Oklahoma Musicians on Canvas 

Marie Kash Weltzheimer presses play. As the first notes fill her studio, the rhythm moves through her ears and into her fingertips. Her collection of work explores the deeply human connection between music and emotion, a theme that has become central to her career.

“I’m interested in the energy between the person and their music,” Marie says. “Music expresses love, joy, anger, sorrow, praise, worship – there’s an ordinary beauty in the creation of it that in turn creates an extraordinary human connection. You’re not alone if you have music.”

That belief inspired her musician portrait work, beginning with a deeply personal tribute to one of her longtime favorites: Elton John. In 2020, during the early days of the pandemic, Marie decided to practice her portrait skills with a challenge: painting one portrait of Elton John for every year of his career. The result was 52 striking works.

The series was exhibited at a fan event in Los Angeles the same weekend as Elton’s farewell concert at Dodger Stadium. It even caught the attention of his husband, David Furnish, on Instagram, “That kind of encouragement reminded me how much I love this – art, music, portraiture. It all came together,” she says.

Now, Marie is turning her attention to her home state’s vibrant musical legacy with her new exhibit, Oklahoma Sounds at Edmond Fine Arts, opening July 10.

“Oklahoma is rich in musical talent, and I want to showcase that through my work,” she says. “Some of my subjects are widely known, some were famous decades ago, and some have always been around, and you just never knew it.”

Her aim is to help viewers not only recognize the names and faces of these musicians, but to feel their music through paint. “My inspiration was to create art that you can hear and feel the emotion of their music coming through,” she says. The series includes emotive, strikingly accurate renderings of Oklahoma stars, including Vince Gill, Kristin Chenoweth, Blake Shelton, Sandi Patty, Chet Baker, and Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, who has praised Marie’s work and follows it on social media. 

For Marie, the series is an ultimate union of her two passions: music and art. “I’ve loved drawing since before I could write my name,” she says. Although she initially pursued music as a trumpet major at UCO, a drawing class reignited her first love, and she eventually transitioned into full-time art.

Working in oils, pastels, pencil, and charcoal, Marie approaches each portrait with intention. She listens to the artist’s music as she works, choosing colors that reflect their personality and sound. “I’m a methodical person,” she says. “I research, sketch, underpaint with browns to establish value, and build the palette from there.” 

Marie’s work is award-winning, internationally exhibited, and deeply rooted in emotion. But for her, it all begins with that moment of pressing play and letting the music guide the brush. The public is invited to see the inspiring products of this process firsthand at Edmond Fine Arts. Oklahoma Sounds will be on display beginning in July, with an opening reception on Thursday, July 10, from 5–7 p.m. The show will be on display for the month of July and is open and free to the public. 

Follow Marie on Instagram @marie. kash.art or find events and other information online at mariekash.com.