Thursday, January 16, 2025

Post 530: January is Join PWAS Time

January is (Re)Join PWAS Time

Many an artist might say "I wish I knew then what I know now", and we often say that right? Almost any art group near you should have opportunities for an adult artist to join, get involved, and stretch their artistic reach right where they live. The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) offers local artists ways to get involved and get their art "out there" as well as tons of benefits for growth, learning, and sharing.

What is PWAS?

The Prince William Art Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization of local artists, living in and around Prince William County, Virginia. The art group's mission is to promote the understanding, creation and exhibition of the visual fine arts - mainly in PWC, but we might be found anywhere in the area as well.

PWAS began in 1971, making it the oldest art group in Prince William County. A scholarship program was begun in 2008, called the Jewell Pratt Burns Art Scholarship. In 2024, PWAS began offering free and various art workshops around Prince William County.

Learn more about PWAS on our website: https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/ and read this blog post too https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2025/01/post-525-email-from-pwas-interim.html

Why Join PWAS?

Often it is easier to do and learn all of the things an artist needs to do to be seen by being in an art group than as a single artist trying to do everything all by yourself, even though we all wish we could simply just make our art. Being in an art group, the artist would certainly have access to many more opportunities! See Artist NTK

The Prince William Art Society is a very diverse collection of artists from every background and skill level - beginner artists to those that have been creating art for many years. We have art teachers, graphic artists, digital artists, exceptional oil, acrylic, and watercolor painters and a wide range of mixed media artists. PWAS has artists that are self-taught to members that have college art degrees. A common desire of the PWAS members is to share their knowledge as well as learn from each other, including exploring new creative avenues.

Many members join with the desire to show their art but don't know how or where to begin, so join PWAS for:

For the Art of it!

Show off your art - at shows, galleries, festivals, wineries, libraries, and more.

Some shows may be juried, while many shows are open.

Plein Air Painting - a group within PWAS that gets outdoors and paints!
Learn more - about anything and everything art, including the presentation of art.
Networking opportunities - make connections with artists and art lovers.
Sharing of local and nearby, potential art opportunities to apply to.
Expand your artistic reach, outlook, and potential.
Learn how to get involved - in helping other artists, in giving back, and more.

For the Activities!

Monthly Meetings
Presentations
Workshops and Classes
Go on a Field Trip
Teaching Opportunities

For the Fun of it!

Socialize with fellow artists!
That field trip last year to the National Gallery of Art was fantastic!
Develop art friendships that will cheer you on!
Our annual PWAS Christmas party!
How about a future PWAS picnic?

For the Future of Art in PWC!

There are many things on the radar for the Prince William Art Society including new art shows and locations to show our art. There are some GREAT things on the horizon and YOU could be a part of it!
Get involved in the search for our new gallery space. We want our own gallery space - we'll go short term if we need to but long term IS the goal.
Get involved - especially if YOU have skills to share with fellow artists or a skill needed to help promote PWAS!
At the end of 2025 a new Board will be voted on - we need YOU and your skills!
Help us improve the art scene in Prince William County.

Meetings are the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30pm and typically include a program with a guest speaker - to learn something new, or may be a show and tell session or even a special surprise! Our meetings are held here:

The Tall Oaks Community Center

12208 Cotton Mill Road

Woodbridge, VA

Benefits to Joining PWAS (or any art group)

Here are some of the benefits to joining an art group:

Make a name for yourself close to home.
Learn about upcoming art shows and exhibits, and Calls for Art.

Local businesses often contact art groups for help with their artistic needs!

Be inspired, rejuvenated, and build camaraderie with other artists and potentially feedback for a fresh perspective.
Take part in art competitions.
Explore new media of interest to you.
Opportunity to be a member with your own Art Showcase for a small annual fee.
Potential to be in the PWAS Art Store (certain art shows sell art via our store).
Potential workshops and/or class participation (often FREE!)
Potential ability to display artwork in the art group's studio, gallery, shows, etc.
Attend various art exhibitions, museums - art "field trips"
Potential "Featured Artist" or "Artist of the Month" or voted "Best in Show"

On this blog, on the website, on our social media - get YOUR news out there!

Networking with people in your local art world.
Learn the business of art - its a broad subject with all kinds of twists and turns.

Read Never Have I Ever

Be a part of the PWAS Chat Group on Facebook for members only.
Show off, share, and teach what you know and do.
Possibility to enter various art events as a group member with less expense than being a solo artist.
Find collaborators on art projects.
The art group's promotion and social media, advertising and marketing for art events means exposure for you as well.
Join a committee or be the champion of a PWAS task that helps the entire group to achieve our goals and purposes and give you the opportunity to have a voice in what we do! Champions help get things DONE for all of us!
And much more.

See the blog post Joining Your Local Art Group(s), Benefits to Volunteering - we all learn more by actually just doing it, don't we?!

How to Join PWAS

Of note: Members need to be 18 or older.

There are two ways to join the Prince William Art Society:

*1. Join via the PWAS website membership link online. It is safe and secure as well as easy to do:

Membership Link

Click on the green "Join PWAS" button on the above link and fill in the PWAS Membership Payment area. Select the appropriate Membership Type and submit your payment.

2. Join by sending the application and a check through the mail with the appropriate fee.

Prince William Art Society

PO Box 2013

Woodbridge, VA 22195

*Best method and quickest method to join!

Get Excited!

We welcome you to join our art group today and be a part of our growth and mission. Exciting times are coming in Prince William County and you can be in a front row seat becoming a member of the Prince William Art Society today.

See you at an art meeting!

Author: Donna Liguria
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment! pinterest-site-verification=3ad32cc9cfeae507ba5a382d62fcee17

Monday, January 13, 2025

Post 529: PWAS Meeting Guest Speaker Robert Dew

PWAS Meeting Guest Speaker Robert Dew Jan 27, 2025

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) meets every month on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30pm at the Tall Oaks Community Center located at 12298 Cotton Mill Road, Woodbridge, VA. Besides covering art group business in the later part of the meeting, we'll open this meeting with our special guest speaker and fellow artist member, Robert Dew.

Plein Air Painting with Robert Dew

On January 27th the Prince William Art Society will offer a program on plein air painting by member artist Robert Dew, an active member of the PWAS plein air group Plein Air Posse. Mr. Dew will cover doing both quick watercolor sketches and more detailed oil studies en plein air and take questions from members.

Meetings are free and open to the public, who are cordially invited to attend. Programs begin at 7:30 pm on the fourth Monday of each month at Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191.

More information on the Prince William Art Society can be found on the web site: https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/

What is Plein Air Painting?

From Wikipedia: En plein air (pronounced [ɑ̃ plɛ.n‿ɛʁ]; French for 'outdoors'), or plein-air painting, is the act of painting outdoors.

Read more on the Plein Air Posse and Painting:

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/05/post-463-plein-air-painting-equipment.html

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/03/post-447-pwas-plein-air-posse.html

Tall Oaks Community Center off Old Bridge Road, on the corner of Hedges Run and Cotton Mill Road.

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment! pinterest-site-verification=3ad32cc9cfeae507ba5a382d62fcee17

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Post 528: Art Show at Three Fox Vineyard

PWAS Art Show at Three Fox Vineyard

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) art group is having an art show at the Three Fox Vineyard and Brewery at 10100 Three Fox Lane, Delaplane, VA. Fourteen artist members have their artwork for display and for sale at the Vineyard from Dec 16, 2024 to March 9, 2025.

Click on an image to enlarge

Three Fox Vineyard and Brewery

A very nice drive from Woodbridge, which will take about an hour or less, the Vineyard is in Delaplane. Several of the PWAS artists have shown art at the biannual Art at the Mill show in Millwood, VA and have driven right past Three Fox to get to Art at the Mill. One of our members stopped in at the winery and discovered what a marvelous place to enjoy a glass of a favorite beverage AND that there is space to display art!

Three Fox Vineyard is currently hosting the Prince William Art Society's art up on their walls for all their visitors to enjoy. And as you can see from these photos below, taken by Bettie Sperty, what a beautiful winery and brewery it is.

Click on the Three Fox Vineyard and Brewery logo to learn more

The scenery around Three Fox is a delight, so wandering the grounds at any time of year (especially with a favorite beverage) is only a part of being there. The artwork is upstairs at the winery, so while you are visiting, be sure and go up, to enjoy the entire experience!

There is more artwork around the corner, so don't miss those!

Congratulations Bettie Sperty!

We need to congratulate PWAS member, Bettie Sperty - one of her art pieces SOLD at Three Fox Vineyard! In the photo above, you can see hers at the end of the row. Here is a little something that Bettie wanted to share about her artwork:

Bettie's artwork (shown below) is 30”x30” and has a silver leaf background and acrylic over that and is her own original concept and design.

She shares that, "I’ve enjoyed painting bees in different scenarios for some time.

I don’t paint thinking “what will someone buy?” or “what will someone else like?” I paint what makes me happy or inspires me. And it’s always a thrill when someone likes something I’ve created. I was very surprised and excited when I heard this had sold."

A trip out to Three Fox Vineyard should be on your radar! Grab a couple of friends and go visit the winery and all of the views!

See the previous Three Fox Vineyards and Brewery blog post

Photography/Video Credits: Bettie Sperty

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment! pinterest-site-verification=3ad32cc9cfeae507ba5a382d62fcee17

Friday, January 3, 2025

Post 527: Bull Run Library Art Show Jan 2-31, 2025

Bull Run Library Art Show Jan 2-31, 2025

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) members have a new art show up at the Bull Run Library located at 8051 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA 20109. The show will run from January 2 until about Janurary 31, 2025. The artworks are for sale from the PWAS website, located at https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/category/all-products

Bull Run Library. Photo by Donna Liguria

The PWAS Artists at Bull Run Library

The PWAS artists showing at the library are:

Bettie Sperty

Sandra McClelland Lewin

Carol Noboa

Staci Blanchard

Nicole Goble

Mark Murphy

Mandy Powell

Donna Liguria

Check out a book while checking out the Art! Click on a photo to enlarge your view.

Bettie Sperty, PWAS's Secretary, was the lead on this art show. She has hung art at this library before and stated that she has received FIVE commissions because of showing at this location!

Let's take a look at the artwork that is now up at Bull Run. Photos by Bettie Sperty.

Visit the Bull Run Library today! Also check out the Creator-Maker Room! Obviously, you'll be walking in and go right by the artwork too so stop and have a look!

Why Buy Local Original Art?

Sure, anyone can go to one of the local generic home stores and buy a print of artwork for $50 bucks or so. Grab a nail and hammer and up it goes on your walls to decorate your home. But is there really any connection to that piece that you will be looking at day in and day out?

Whereas, collecting original art to decorate your personal spaces that is created by a local artist can be much more inspirational, appealing, a better statement of your personal tastes, and make a much more impressive display. Especially when you can meet and get to know that local artist and learn about what inspired them to create it. You learn their story. You learn about that artwork and what they put into it. Then in turn, you have a story to tell about that artwork that you purchased from that artist and why it touched you. You are more connected to the art piece that you now own. It has meaning.

And absolutely, you are supporting the art local community, the local artists. You can find artwork locally that may be affordable; their prices may be more than the generic art prints, yet will have more artistic value. Perhaps even be an art investment. Read this if you need more convincing: 7 Reasons Why You Should Buy From Local Artists by Bryan Mullennix

And very often, if you see art or an art style you like by a local artist, you are able to contact them to create something personalized, customized that is exactly what you want in the colors you want. Or a painting of your pet, or of your home or garden. Wouldn't art like that have much more meaning for you or a gift you give to someone you care about? Contact the PWAS Online Store

The Prince William Art Society offers an online store - where it is safe to purchase artwork. Once artwork is purchased, the artist is notified and will work with and meet the Buyer for art pickup. The library itself does NOT handle the sale nor the artwork; the sale must take place via the PWAS Online Store.

The artist could then replace the artwork at the library with another piece of similar size.

Browse the PWAS Art Store and filter the results to the Bull Run Library to see the artworks on display there.

Comments? Drop them below this post!

And Thank you Bettie for setting up this show! I'll also add Thank you to Sandra M. Lewin for setting up the Montclair Show and Staci Blanchard for setting up the Popup shows. Well done!

Photography/Video Credits: Donna Liguria and Bettie Sperty

Join Your Local Art Group: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm

Get involved with PWAS! Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Post 526: PWAS Members Reflect on Specific Artworks

PWAS Members Emotional Reflection on Specific Artworks

Several Prince William Art Society members reflect on specific artworks that they have completed during or after a time of emotional, or the turmoil in their lives.The artists tell the story of perhaps the emotion/challenge it took to complete the artwork.

PWAS Members and Their Art

Every artwork has a story behind it. Sometimes there are commissions for our art making it more of a task to complete, or artworks that are a personal challenge or a project or series for showing. But there are times when a creator has just got to sit down with canvas and pour out their souls - feelings, hurt, thoughts, anger, frustrations, or even their hopes and joys... in the only way they can, with paintbrush in hand.

In response to this blog post subject, let's take a look at the PWAS members that shared these artworks.

PWAS Member Mandy Powell

I've had more than just an emotional year. In May, I was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, and I lost my mom to cancer in August. Painting has been a very therapeutic outlet for me to not only heal my emotions, but to also create some really inspired, meaningful work. [Below] you will find "Brightness Follows" which was painted after my mom's passing. She loved peonies and after all of the suffering in her last few weeks, I know she is now healed and free of pain. It represents the calm after the storm when my family was finally able to know she was at rest.

Also [below] is "Vexation" which represents all of the anger and fear felt when I was watching my mom's health decline and being diagnosed with my own cancer. "When Disease Arrives" depicts a piece of the emotion felt when faced with fighting a deadly disease. There's no pink or green, pretty ribbons about the terrifying feeling of possibly not watching your kids get married or meeting your grandkids. The fear of if the treatment will work, the side effects you have to live with. It swallows you.

PWAS Member Zee Berrios

As a matter of fact I do have a painting that was very emotional for me to complete. The painting is about my former wife and me. It was based on a self photo during the time we were deciding to separate. It was during winter.

The photo (and painting) caught the intensity of the thoughts and the "peaceful" conflict. We were having coffee as if nothing was happening, but our minds were full of decisions to be made.It was completed much after the separation. I did not know what to do with it and even considered trashing it. Finally I finished it and decided to keep it "in the basement" among my secrets.

It was not exhibited until 10 years later. The painting was titled "The Winter of Our Discontent". It won first place, the first and only time it was exhibited at the Library of Congress' Annual Employee show. Even now I am having thoughts about sharing it. I consider this painting the best I have ever done. It is not home anymore. One of our sons has it.

PWAS Member Nicole Goble

I finished a painting this fall after a lovely trip to a cabin in Frostburg, Maryland. My family and I were in awe of the rows of windmills that stood proudly on the mountain top. When I realized I could see them from our cabin window I knew I wanted to paint them. Every night over the next week I added details to a 24x18 canvas and before I knew it- “Silent Strength” was born. It’s my favorite piece I’ve created this year and I’d love to share it along with a poem I wrote:

The Windmills

In a cabin not far from here, I looked out the window and found a family of windmills working together just beyond and between the trees.

I watched as the air pushed their arms into infinite cartwheels like they were proud of their labor.

Even as the wind changed direction and rain fell and warmer temps slowly greeted the day - the windmills didn’t bend or resist or stop.

I smiled at them. Maybe we have something to learn from their silent strength.

Many thanks to Mandy, Zee, and Nicole G. for sharing these pieces and the stories behind each one.

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Post 525: An Email From the PWAS Interim President

An Email From the PWAS Interim President

An email from the Prince William Art Society Interim President, Sandra McClelland Lewin to the PWAS Members (and future members), recapping this past year and looking forward to 2025.

A Note from PWAS

Dear PWAS Members,

As we bid goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one, it is time to reflect on the lessons we've learned, challenges we've overcome, and the memories we've made. This past year has been a productive one for PWAS contributing to our growth and development. We’ve doubled our membership, had numerous pop-up art shows as well as month-long exhibits such as the Winery at Sunshine Ridge, the Montclair Library, and the Three Fox Vineyard and Brewery. Our website now features the ability to sell our artwork online as well as pay our dues and make donations. The free art classes provided to both our members and non-members have been extremely successful. The field trip to the National Gallery of Art was educational and provided us an opportunity to get to know members of the Manassas Art Guild who joined us on the trip. The classes and field trip were made possible by grant money from the Prince William County Arts Council (PWCAC). We have a newly established Plein-Air group that is meeting to paint throughout the area. The monthly meetings offered helpful programs by guest speakers, Show and Tell nights, and even a video reveal for members that was put online. Our year-end Holiday celebration was a fun-filled night featuring live music from our own members, games, great food, comradery and acknowledgement of our top volunteers.

How do we top that in the coming year? With the help of members like you, we can expand our outreach, provide more opportunities to sell our art, and increase our skills and knowledge of the business of art. We already have the Bull Run library show set to start in January and the Art Factory show is set to start in May. We’ve applied to be juried into a show at the Workhouse Center for the Arts in Lorton and await their decision. Our main objective for the coming year is to use our grant funds to provide a gallery for our daily use. The search is on to find that special place.

For me, the best part of being a member of PWAS is the chance to connect with like-minded, creative people. We gain so much from one another whether it be techniques, opportunities for exhibits, or simply encouragement for stretching our abilities. So, here’s to the adventures awaiting us in 2025! We have a blank canvas upon which we can paint our dreams and create a masterpiece.

To renew your membership for 2025, use this link: https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Let’s get started,
Sandra Lewin
Interim President

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