Post 278: New Techniques, Tools, Thoughts Learned in 2022

New Techniques, Tools, Thoughts Learned in 2022

As 2022 comes into its final weeks, I asked the Prince William Art Society members what they wanted to share with the other PWAS members - be it a new technique, a new tool, a thought.

PWAS Members Share Their Thoughts, Lessons Learned in 2022

 

Photo by Kenta Kikuchi on Unsplash 

Ann McCarty

I found an art instructor/muse named Snow Fielding.  She owns the Mill at Carter Hall Gallery Studios.  Her knowledge of art is amazing. Snow has helped me immensely. 

Michelle Baker

I get a charge from repurposing and recycling items. Repurposing more plastics and showing others how various materials can be used is one of my 2023 goals.

I love using items to create instead of traditional brushes. Hoping to make more connections with businesses on taking items out of the trash stream and turning them into art this coming year. Would love to see a show or one bay featuring recycling  in April!

Linda Nedilsky

What 2022 taught me with regards to art. Commissions do not have to be stressful! 

Commission work can be rewarding and challenging. Many of my art friends tell me they do not like doing commissions because of the stress of giving the customer exactly what they want. ||

I used to be that way, but I have learned one important lesson. You can please some of the people some of the time, you can please some people all the time, but you can never please all the people all the time. 

People see their animals differently than you see them via a photo you may have for reference.

The important thing is that you stay true to yourself, your style and what you love to do. 

If you try to do exactly what is in their head (unless you are physic) you are going to eventually hate what you are doing and your art will show it.   

As I gain more customers, I am learning to be more picky as to who I accept as a customer. This year I have turned down 3 customers after brief interviews. reasons? 1. Poor photos 2. Wanting the painting to look like a photo 3. Telling me how they want it painted, knowing my style of painting might not be what they are looking for. 

Sure, the extra money is nice, but my peace of mind is more important.  Love what you do, or don't do it.

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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/.

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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

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

Post 277: PWAS Member Art Awards and Recognitions

PWAS Member Art Awards and Recognitions

Here's a blog post we haven't done for awhile...what awards or recognition have our Prince William Art Society members been awarded this year? We had a few responses...

Ann McCarty

This painting titled "Gulf Sunset' won second place People's Choice award at the Harvest of Artist show at OSA in November 2022.

Donna Liguria

I entered this year's 15th annual Paint! Manassas contest sponsored by P-ART-ners (with Michelle Franz) this past fall. The rules were simple, enter online and have your canvas(es) initialed per the requirements BEFORE beginning the painting. The subject matter had to be something within the Historic Manassas guidelines and you could use reference photos. I needed to be in Manassas early on October for the Artist Inventory Sale and took some early am photos.

My painting "Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station" 16x20 in acrylic was awarded first place!

 

The painting hung at Grounds Central Station Coffee Shop through the month of November and will be at Open Space Arts in January 2023.

Linda Nedilsky

No art awards or artist recognition, but lots of acclamation from peers and friends regarding my wildlife series. That's really more important than awards. ;)

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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/.

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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

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

Post 276: PWAS Christmas Party 2022

PWAS Christmas Party 2022

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) celebrated their annual Christmas party on Sunday, December 18, 2022 at the Open Space Arts Gallery (closed to the public). Traditionally, the PWAS December meeting is always turned from the meeting format to a PWArtyS! format.

Open Space Arts Makes a Great Setting for a Christmas Party!

I wasn't able to go this year, unfortunately, but it looks like a GREAT time was had by all and some of these pictures (thanks to all that took them BTW), really need captions...or an explanation. Maybe both!

The Nibbles: Food Feast

What happens when you put a bunch of creative people together and ask them to bring hor d'oeurves / appetizers to a party?

Here is what happens:

 

First place - Reindeer Platter from Sheri Herrick

Second place - Grinch Dip from Tom Payne

Third place - Charcuterie Christmas tree from Sheri Herrick

 

We should make this an ongoing tradition!

 

 

 

 

 

The Fun:

 

 

Door prize:

Thanks to Jeff Holman for donating the beautiful easel as our door prize.  Congratulations to Kofi as the winner.

Dancing:

Thanks to Cookie and Raymond Bell for providing the musical entertainment and dancing.  The Electric Slide and Cupid Shuffle were a big hit.  Next year Tony promised to teach us the Cleveland Shuffle.

Pictionary:

PWAS artistic talent was on full display during the highly competitive Pictionary game.  Congratulations to the red team for their brutal smack down victory.  Better luck to the blue team next year.  Tony will be selling prints of his beautiful rendering of a goat (or aardvark if you prefer to interpret it that way).

Decorations:

Thanks to the party committee for all the planning, setup, breakdown, and clean up.  It was a great party!

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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/.

 

Author: Mark Murphy
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA

Photography/Video Credits:
PWAS Partygoers!

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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

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

Post 275: What's On Your Easel Right Now?

What's On Your Easel Right Now?

Periodically I ask the Prince William Art Society what is on their easel, PC, or camera right now that they are working on. Here are their answers to the question.

Gotta Keep Creating!

PWAS artists are always creating, always working on something new. We have commissions to finish, possible gifts to certain people or functions, gallery themed deadlines to meet and more. And often the art on our easel is for fun or discovery, we just MUST, create! Here is what is on the easel right now for these members.

Scott McDonald 

 

 

This is what’s on my easel. It’s a gesso under painting for a Holiday floral. I’ll be painting this on Sunday during my docent duty at the gallery. You’ll be able to see the finished painting at the PWAS Holiday party.

 

 

Ann McCarty

This is a study for a larger version. Working on loosening my brush work and stressing less over photorealism. I am still working on that big orange boat that I posted here last publication.  Oy vey!

Mark Murphy

After seeing some of the beautiful portraits in the gallery, I decided to give colored pencils a try.  So far I've created two fun pieces, one with donuts and one with pieces of cheesecake.  At the Naval Academy, one of my nicknames was "dessert man" so I thought this subject would be appropriate for a series of renderings.  I may call it "Just Desserts".  I'm also considering watercolor versions of these subjects in a similarly realistic style to investigate which medium I prefer for this type of art.

Michelle Baker

Looking into 2023: Started a series of works last in recognition of Black History month show. I love the blues sound and blue paint. Have not titled this piece but I see movement and dancers. Waiting until the right words come to me or feel it is finished before I  select a title.

Maureen Guillot

This painting started as a still life set up and now I'm finishing it at home from a picture.   I only use three primary colors, plus white and use a rose color underpainting.  I am able to make all the colors I need with three colors. 

Linda Nedilsky

What's on my Easel? A painting I have tried to finish since December 3 for my upcoming show in January at McCall's Gallery. 

I started this painting and various roadblocks were put in my path that forced me to set it aside until last night. 

I am about half way done with it at this point and hoping to finish this evening.  

Donna Liguria

This is a painting I have worked on periodically for a couple of months in advance of the February 2023 art show at Open Space Arts for Black History month. Still a lot of work to do on it, but it is Ben's Chili Bowl at 1213 U St. N.W. Washington, DC 20009, 16x20 on canvas, in Acrylics.

Ben and Virginia Ali started Ben's Chili Bowl in 1958 and is, to this day, the go-to place to eat when visiting DC - from politicians to the famous to everyday folks.

Evelyn Chatters

This is on my easel right now. There are layers of black, yellow, red ,and green and it has a lot of texture. It looks a little frightening, but with acrylic pours, sometimes the results are surprising! 

Madelyn (Mickey) Winslow

This is a study for a larger version  This is a dog portrait that I just finished painting for a client. It’s on an 8x8” wrapped canvas. Acrylic. I am a long-time member of PWAS - joined when we were the Woodbridge Art Guild. Love to paint dog & cat portraits and lighthouses. Also flowers & scenic places.

Otis Stanley

This is called "Goldfish Blues"

Tom Payne

Here’s a jpg of what is on my Cintiq “easel” today. I call it “Afro Cyborg”. It’s about halfway finished. She will have a helmet and will be adorned with additional mechanical elements that will give her super human powers. I’m painting her by hand in Photoshop. She needs a name. Any suggestions PWAS??? 

Saul Roldan 

I am painting my granddaughter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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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/.

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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

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