originally, the coordinators and I had hoped to do a plein-air class, but we couldn’t find an outdoor location approved for the children, so we pivoted to hosting a still-life workshop. After taking several art classes over the past few years, I really enjoyed planning all the materials, room setup, and lesson structure.

Overall, the goal was for the kids to enjoy the day painting and looking at the plants. My role was less about instructing in painting and more about encouraging them to keep going or to try something new.

I loved observing the students to see which part of the process was the most exciting for them. I had one young student who was enthralled by the color mixing process, making a wide range of blues and greens inspired by the plants, one student who was extremely focused on sketching a clear depiction of the still life, and another young student who was really enjoying the feeling of putting the paint down and watching how the different colors of wet paint mixed on the canvas.

I was inspired by how they worked, their fearless mark-making, and their complete immersion in the process. No matter what the final product looked like, they enjoyed painting simply for the act of creating.

From those who attended the artist talk to the kids who attended the workshop, I am so grateful for the openness and time to look at, talk about, and make art. I always love learning about how others think about art, what inspires them, and what they create.

See My Work!

Recent work, including available work, is up on my website. Please reach out through my website or by email (mkwest99@gmail.com) if you are interested in any available pieces or would like to discuss a commission.

Getting June has significantly impacted my art practice. I have had to adjust how I structure and schedule my time to make sure I am meeting all of her needs.

At the beginning of the year, I asked, “What does it mean to let go of the outcomes and focus on the process?” This past month, it has meant balancing my art with other priorities in my life. To truly be balanced, I still have to be consistent and show up for myself and my art, even if it is in small fits and spurts.

I am proud that a quarter of the way through this year, I have created every single day, even if it is just for 15 minutes, or while I am spending time with June. These pen and ink drawings of June have been a recurring theme for me this past month.

The daily practice has been an unexpected way for me to document my daily life and the things that I find interesting and engaging.

Flexibility has been the key to keeping up this practice. If I had challenged myself to paint with oils every day, I wouldn’t have made it through the first month. Having a variety of media that require varying levels of time and concentration has kept this year interesting and fun.

In addition to all my drawings of June this winter, I was consistently inspired by the colorful sunsets that broke up the cold, dreary winter days. I created many paintings of what I remembered of these sunsets, first in small-scale, quick-drying gouache paintings the night I saw the sunset, and later, when I had more time, I made a few into larger-scale oil paintings.

I have enjoyed working with new subjects this winter, but I am excited now that the weather is warming up, so I can get back to my favorite practice, painting en plein air!

See my work!

SHE:DC

Tonight is the last night of Shop Made in DC’s annual SHE:DC Exhibit. I was honored to have two pieces in the show at their pop-up gallery in Dupont Circle. Right now, you can purchase the original art at 35% off with the code SUPPORTARTISTS. Artists will still recieve 100% of their commission.

View the website and all the incredible 450 works of art here.

Adam’s Morgan Art Walk

I also have seven pieces showing at Sorso, Adams Morgan’s new Prosecco Bar, as part of the Adams Morgan Art Walk hosted by the DC Arts Center. The works will be displayed through April 30th and are available for purchase on the DC Art Center Website.

As part of the Adam’s Morgan Art Walk, I will be hosting my first Artist Talk at Sorso next Sunday, April 12th, at 2 pm. If you are in the area, I hope to see you there! Find event details here!

I am so grateful for these opportunities to share my work and try new things! Thank you all for your continued support.

Thanks for your patience as I update my website to include all new work on an ongoing basis. Please reach out by email (mkwest99@gmail.com) if you are interested in any particular pieces or would like to discuss a commission.

I am so grateful for the time I had to do what I love to do in my home that is safe and warm. However, current events weigh on me, and I feel like I should be doing more to stand up against inequality and the unjust systems of oppression and the violence they enact. 

I know that making art calms me and fuels me to continue to move forward. But beyond the personal benefits,  I know that art isn’t frivolous in times of crisis. Art can directly call out injustice and also be a powerful tool to remind us of our humanity.

I am constantly inspired by artists who make art that is in direct conversation with current events and those who use their art and platform to raise awareness and money for causes that support our collective humanity, especially those who are facing oppression. 

Although I am still developing my artistic voice, I wanted my art to be a part of that greater political practice. With this in mind, I decided to raffle off a painting to raise money for organizations that support immigrant communities. I chose a Minnesota-based organization in response to ICE’s recent brutality in Minneapolis. 

The organization I chose to support is The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund (IRRF), which funds urgent basic needs, urgent legal services, and emerging needs, including education and community safety planning in response to immigration-related emergencies across Minnesota. 

However, this administration's policies and ICE agents are causing harm and violence in communities across the nation, so I will honor a donation to any immigrant-serving organization across the country if you wish to enter and support an organization in your local community. 

To enter the raffle:

Venmo me (@MaryKatherine-West) or DM a screenshot of your donation to an organization in your community that supports immigrants. 

Every $5 donated is one raffle entry. Unlimited entries. I will randomly select a winner on Feb 8th and donate all funds sent to me to The Immigrant Rapid Response Fund. I will reach out to the winner and coordinate delivery. 

About IRRF:

IRRF is a coalition of philanthropic leaders rooted in communities most impacted by immigration-related harm. IRRF ensures that resources move quickly, responsibly, and with community accountability to trusted organizations responding to immigration-related emergencies across Minnesota.

As enforcement actions, policy changes, and sudden disruptions continue to impact immigrant and refugee families, IRRF provides rapid, community-informed funding to organizations on the frontlines of response, care, and protection.

See my work!

16th Annual Patricia Sitar Juried Exhibition

This month, my work will be featured at the Sitar Art Center’s Annual Juried Exhibition. This exhibition theme is Belonging, and my piece, “Find your book club run club, mutual aid network here” will be featured.

This community board in my Adams Morgan neighborhood is a delightful display of the intention to connect and build community with one’s neighbors.

When I walk past this sign, there is always something new: neighborhood advisory meetings, yoga groups, or crafting events. For anyone willing to pause and read the flyers, there is someone on the other side of that paper ready to welcome that person into their space.

The Belonging exhibition will be on view at the Sitar Art Center from February 9th to March 14th. The opening reception is on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 7pm.

Visit my website. Please reach out over email (mkwest99@gmail.com) or through my website if you are interested in any available pieces or would like to discuss a commission. 

One piece of that is my commitment to make time to paint or draw every day - even if it is small!

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Last year, my mom gave me a quote from her daily quote calendar by Zora Neale Hurston that read, “There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” By the end of the year, I found myself with a couple answers and a whole bunch of questions. As we enter into a new year, I’d like to be intentional about the questions I’m asking.

In December, I saw a segment on NPR that suggested instead of a new year’s resolution, to sit with a question throughout the year - not with the intention of finding a single answer, but to live through the question. While I thrive on finding an answer and making a plan, I am hopeful that this practice will be rewarding even if potentially uncomfortable.

In the segment, they suggest open-ended questions like, “How do I begin? or How can I make a difference?” After considering these, the question I came up with to contemplate is, “What does it mean to let go of the outcomes and focus on the process?”

So, I am not starting out with any answers, a clear plan, or color-coded spreadsheet, but with my eyes open to engage with this question and whatever it brings.

See my work!

Dovetail Exhibit

DC-based tattoo artist, Katie Heartbreaker (@katieheartbreaker on Instagram) has curated a show with DC-based artists across mediums.

To describe the show she writes, “A woodworker uses a dovetail to interlock two separate pieces of wood into a joint. This technique helps woodworkers create dimensional shapes with virtually inseparable bonds. I have named this exhibit Dovetail to highlight the strength, beauty, and complexity of community art practices.”

For the exhibit, each participant created art based on a tattoo Katie designed, and Katie will draw a tattoo based on the artist’s previous creations. For the show, I was inspired to create a self-portrait based on one of Katie’s designs.

The show will be open from January 11 through February 1, 2026, at 52 O Street NW, Studio 204b. The opening reception is on January 11 from 6-8pm.

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16th Annual Patricia Sitar Juried Exhibition

My work will also be featured at the Sitar Art Center’s Annual Juried Exhibition. This year’s theme is Belonging. My piece, “Find your book club run club, mutual aid network here” will be featured.

This community board in my Adams Morgan neighborhood is a delightful display of the intention to connect and build community with one’s neighbors.

When I walk past this sign, there is always something new: neighborhood advisory meetings, yoga groups, or crafting events. For anyone willing to pause and read the flyers, there is someone on the other side of that paper ready to welcome that person into their space.

The Belonging exhibition will be on view at the Sitar Art Center from February 9th to March 14th. The opening reception is on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 7pm.

At the end of 2024, I created goals for my art practice for the first time. I created an actual bingo card and brainstormed 24 goals. Of these, I completed 10 goals and made significant progress on four others. I have learned so much about myself and the world around me through attempting these goals and meeting some of them. While achieving some goals has felt incredible, I am so grateful for the many experiences and opportunities that I couldn’t have imagined.

The biggest unforeseen milestone of this year was my home studio. A year ago, I wouldn’t have thought it possible to have my own, dedicated studio space for years. This space has given me so much freedom and space to play, imagine, and create.

Even with a dedicated space to paint, I did not achieve the goal of painting for an hour a day. I loosely tracked 230 hours of painting over the course of the year, which is about 63% the way to my goal. I painted the most in January, and the least in April when I was in the process of moving.

However, the time spent painting is only one part of the process. So many hours were not logged, time sketching, cleaning brushes, perusing the aisles of the three art supply stores in DC. I spent the most money at Blick, then Michaels, and then Plaza Art. I completed zero sketchbooks this year, and I bought four new ones.

I learned so much this year, trying two new painting media for the first time, and so many new perspectives and techniques from the Washington Studio School. In the spring, I took a class called Deciphering Color, where we discussed color theory and relationships and built our confidence in mixing colors.

Over the summer, I took a class called Freshness and Light, which emphasized creating dynamic and engaging work with a limited number of colors on our palette. In the fall, I attended several sessions of a plein air painting class at Fort Reno Park that focused on a fall landscape palette.

And finally, most recently, I took a class called ‘The Picture Plane’, which was a mixture of lecture and exercises to work through the tension of creating illusions of 3D space on a flat surface. I am so thankful for all these opportunities to learn new techniques and perspectives and incorporate them into my work.

In addition to classes, I also took advantage of the Washington Studio School’s open critiques, which provide an opportunity for individuals to get feedback on their work from the school’s professors and the public.

Before this year, I had never had my work critiqued, and I wanted to share my work at one in 2025. However, over the course of the year, I pushed myself and shared pieces at 4 critiques. These critiques are daunting, but a great opportunity to practice discussing my work, ask for specific feedback and accountability to continue my practice, and learn how others are perceiving my work.

In addition to the school, DC has a vibrant art scene that I was excited to engage more with in 2025. I feel so fortunate to have met folks who are interested in plein-air painting meet-ups, gallery visits, and attending artist talks, as well as more formal groups like the Mount Pleasant Artist Collective and the DC Arts Center.

The DC Arts Center offers fantastic professional development opportunities for its members alongside opportunities to participate in its exhibitions. This year, I was so excited to participate in five exhibits overall, which exceeded my goal of three shows this year.

Finding ways to share my work has been incredibly meaningful. I am overjoyed when anything I create makes someone smile or connects in some way. I didn’t anticipate this newsletter at the beginning of the year, but I am thankful for this platform as a way to connect with more folks. I’ve been consistent here the last four months, and hope that next year I can also be as consistent sharing on my Instagram page.

From encouragement online to putting my work in your home, I am so so grateful for all the big and small ways I have received encouragement and support for this practice that has been essential in keeping me going this year. I am so excited for what is to come in this journey and to share it with you.

See my work!

My piece, ‘Be Alive Until You’re Not’ is on display and for sale at the Shop Made in DC gallery and online until January 3, 2026. For folks not local to DC, check out my work and the fantastic work from many other DC-based artists on the site.

Visit my website. Please reach out over email (mkwest99@gmail.com) or through my website if you are interested in any available pieces or would like to discuss a commission.

The first time I painted in public, I was nervous about what others would think about what I was working on, especially when it was still in progress. Many people have been curious about what I am working on and stopped to inquire about the medium, to share that they are artists or wish to be artists, to share that their kids want to be artists, or they are just curious to see the work and what I had chosen to paint.

What I’ve learned through these interactions is that more often than not, people don’t really care what the painting looks like. Most folks are just excited to see someone painting and it makes them stop, look around, and appreciate the beauty and intrigue of the surroundings.

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At Kalorama Park, I was really interested in the wall of pink, purple, and white flowers that surround the butterfly garden that is sustained by volunteers and community members. A group of young kids and their parents sat down around me to relax and watch me paint. It was fun to share with the children about my process for planning the composition from a sketch and how I mixed the right colors, all while hearing about all the crafts they were going to do when they went home.

At Malcolm X Park, the Joan of Arc statue is situated at the front of the park, overlooking a south facing view of the city, and serves as a meeting point for groups and a spot for visitors to take photos. I am inspired by her story of following her calling with conviction no matter the opposition and challenges. I also love the backdrop of changing fall leaves surrounding her as she charges downtown, sword brandished. I visited this spot twice and was so delighted to see some of the same faces walking and enjoying the park each time.

I was also honored to paint a portrait of my friend Audrey and her husband on their front porch during her pregnancy for their first child. It was a lovely moment to sit and chat with my friend while I painted on a Sunday morning to commemorate this time in their lives, and to celebrate their son, Teddy.

I have loved seeing how different people connect with art, and how art can mean so many different things to different people. Even though I still feel some discomfort when people see my work while it is in progress, sharing the unfinished work has been the catalyst these new and surprising connections.

I have learned so much about my neighbors, and I am excited that so many other people are interested and excited by art and are connecting with it in their own lives. I love hearing about others’ interests and creative practices, and I hope my work inspires people create in whatever capacity brings them joy or simply to slow down and appreciate the beauty around them.

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See my work!

On Friday, November 7, the Shop Made in DC Ten x Ten Gallery opened! My piece, ‘Be Alive Until You’re Not’ is on display and for sale at the gallery and online until January 3, 2026. For folks not local to DC, check out my work and the fantastic work from many other DC based artists on the site.

Recent work, including available work, is up on my website. Please reach out through my website or over email (mkwest99@gmail.com) if you are interested in any available pieces or would like to discuss a commission.

At the same time that the camera was invented in the mid-19th century, changing how people painted, paint was first manufactured and stored in tubes, allowing artists to more easily work outside. This practice gained popularity in France with painters including Monet, Renoir, and Cassat, who captured their backyards, cities, travels, and friends, and the practice is still commonly referred to as painting “en plein air” or in the open air.

Plein air works are often light, loose, and painted more quickly, as artists work against the constraints of changing light and weather conditions. Many believe this method of painting can give a stronger sense of vivacity than painting from a photograph reference.

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So, this summer, I practiced painting en plein air, enjoying the summer weather and appreciating and capturing beautiful landscapes near and far from home.

In August, I took my oil painting supplies to the Rappahannock River and paint in various locations on and around the White Stone, Virginia and on the Rappahannock River for the better part of a week. I enjoyed scouting interesting new locations and returning to old favorites. Mostly, I painted in the mornings and early evening to take advantage of the bright and soft light while avoiding the heat of the day.

Light and weather permitting, my set up allowed me to spend at least several hours on each painting. But all the equipment and materials are admittedly clunky, and I knew I couldn’t take these supplies to paint on my trips farther from home.

So, I did some research and invested in a notebook for painting and more portable paint, gouache. Gouache is water-based medium that is opaque and quick drying, making it almost like a blend of water color and acrylic paint.

Given the size of the notebook and the quick-drying nature of the paint, I could create these paintings quickly, perfect for finding an hour to paint within a busy trip itinerary.

I took my gouache kit up the east coast, in July to Portland, Maine, and Bar Harbor, Maine, capturing beautiful beaches, bays, and the boats in them.

In September, I brought my paints to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, capturing a spectacular sunrise and some sandy dunes. Due to the high afternoon winds, I not only depicted the dunes but physically captured lots of sand within the painting itself.

Painting while on these trips was the perfect way for me to sit and relax, really slow down and appreciate the beauty around me, and create a one-of-a-kind souvenir from my travels.

All summer oil paintings are uploaded to my website! Reach out if you are interested in purchasing available work. I can’t wait to see what is next for my paintings with the coming changing colors of fall!

Below, you can take a look at a recent series of orchid paintings I worked on in my home studio earlier this spring and shared at a show this summer.

Finally, shout out to Tori Cherry for telling me to start a newsletter, it only took me six months to get it off the ground! Now everybody go look at Tori’s incredible work!!

DC ARTS CENTER WALLMOUNTABLES

Wallmountables is the DC Art Center’s (DCAC) biggest show each year, exhibiting over 100 local artists with 420 individual pieces. As a member of DCAC, I have had the opportunity to attend workshops and share my work through community exhibitions.

I bought this orchid the first week after moving into an apartment by myself, where I now have a room dedicated to painting. I created this series over eight weeks from the time when the last flower started blooming through when the last flower fell.

This series is a reflection on being present through transitions and holding space for nuance. I challenged myself to observe the orchid with variety in the perspective, scale, and composition of each piece. Through this perspective taking, I found beauty in both the vibrancy and fragility of the flowers, reflecting my own complex feelings of hope for the future and the fear of change during that period.

Please note: I still have the orchid and continue to water it. I think it is still alive, just not in bloom. Here is a photo of me with the series at the show.

If you’re interested in seeing any of these pieces individually or purchasing, please reach out to me or visit my website: marykatherinewest.com

Thank you so much for reading and I am excited to share more with you on this platform!

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