Community Outreach

Gratitude for my Volunteers!

Date: November 25, 2025
Author: Catherine Fetterman
Categories: Client Spotlight/Featured Artist, Community Outreach, News

As we approach Thanksgiving, I’d like to shine a light of heartfelt thanks upon my team of dedicated volunteers who provide invaluable assistance to me both in my classes and behind the scenes!

Firstly, I’d like to thank my Art Together Volunteer Painting Companions! I currently have about 15 of them. Thanks to their loving support, seniors with disabilities and impairments who participate in my group workshops have the assistance that they need.

I’d also like to thank my friends and family who come to my home and help me test supplies and painting techniques, and provide their invaluable advice on everything from product development, marketing research, and organizing my studio!

I absolutely love having collaborators in spreading seeds of joy and love through art! God bless each of you for your dedication, love and gift of your time and friendship in helping me help others.xo

If you live in the Northern VA area would like to learn more about volunteering with my Art Together programs, please click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScbG0iR8pPZUNnynxINJFpTqJfXMUw9__GyBIgbSwel1idsdA/viewform

Free Paintings for Neighbors

Date: November 2, 2025
Author: Catherine Fetterman
Categories: Community Gifts of Art, Community Outreach

Q: What to do with way too many paintings?

A: Find them a home!

I had the best time giving away nearly 100 demonstration paintings to nursing home residents and neighbors this month! I never knew cleaning out my studio could be so life-giving!

Some of the paintings that found a new home in Leesburg 🙂
One of my favorite drop off points!
“Do I have to choose just one?!” nursing home resident John asks…:)
This stroke survivor asked for her painting hung close to her. A coat hanger did the trick! 🙂

Retreat for Persons with a Serious Illness

Date: October 15, 2025
Author: Catherine Fetterman
Categories: Community Gifts of Art, News, Resources for Seniors & Caregivers

In October I was so very blessed to be among a team of 19 volunteers who provided a 3 day retreat of respite, love and spiritual inspiration and support for individuals facing a serious illness and their caregivers. This retreat has been offered for about 40 years in my diocese of Arlington, VA. It was started by two women who had made a Cursillo Weekend and later sought the help of a team of nurses, doctors, priests and other volunteers to make it accessible for those with health challenges.

What an amazing experience we all had! I was so blessed to be able to spend a weekend with this beautiful group of men and women journeying together in God’s loving embrace. I was so happy to be able to extend an opportunity for all our retreatants and volunteers to an afternoon of painting and prayer. The theme that God placed on my heart was Psalm 23 “The Lord is my Shepherd”. It was 90 minutes that included singing, prayer and painting the cover of a prayer and gratitude journal.

I want to give a big thank you to Catholic Charities for underwriting the cost of the whole retreat and all the supplies needed for this workshop, and to all those who were so brave to paint with me! Here’s to the gifts of love, faith, and creativity explored together!

Older adult painting journal cover with a landscape assisted by a volunteer
Some of our nearly 30 journals painted during our 90 minutes together
Two journals painted by a married couple

Art Together named 2023 Winner of the Leesburg Small Business Arts and Culture Award

Date: May 5, 2023
Author: Catherine Fetterman
Categories: Community Outreach, News

Thank you Leesburg Town Council and Economic Development Commission for recently selecting my business as the recipient of the Leesburg Small Business Arts & Culture Award for 2023! When I went up to the podium I brought with me in my heart all of the people I have been so privileged to have as my students, and in whose honor I accepted the award.

I am so grateful for the caring mentors I’ve had from the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) who have been instrumental in helping start my business 26 years ago, and have given me the self-confidence and resources to serve my community as an artist-teacher-entrepreneur. How blessed I was to have three of those special mentors with me when I received the award (Eric Byrd, Robin Suomi and Ruth Cope) as well as my dear husband and future son-in-law.

A very special thank you to my husband for nominating me for this award. I truly couldn’t be living my dream without his invaluable support.

The Blessing Tree Gathers and Delivers Love to 200+ Homebound Seniors In December

Date: December 31, 2020
Author: Catherine Fetterman
Categories: Community Outreach, News

The Blessing Tree initiative sprung from my heart knowing the pain and isolation of seniors dear to me. I put out a public call for help to collect love in the form of cards and gifts in partnership with St. John’s Catholic Church and Jerry’s Flowers & Gifts.

A huge thank you to all our neighbors, family and friends who sent in such generous love for our homebound seniors! Together we enriched the lives of over 200 local residents by letting them know they are valued, loved and not forgotten.

  • Delivering over 4 car loads of gifts to one of our local nursing homes.
  • Staff at Heritage Hall happily receiving
    135 bags of gifts for their residents.
  • Announcing our effort to our neighbors…
  • Thank you Jerry’s Flowers and Gifts for serving as a collection point, and for all your donations of bags and sweets!
  • Decorated with love and ready to fill!
  • Our home had quite the assembly line!
  • Just some of the precious gifts from children that made my heart melt!
  • Gifts donated included large print bibles, lotion, sweets, socks, books, artwork, masks, plush animals, gloves & hats.
  • My husband and daughter made sure everyone got their share of goodies 🙂
  • Thank you to all our thoughtful donors!

Special Delivery # 2 for Local Healthcare Heroes

Date: December 10, 2020
Author: Catherine Fetterman
Categories: Community Outreach, News

I know that the well-being of our healthcare workers has been on all of our hearts throughout this pandemic. They sacrifice so much to care for our loved ones. We will never be able to thank them enough, but I know that any expression of our gratitude goes a long way. Perhaps you, too, could send in a platter or send cards to heroes in your area?

Items I included in this delivery: Paleo bars, snacks, assortment of antioxidant-rich teas, nuts, protein and nuts bars, mints, and chocolates.

    six platters of goodies for local healthcare workers

    Free Spring and Summer Online Classes during COVID-19

    Date: June 18, 2020
    Author: Catherine Fetterman
    Categories: Calendar of Events, Community Outreach, News, Resources for Seniors & Caregivers

    My family and I have made a series of four art videos that you can watch for free until August 31st. Whether you just watch them or want to paint along with me, we hope you enjoy our gift of love during these challenging times.

    Each episode lasts 20-30 minutes and includes a little journey to find the inspiration for our painting, step-by-step instruction, and inspiration from older adults I’ve had the honor to have as my students. They too, at one time, said “I can’t paint”, which later became “I can’t believe I painted that!” Oh what joy we’ve shared together and how I miss them so!

    If you need a list of recommended supplies, please click here.

    As an extra gift to those who wish to subscribe to my mailing list, I’ll send written step-by-step directions for all the videos below, and announcements of more resources to help us continue to be inspired and connected to one another.

    Episode 1: Painting Virginia Bluebells
    Episode 2: Painting Cherry Blossoms
    Episode 3: Painting Wildflowers
    Episode 4: Painting Beach Flowers