Marie Kash Weltzheimer • Oklahoma • Studio Stories

Women Artists of the WestColorslandscapeStill LifePortraitsPastels

Sep 14

Written By WAOW .

Marie Kash Weltzheimer

https://kashstudio2513@gmail.com

TWO WOMEN OF WAOW AND A CHILDHOOD FRIENDSHIP

In my last studio story I talked about having burnout. May 28, I had just delivered 25 paintings for a 2-person show “Abundance”. One painting remained on my easel with only the imprimatura underpainting which I had planned to finish and submit to a show. I had heard all about the Bosque Art Classic from artist friends and I was eager to enter due to its reputation and drivable distance, but I was exhausted and this was a pretty large painting. I’m proud and honored to report that this piece was accepted to the 41st Annual Bosque Art Classic, but if it were not for the encouragement of one special friend, Kathy, I would have scrapped the whole thing.

Kathy LeJeune is also a WAOW Associate member, but she and I go way back. We became friends in elementary school. My favorite memories were of her riding her horse, Patches, to my house and going to the field behind our neighborhood to ride. What great times and carefree days those were! I remember Kathy being talented in art also. During secondary school years, we veered separate ways. I became completely caught up being the band nerd, and Kathy’s life was about horses. Years later we reconnected through social media and I was not surprised that she had a lifetime of horsemanship. Then came the year 2020, it had its effect on everyone, for good or bad. Personally, it gave me time to work on art centered on my great love of music. For Kathy, it gave her time to draw, and drawing she did for hours on end. When the time came that she wanted to submit her work to a juried show, she picked the Bosque. She didn’t think she had a chance. Kathy not only had her work accepted but also placed second in pastel!

So, it’s May 28 and Kathy is telling me she knows I have one more in me, “Take a nap then down a pot of coffee”. I had to make that June 1 deadline! I made it, with two hours to spare! The 41st Annual Bosque Art Classic is held at the Bosque Art Center in Clifton, Texas, September 12-26, 2026. I’ll be excited to share photos from that in my next studio story!

I have included photos of Kathy and myself with our work inspired by our life interests along with a photo of us together in 2024. Also, for fun are the photos of Kathy and me riding Patches!