PWAS Members Share Their Art Tips
Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is a 51+ year old art group in Prince William County, Virginia with members of 18 and up. The members (currently at 100) range in all directions of art styles, experience levels, ages - you name it. But every artist has to begin somewhere and this blog post offers suggestions on a variety of art topics.
Learning the Art World
When
I started taking my art more seriously in 2020, after some of life's bumps and
bruises, I found a local art group (woohoo PWAS*!) - and got INVOLVED. It has been a
learning experience, as I had never been in the business of art before.
So what did I do after joining? I attended every possible art meeting,
art show, I gallery sat, and got on a couple of committees - to start learning how to
present my art in a professional manner. AND I asked questions. AND I did research.
Here are some answers to questions that I did ask or on topics you might be interested in from some of the responding PWAS artists.
*Prince William Art Society
Staci Blanchard
My biggest tip would be to buy canvases from Michael’s when they have a
bogo, or 70% off sales. They happen several times a year and you can get
quality canvases.
My favorite brands of acrylic
paint are Amsterdam and Arteza. I do acrylic pours and these brands
have beautiful colors and the reactions between the colors make
wonderful pour art pieces.
Staci does acrylic fluid art.
Linda Nedilsky
1. Where do you get your business cards from? Vista Print
2. Where do you get your art prints made? I used to do prints but no longer.
3. What kind of paint do you use, your favorite brand? Golden Acrylic and Golden Open Acrylics
4.
What software program(s) do you use to do what you do - especially FREE
ones? My husband and I have a music recording business, so we have
used Photoshop to design CD covers for decades. I still use it to work
on ideas on my computer.
5. Where do you get your art merchandise printed from? (for resale)
Vista Print.
6. Where do you get your artwork matted, framed?
Hobby
Lobby in Woodbridge. My giclee prints that I used to make were custom
framed in Old Town Alexandria by Carriage House Framing. They are no
longer in business.
7. Where do you order or shop for your art supplies?
Plaza Art or Jerry's Artarama
8. Is there a favorite art tip you have to SAVE MONEY?
I
try to look for sales locally, or online. Golden paints usually have
their paints on sale twice a year. They do not allow sales to be placed
on their paints unless they are having a general sale.
BUT, because I
am military, I get 10% off at Michaels, and sometimes they have a 20%
off sale on all store items. Unfortunately, they do not carry Gold Open
and in many cases customers have "squeezed" the tubes causing damage.
Not sure why customers need to squeeze paint tubes, or peaches for that
matter. LOL
My art is 50 percent
painting and 50 percent drawing.
Kelly Haneklau
1. Where do you get your business cards from? usually Vistaprint
2. Where do you get your art prints made? Artist friend
3. What kind of paint do you use, your favorite brand? Why? Golden Open-workable longer than standard acrylics
6. Where do you get your artwork matted, framed? do it myself
7. Where do you order or shop for your art supplies? Jerrys Artarama, Blick, Michaels
8.
Is there a favorite art tip you have to SAVE MONEY? do your own
framing, buy in bulk when you can, use coupons for supplies, recycle
supplies and found-objects
Photo: "Daydreaming" oil on canvas
Otis Stanley
To get my framing and matting needs taken care of I use Lakeridge Art and Frame Gallery, Inc located at 4164 Merchants Plaza, Woodbridge, Va. 22192.
Michelle Baker
8. Is there a favorite art tip you have to SAVE MONEY?
Repurposing is one of the ways to save. You can pick up supplies and frames to redo at thrift stores or look at your own stash with a new eye.
I have even grabbed items left curbside for the trash man.
I also use items that might otherwise be tossed. I have a stash of plastic trays, packaging and egg cartoons to use as palettes.
Would love to see the PWAS share leftover supplies. Maybe have a “Odds and Ends Stash” spot where people can take items. Maintenance would be key. Maybe a plastic tub or box with a lid marked in a designated area. Take one, leave one type of place like a Little Free Craft Nook patterned after the Free Libraries.
I use a lot of leftover things for textures.
My other tip is hand up your paper towels and your painters tape to use more than once.
John Hartt aka Jortt
John Hartt: Strange and Wonderful Art.
2. Where do you get your art prints made?
I
own a Canon Prograph 1000 and make my prints in-house. It works for me, I
do a lot of prints. Initial investment: $1200, yearly supplies (inks,
paper): $1,000
3. What kind of paint do you use, your favorite brand? Why?
Oil
paints. I’m using Williamsburg more often. It’s pricier than other
brands, but I feel like there’s more pigment than other brands.
4. What software program(s) do you use to do what you do - especially FREE ones?
Procreate
for sketching on the Ipad. It was $10 when I got it several years ago.
I’ll be doing a tutorial on 5 November at Stonebridge.
5. Where do you get your art merchandise printed from? (for resale)
Locally, I get my shirts and apparel at East to West Embroidery. They’ve been around for years and are super helpful and reliable.
6. Where do you get your artwork matted, framed?
I paint almost exclusively on gallery wrap.
7. Where do you order or shop for your art supplies?|
I’ve traditionally shopped online at Jerry’s Ararama
they’re prices are good and get the order out quickly. Dick Blick’s
prices seem to be a little better, but shipping is kinda slow. I buy
canvas in bulk at Wholesale arts and frames. The prices are great until you add shipping (from CA), then the prices are just “eh”.
8. Is there a favorite art tip you have to SAVE MONEY?
Yeah. Stop being an artist, you’ll save money then.
Photo: Eight Foot Tiki
Donna Liguria
Where to begin? I have learned so much!Recently, while hanging art at Open Space Arts for the Hispanic Heritage Art Celebration, one of my fellow committee members mentioned to NOT hang artwork with a person's face with their eyes pointing toward the door. The patrons of your gallery will view it as a subliminal message - the patron's eyes follow the direction of artwork's eyes, and head for the door too!
Save time when SAVING your art on your phone or computer by saving the artwork with your LASTNAME_FIRSTINITIAL-Title of your artwork. When you submit your artwork to a gallery, a Call for Art, or even with your Social Media person, you need to have your artwork properly formatted anyway, so get used to doing it the same way each time and it makes it easier to ID which photograph belongs to which person. I cannot tell you how many photos I get that have a lot of numbers and it can be confusing depending on what I am posting.
When buying art supplies or ANY shopping on Amazon, use Amazon Smile so that Amazon does the donating of a portion of what you spent to a non-profit like the Prince William Art Society. See the PWAS website and the Amazon links at the top or bottom of the page (initially you may need to specify who you want to donate to) and Amazon takes care of it. It does not cost you anything extra. https://smile.amazon.com/?ref_=smi_ext_ch_23-7300705_dl
1. Where do you get your business cards from? Vistaprint
7. Where do you order or shop for your art supplies? EVERYWHERE! Amazon Smile of course, Jerry's Artarama, Hobby Lobby, Michael's
8. Is there a favorite art tip you have to SAVE MONEY? Buy on sale
Photo: Mountain Reflection
Local Art: Visit us at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
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.
Want to know how to get involved at OSA? If you are an artist (18 or older) living in Prince William County, or a are a member of a PWC art group, you are welcome to get on our next art show's emailing list. Send it to us, OR come by the gallery to find out more.
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
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