Post 494: Artists Gotta Art

Artists Gotta Art

Most months, I like to ask the Prince William Art Society artists what they are working on, sometimes in various ways. What's on your easel isn't always the right thing for every artist as they work in various mediums. Nonetheless, let's see what the artists are doing at the moment and what might be on their radars.

PWAS Member Mark Murphy

Below are two quick paintings from my sketchbook.  One is of the Kinderdijk windmills outside of Rotterdam (definitely worth the visit) and the other shows a man that I met on the Rotterdam water taxi with his bike and dog.  I'm trying to get in the habit of quickly documenting recent events with a loose ink sketch and watercolor washes.  Many artists recommend adopting the practice of quick, daily sketches so I'm giving it a try.  It certainly takes the pressure off of trying to always produce the next "masterpiece" and they help me see what I need to do differently if I choose to develop these into larger paintings.

Also below, is a black and white image of my reference photo modified with Notanizer.  Side by side, you can see that my quick, freehand rendering strays from the original image and I might do another version that is truer to the values of the photo.  There are many ways to produce a simplified "value study" like this but the Notanizer app (only $1.99) lets you choose how many levels you want between black and white and providers sliders to adjust the threshold or sensitivity of each level.  It is a convenient way to quickly visualize the range of values.  I learned about this in the watercolor class taught by Gwen Bragg at the Workhouse.  She is an excellent instructor.

PWAS Artist Zee Berrios

What is on the easel...an acrylic on canvas 36" X 48". In the Original Natives" series to be exposed next year.

What's on the radar: a solo show at the FCCA (Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts) next year.  (presently showing 8 paintings at the Open Arts space (in Stone Bridge)

PWAS Member Donna Liguria

Although I recently had this painting in the artist reveal video at our last PWAS meeting, it wasn't quite complete. I believe it is now as of TODAY, less the varnishing. So sitting upon my easel is "Lincoln Memorial in the Fall", which is the 3rd commission from a fellow that resides in Washington DC. I've previously painted Spring "Cherry Blossoms, an Annual DC Event" (the Washington Monument), and Winter "White House Having a White Christmas", so I have a whole DC seasons series going. The final Summer season painting is yet to be determined but it just seems like it should be fireworks, don't you think?

 

 

I ended up throwing more Fall at it. 

And we have Arts Alive this Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas from 12 to 5. Come on out and support the arts!

PWAS Member Elena Jochum

The painting I am currently working on is for my small business, Tidewater Trove. It is a depiction of riverglass and pottery artifacts from the Potomac River. Some of the artifacts date back to 1800s.

This is a watercolor painting where I am focusing on light, reflections, textures, man-made objects - and the fleeting of time. The composition is also representing negative space. I am challenging myself with abstracting realism. 

PWAS Member Pierre George I'm back in town and was able to get back on the canvas again. What's on my easel? A 30 x 48 painting, I have just completed this weekend. I am currently in the sketching phase of another very, very large painting called "Wash Day". Inspiration: J.C. Leyendecker, Michelangelo and a host of other artist who has come and gone. PWAS Member Otis Stanley Here's what I'm working on; Morning Cast, acrylic,  24" x 36' PWAS Member Mandy Powell I’ve been working tremendously and have a solo show that just opened this weekend at Sunshine Ridge Winery! It will be there until November 17 with the reception on Sat Nov 16th! I’m so excited!! Please share.
Drop a comment below and let them know what you think.

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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.

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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

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