PWAS Members Q&A
Occasionally I ask the Prince William Art Society members various art questions or requests and
create blog posts from whomever answers. The members were recently
presented some questions about art online, their art process and more. In blue are their answers to the below questions. They also
show some samples of their works.
1. How important is it to have an online presence as an artist?
2. Do you follow a specific routine when working on your art?
3. How do you know when a piece is finished?
4. Are your pieces that you create more for yourself or your audience?
PWAS Member Eric Ndofor
1. How important is it to have an online presence as an artist?
It is extremely important as an online presence provides wider visibility far beyond my community and displays professionalism and credibility. It helps me connect frequently with folks who love my works as well as collectors/vendors. It also provides a powerful networking and marketing platform with diversification- online presence helps with multiple income streams such as paintings, commissions, teaching, etc. Finally, I can learn and share with other artists- important for my growth and evolution.
2. Do you follow a specific routine when working on your art?
I don’t follow a routine due to other responsibilities. However, increasingly, I find that following a routine is beneficial because for a person who is still busy with work and family life, routines condition my brain and mind to paint something no matter how small each week. This translates to painting regularly which builds experience and skill and reduces procrastination. But by routines, I don’t mean following a rigid schedule.
3. How do you know when a piece is finished?
Three things: when my intuition says “stop”, when additional changes don’t improve the painting and if it feels right after looking at it with fresh eyes (say a few days after). Usually, when I am at this point, most often than not, I find that the painting looks like what I wanted, the colors feel right and composition feels balanced.
4. Are your pieces that you create more for yourself or your audience?
My paintings are generally about a story based on my global experience including where I have lived, worked, and traveled to. For shows where the organizer provides a theme, my paintings reflect my personal experiences around that theme as well as emotions and behaviors by other people/cultures.
PWAS Member Betty Sperty
1. How important is it to have an online presence as an artist?
I feel some sort of online presence is good because someone may ask if you have art online for them to see. I have an Instagram site, a Facebook site and a website. I did have an Etsy shop at one time, too.
Considering them for sales? Personally I have generated no sales from the website, Instagram or Facebook and sold only a few pottery pieces through Etsy. That was years ago and it took a few years to sell those 4 pieces. It’s all about promoting yourself, which I really have not done.
That being said - I do have a friend who does a booming business on Etsy! In fact, she was in the top 200 sellers at one time- because she promotes herself. It takes work.
2. Do you follow a specific routine when working on your art?
I like to paint at home but don’t get to it often. What I have discovered is that committing to a weekly workshop or class makes me take the time to paint. And I get to hang out and be inspired by other artists.
3. How do you know when a piece is finished?
For me it’s that feeling of “yes. it’s done.” Feeling satisfied with the piece.
4. Are your pieces that you create more for yourself or your audience?
Mostly for me. I have to like what I’m doing. Some of the pieces I do are done with selling in mind, but I still have to enjoy them. After all, they may be hanging in my house for a long time.
This is an example of a piece I did that has been in several shows and never sold. But it’s Ok because I really love it myself. I enjoy the colors, the water, I feel it’s peaceful and I’m happy to hang it on my walls. (My daughters rowed on crew in high school, which is what inspired me to paint this years later.)
PWAS Member Isabelle Baulois
(From a previous batch of Q&A...) See this batch Part 1 here and Part 2 here1. How many 'sellable' artworks have you created so far in your lifetime, best guess?
Around 50 pieces
2. Do you find it better to focus on one medium or experiment with many? (Your favorite?)
I wanted to experience as many as possible but have been using acrylic the most. My favorite is oil painting from far.
3. What advice would you give your younger self when starting out? (Lessons learned!)
I
would tell my younger self to be more confident in the natural gifts I
had as a child. I didn't truly begin my painting journey until I was 45,
and since then, I’ve had to learn how
to trust the process of discovering the artist within me, exactly as I
am.
4. Do you keep a sketchbook or inspiration journal? (An idea book!)
I
have all my notes in a folder on my phone. I’ve never really sketched
before creating—I usually just describe my vision in words. However,
your question inspires
me to start sketching now. I already have the sketchbook ready!
5.
What artwork have you completed that you are most proud of? (Did it sell?)
Love’s Second Breath:
I am very attached to this painting, as it was the first in a long
series of spiritually inspired paintings. My family
loves it so much that they ‘forbid’ me to sell it! While I have a
tendency to give away my paintings, I’ve started allowing myself to sell
them as of this past September.Divine Intuition:
I love this painting because it is the realization of a vision, created
by going with the flow of inspiration and using oils (one
of the few oil paintings I’ve done so far). Not sold but, liked a lot.
PWAS Member Donna Liguria
1. How important is it to have an online presence as an artist?
I think its imperative to have an online presence as an artist, in as many ways as a body has time, know-how, and potentially budget to explore the many options available. There are plenty of free online options including Facebook and Instagram - its more a question of posting consistently and having good content. It is important to learn at least a few of the options if you don't know what to do or how to begin.
The entire world is your stage for your art.
But...The movie Field of Dreams quote, "You build it and they will come" does not work for artists, online or offline. Just having a website or a Facebook profile and posting your art doesn't get you found online without a strategy for having people know where to find you. Even if you paint like Van Gogh, no one will ever see what you create in your studio if you never show it off to friends or submit it to art shows.
If a PWAS member does not have a personal website, I suggest the Artist Showcase on the Prince William Art Society website. It is an affordable way to at least begin a web presence and have a place to point to your art.
2. Do you follow a specific routine when working on your art?
It is not often I just sit down and paint without having done some specific planning on what I want to paint. I am currently working in acrylics so here are some of the steps I take:
- Mind's Eye Painting - I often wake up with an image in my head of what I want to paint that day...and I go that route with my subject.
- Art Idea List - although periodically I do search for ideas of what to paint, I do have a good long list of art subject ideas that I would like to paint.
- Occasionally I have prepped several canvases at the same time so that I can paint a couple of versions of the subject at the same time too. That takes advantage of the color palette already in use too.
- Reference Photos and Research - I want to understand the angles and light on and around the subject. And with the light, know where the light source is coming from.
- Sketching the Subject - sketching the subject in a sketch pad does help with the layout of the artwork (although I don't always sketch it out).
- Select Canvas Size - I want to select the most appropriate size canvas for what will be featured on it.
- Canvas Prep - a couple of layers of gesso, sanding between layers as needed.
- Under-painting - a monochrome "watered-down" thin layer of acrylic paint applied to the canvas that gives a base layer on the dried gesso. I do the under-painting in 2-3 parts:
- An all over thin coat applied including the sides.
- I may sketch in the outline of the painting subject with an acrylic pen or a colored pencil after the initial under-painting has completely dried.
- Block in basic shapes with more acrylic paint or the monochrome color which establishes the foundational values.
- Let the Games Begin - and that means Layer. Dry. Layer. Dry. Layer...Begin the layering of the colors, especially the deeper colors first, leaving the highlight and lighter details for late in the work.
- Then comes in Question 3, knowing when to stop, so read that one below.
- Sign it - front and back
- Painting Protection - apply a varnish
- Commissions - If its a commission, I already have my reference photos from the client but the work follows much the same path except that the client selects the size of the artwork and subject.
3. How do you know when a piece is finished?
It is more a feeling. Sometimes I know exactly when. More often I need to set it on another easel and look at it for a day or two, different angles, different lighting. There's also a case for turning it upside down and seeing how the balance, lights and shadows, positioning all feel. There's an interior question of, "Am I satisfied? Am I happy? Is the mission accomplished with this piece?"
If not satisfied and I spot an area that screams for more attention, have at it. Depending on your medium and varnish, you may be able to touch up final details and reapply varnish...but the point is stay at it until you feel it is right.
4. Are your pieces that you create more for yourself or your audience?
I am on the fence between "what will my audience like to see", what's on my todo list of things to paint, what might sell, and the occasional wake up in the morning with a picture in my head. If its a commission, like Budryk below, that is obviously the clients selection of artwork.
"Budryk" by Donna Liguria
"Spring at Merrimac" Farm by Donna Liguria
"Starry Night Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh" by Donna Liguria
PWAS members and other artists: how would you answer these questions? Drop a note in the comments below. (Remember that comments don't appear immediately.)
Thank you to all the artists that participated in this batch of Q&A. Follow, comment and Share below.
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
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 (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
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