Post 167: Composition 12. Find the Best Orientation

Composition: Find the Best Orientation

This is Part 12 of my series on Composition

Find the best orientation to design your artwork. 

When you use a printer or take a photograph, you decide between portrait and landscape. When framing your artwork, portraits usually hang vertically and landscapes usually hang horizontally. But there is more to the decision than that.

In photography, finding the best orientation is a bit simpler decision than on canvas as your options do not necessarily have to be made right there. You can easily take shots of your subject by holding the camera horizontally and then taking the photo again, vertically. Then figure out your best shot(s) later.

 

Portrait 

Portraits are most often taken with the camera held vertically, or there are a good many vertical elements in the shot that are best captured to see the height, vertically.

 

Photo by Damon Lam on Unsplash 

 

This photograph just wouldn't be right if it was horizontal, correct?

 

Landscape

Holding the camera for that landscape image is typically with the camera being held horizontally. There are usually a lot of horizontal elements in your subject like mountains. 

 

Photo by Majestic Lukas on Unsplash 

 I don't think this photograph would have the same feeling to it at all if it was vertical. The emotion of it would be lost. What do you think?

 

Panorama

Panorama can be horizontal or vertical, just find what will work best, or more interesting for your subject.

Aspect Ratio

Aspect Ratio is defined as, "An aspect ratio is the dimensions of an image expressed in a ratio form. You determine the aspect ratio by comparing an image’s width and height, then writing it as a width:height ratio (such as 3:2 or 4:5)." - Digital Photography School

In even simpler terms, the aspect ratio is the size of the image taken by the camera.

A good read on Aspect Ratio is from Mary Ahern Artist Blog.

Another great read is Shutterstock - A Guide to Common Aspect Ratios...

When finding the best orientation and aspect ratio for your image, print, or artwork, you will determine how the subject(s) or the scene will be captured on the it. It is the decision to figure out what size of canvas and will it be horizontal or vertical to best display.

Check out this very good read about Portrait vs Landscape Orientation and Your Emotions: Choose the Right Composition for Your Photo by Amaury Descours

______

This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts!

---

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 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

---

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

 

Post 166: Upcoming Art Show - Emerging Artists and more at Open Space Arts at Stonebridge

Upcoming Art Show - "Emerging Artists" and more at Open Space Arts at Stonebridge

The next art show taking place at Open Space Arts at Stonebridge, in Woodbridge, Virginia is called "Emerging Artists" - a student show. There are about a dozen students that will have their artwork on display. Many of the students have taken part in an Open Space Arts workshop given by artist Penny Show, preparing them on the nuances of the art business and being in an art gallery. This show will run from Wednesday, June 1 until June 26, 2022.

Also in the gallery for June are 2 other Art exhibitions:

In Memorandum for James Gallagher - a collection of artwork by James Gallagher (February 21, 1948 - March 29, 2022) a former PWCAC and PWAS member.

 

Winners of the Law Day Art Contest

 

Taste of Woodbridge

Saturday, June 11, 2022 11am to 6pm

Stonebridge Town Center, 15201 Potomac Town Place Woodbridge VA

The 7th annual Taste of Woodbridge "Feast-ival"

https://www.kojamproductions.com/events/taste-of-woodbridge-2022

 

 

The Prince William Art Society members will have a tent and artwork up for the day - Saturday, June 11th. So much to see and do at Stonebridge, come by and see the art and enjoy the Feastival!

And coming up for the next Call for Art - going out via email (if you have signed up) and on social media early June - PWC LOCAL artists and art groups can submit their artwork for consideration for the July art show that will run from June 29 until Aug 14, 2022. Get on our mailing list ASAP!!

---

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 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

---

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

 

 

Photography/Video Credits: 

Donna Liguria

Post 165: And the Winners of the People's Choice Awards for May 2022 are...

And the Winners of the People's Choice Awards for May 2022 are...

At Open Space Arts at Stonebridge, we love for the visitors to select their favorite art pieces each month. Our show for May is called "Beauty and the Beach" and is running from May 4 to May 29, and the people have voted.

Let's go in and see who won.

Blue, Red and White Ribbons - the People's Choice

First place Blue Ribbon  

Stephanie McGee for Parrot Fish 

3-D Collage/paper filigree

18x24 

2nd place Red Ribbon  

Scott McDonald for Midnight Wave 

Oil, 24x28 

 

From Scott McDonald 

3rd place White Ribbon

Scott McDonald for Seaside Sunset

Oil, 20x26 

 

From Scott McDonald

Let's give the winning artists a hand!

Emerging Artists Art Show June 2022

Scheduled for June is an Emerging Artists show beginning on June 1 - 26. Along with this show is a section for:

• In Memorandum for James Gallagher - a collection of artwork by James Gallagher (February 21, 1948 - March 29, 2022) a former PWCAC and PWAS member.

•  Winners of the Law Day Art Contest

The Next Call for Art

The next call for art will go out in very early June for local Prince William County artists and art groups (18 or older) and this show will run from June 29 - August 14. Make sure you are on our mailing list!

 

Kelly Haneklau working on a commissioned art piece

Come by the gallery this weekend and see the "Beauty and the Beach" art show, Sunday, May 29 is the last day.

---

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 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 in Prince William County, 18 or older OR are a member of a local 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

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

---

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

Photography/Video Credits:

Donna Liguria

Post 164: PWAS 2022 Scholarship Winners

PWAS Scholarship Winners

Monday, May 23, 2022 at Tall Oaks Community Center, Woodbridge, VA. It's good to be back! By this I mean, it is so good to be back on track with the Scholarship Program of Prince William Art Society! PWAS was able to award two scholarships to two high school students this year where we could not in 2020 and 2021.

Anne Wu and Ayanna Rowe Are Awarded the 2022 Jewell Pratt Burns Art Scholarship

On 23 May 2022 the Prince William Art Society held the 13th Jewell Pratt Burns Scholarship award ceremony, named for longstanding member from the original Woodbridge Art Guild.  The two students selected each received  a $1000 scholarship. Both students attend Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School, The Center for Fine and Performing Arts. 

Both students will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University.

 

Read more about the PWAS Jewell Pratt Burns Art Scholarship here

 

 

From left to right: Ayanna Rowe, Jewell Pratt Burns, and Anne Wu

 

From left to right: Ayanna Rowe, Ana Quispe (PWAS President), Jewell Pratt Burns, and Anne Wu

 

 

 

From left to right: Jewell Pratt Burns, and Staci Blanchard (PWAS Vice President)

 

The future of these two aspiring artists looks very bright!

 

---

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

Photography/Video Credits:
Ana Quispe and Donna Liguria

---

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 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 in Prince William County, 18 or older OR are a member of a local 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

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

Post 163: Composition 11. Depth of Field

Composition: Depth of Field

This is Part 11 of my series on Composition

Depth of field is described as the distance between the nearest and the furthest objects that give an image judged to be in focus in a camera or that appears acceptably sharp. In other words, how much of the image will be in focus.

Shallow Depth of Field

Usually the subject is the only thing in focus, is sharp, while the background is blurred, or not in focus at all.

Deep Depth of Field

The image is pretty much in focus from the foreground to the background. 

 

Although this may seem to point solely at photographers and the photos they take, it is also part of composition on how you might set up your design for a painting as well. To better understand the depth of field, this video will help.

 

 

Photo by Dmitry Nor on Unsplash - quite literally, depth of field

______

This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts!

---

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 – it’s free to see the artwork! Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

---

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

 

Post 162: Opening Art Reception at Stonebridge Open Space Arts

Opening Art Reception at Stonebridge Open Space Arts

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - Woodbridge, Virginia. The Open Space Arts gallery at 15000 Potomac Town Center at Stonebridge celebrated the arts in Prince William County with an opening reception, featuring PWC artists and prominent members of the Prince William County community. All of the visitors browsed the art on display, met and mingled with local artists from the county and made some great connections. The Prince William Arts Council in conjunction with JBG Smith, the management company for Stonebridge, sponsor the gallery for the community to enjoy.

Local Artists Display Their Talent

A Call for Art goes out to local artists that are residents in PWC, are over the age of 18, and/or are members of a local PWC art group via email or through social media. Artists submit their information and quality images of their artwork to the Open Space Arts Committee to jury into the gallery. Jurying is a process of narrowing down the entered art pieces to the best selections that will appear for the visitors to enjoy. 

An Art Gallery Celebrating the Visual Arts in PWC

Prince William Art Society (PWAS) has been tasked with the management of the art and artists in OSA. This is an extensive, usually monthly task cycle of gathering artists, selected the best artwork, hanging the art followed by the scheduling of shifts for the artist-volunteers. 

Greeting the visitors coming in has been wonderful! They are so pleased to see the artwork in the gallery and have enjoyed voting for their favorite at each show.

The public response to the art gallery has been tremendous. With well over a 1000 visitors in April and many more in May discovering the gallery, the artists are looking forward to a busy summer with the warmer temperatures and the walking public browsing the shops and eating at the great local restaurants.

Many thanks to all the people that helped make our very first reception an awesome event in the community! And thank you to all that attended, it was a lot of fun, as you may be able to tell from the pictures. A few that I can give a shout out to are:

 

Anastasia Podorski, the Management of JBG Smith

Herb Williams, Arts Recreation Specialist 

Nandos Peri Peri and Fernando Garcia

 

 

Sandra McClelland Lewin and Herb Williams 

 

 

From the PWAS Members: 

"The reception at OSA on Thursday, April 21st for the Prince William County supervisors was a great success. The atmosphere was charged and the refreshments complimented the impressive artwork on display. Congratulations to all that helped make this event a evening to remember." - Otis Stanley

 

"Fantastic Artist Reception at OSA this past week! It was wonderful to connect with some of our County Supervisors and other local community members there. Shout out to Herb for all of his efforts putting together a great event!" - Kelly Haneklau

 

"The opening reception was a beautiful event in a beautiful space, surrounded by even more beautiful people and art. There were many fellow artists and many names I knew, and it was good to put the name with the face. It is not only a social event, but a business opportunity. And note to self, next time wear something with POCKETS for those business cards!" - Donna Liguria https://donnaliguriaart.com 

 

---

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

Want to find out more about OSA?

If you are an artist in Prince William County, 18 or older OR are a member of a local art group, you are welcome to get on our next art show's emailing list. Send it to OR come by the gallery to find out more. 

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

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

---

Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com & her Blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/.

Photography/Video Credits:
Ana Quispe, Donna Liguria