Sunday, May 18, 2025

Post 569: An Art Reception at the ARTfactory

An Art Reception at the ARTfactory

Saturday, May 17, 2025. The Prince William Art Society celebrated an Artist Reception at the ARTfactory for the current art show on display at the gallery. The show is the Prince William Art Society Member Exhibition which began May 15 and will run until May 30. Lots of the artists came and enjoyed the wonderful celebration of art.

Photos from the Reception

The ARTfactory is located at 9419 Battle Street in Manassas, VA right across from the railroad station.

Photographs from around the ARTfactory gallery

 








Donna Liguria next to her painting called "Spring at Merrimac Farm" 

2 From Katharine Owens, featuring "White Chocolate" and "Peppermint Pattie"



2 from Katie Keller Dugan (with Mandy Powell)


To see ALL of the photos from this show, see the PWAS Web Gallery

Here's one from Sandra McClelland Lewin

From PWAS Member Zee Berrios


From PWAS Member Mandy Powell 


From Member Scott Elliot with is "Day at Royal Lake"

Thank you PWAS Members for sending in your photos too! As always, art is better seen in person. The colors, the size of the piece, the full impact of an artwork is not realized via the internet...so go by the ARTfactory and see the show! The Show ends May 30th!


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.

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

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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Friday, May 16, 2025

Post 568: Photographing Your Artwork To Make Prints

Photographing Your Artwork To Make Prints

by Tom Payne

Photographing artwork is done for many different purposes.  

One purpose is submitting images to be juried for an art show. This can be done with some practice and minimal equipment after watching a few YouTube videos.  In this case, the quality of the image and the size of the file may not be very important.   Here is a good video to watch for this purpose:   https://youtu.be/WIe-KuDAkkc

Photographing your artwork for the purpose of making and selling high quality prints is a worthwhile venture. Many artists pride themselves on selling individual, one of a kind, artworks for customers who have the financial wherewithal to afford that kind of purchase.  

In addition to offering original one offs, artists may also want to provide more affordable print products for customers to consider (such as artist note cards and frame-able mat prints in different sizes).  For this purpose, good camera equipment, lighting, and image editing software are needed in order to create high resolution images that show your paintings accurately, whether it’s for a pop up show or for your website.  Here is a good video that shows this process:  https://youtu.be/zsqiPscQQCE   

As a photographer, I have the high resolution camera equipment necessary to shoot artwork in a studio setting and would be happy to chat with PWAS members who are interested in learning, with me, how to photograph their work.  

If you’re serious and would like to sell note cards and mat prints, I recommend that you spend what you can afford and buy a good photo printer. Stick with Epson or Canon.  Go to B&H Photo and shop around and look at videos for a printer that meets your needs. B&H is the best place to buy. Trust me. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/

You can purchase quality photo papers and note card stock from B&H Photo as well.  When purchasing photo paper you might wish to purchase a sample pack that includes examples of different finishes, mat, glossy, premium luster, watercolor etc… There are a ton of different types of papers to experiment with. 

If you don’t have or don’t want to buy a printer, you must choose a good professional printer.  My advice is to use the printers trusted by professional photographers.  My favorite printer for paper prints is Mpix.   Visit the website and spend some time familiarizing yourself with the various options and products available. You will not be disappointed in the quality of their work. www.mpix.com.   

If you are interested in making canvas, acrylic, or metal prints, I highly recommend ProPrints. I get all my big canvas prints from them and they stand behind their work.  https://www.proprints.com/    

When selling your prints, it is important that they be matted, suitable for framing, and in sealed clear bags.  I get my mat boards, backer boards, and clear bags, in standard sizes from Matboard Plus.  Purchase supplies in bulk, mat your own prints and you will be good to go.  Check them out here: https://www.matboardplus.com/conservation-mat-board-show-kits/

If you’ve never made a mounted print, don’t worry, it is easy.  Here is a good video showing the CORRECT way to do it with acid free products. https://youtu.be/VYUVC8cc838

I hope these references and tips are helpful as you explore the world of photography and how you can create fine art prints to augment the sale of your artworks.  Contact me anytime!  Make some art and enjoy today!! 

Tom Payne Relief Artworx



Author: Tom Payne, PWAS Member-at-Large
 
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.

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

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Post 567: PWAS at the ARTfactory, Tall Oaks and More

PWAS at the ARTfactory, Tall Oaks and More

Prince William Art Society has had a lot going on this year! The art group and members, also called PWAS (pronounced p-whaz) have been to the Three Fox Vineyard, went to the Bluebell Festival and had a bluebell challenge, have been to a Manassas Park Community Day, appeared in several libraries around PWC, some of our members have art at little art show over in Milwood, VA, been to a Monastery, had a Tall Oaks show, had several Art Calls and have been plein air painting here and there. And there is more to come.

PWAS Member Exhibition May 15 - 30, 2025

Drop off art for the PWAS Member Exhibit at the ARTfactory was on Sunday, May 11. The Prince William Art Society members and/or spouses were steady bringing in their art between 12 and 4. The current ARTfactory show was still up in the pictures and there were PLENTY of those little red dots all around on the artwork! A big congratulations to those artists! 

If you don't know, a red dot on artwork means that it is SOLD! That was an excellent show, the artworks was awesome. 

The ARTfactory is located at 9419 Battle Street, Manassas, VA. The parking garage is located directly across the railroad tracks and the entrance to the garage is from Prince William Street

Artwork incoming! It was great seeing everyone bringing in their artwork. What a variety of works we always have from our members. You can see all of the art for this exhibit here, with the show opening May 15, 2025: https://pwasatartfactory2025.artcall.org/pages/web-gallery




This art piece from the current show that ends May 11th, everyone was admiring as it was a sheet of wood cut from a tree trunk and painted with watercolors. Note the red dot on the card too. Fascinating artwork!




The PWAS Member Exhibit will run May 15-30 with the Artist Reception held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 6-8pm. The public is welcome to attend and the visitors can vote for People's Choice - their favorite art in the show. 

PWAS Member Exhibition Web Gallery https://pwasatartfactory2025.artcall.org/pages/web-gallery

And by the way, the ARTfactory tries to have the buyers leave the artwork up until the end  of the show to maintain the look of the show throughout its run. Occasionally they have let the buyer take the artwork, especially if they do not reside nearby.  

PWAS Members: If you go see the show, get a picture and post it on Facebook!

The Best of the Region Fine Art Show and Sale is coming up following the PWAS Member Exhibit at the ARTfactory. The 'Best of' will run June 3-15 with the Artist Reception on June 7, 2025 6-8pm. Our juror will be in attendance, Catherine Hillis - so be there to meet and talk with her too! 

Our juror will also judge the show and we have ribbons (and $) for first, second, third place along with some Honorable Mentions! We'll also have a People's Choice awarded so when you are there, vote your favorite art. 

Put on your 'shiny shoes' and come on out and enjoy both of the shows and Art Receptions.

*From what movie is the reference put on your 'shiny shoes'? Answer at the bottom

Best of the Region Web Gallery https://bestoftheregionexhibit.artcall.org/pages/web-gallery

Spring Tall Oaks Art Show in Lakeridge May 10, 2025

PWAS had their biannual art show at the Tall Oaks Community Center (where we have our monthly meetings) on Saturday, May 10. We had a very nice turn out and some wonderful art sales for our artists. The art group shows their art at Tall Oaks in the spring and again in the Fall every year.

I didn't get many photos of show - I used my phone to play the background music. We had 8 artists showing on Saturday and we saw a lot of PWAS Members pop in to visit and some members from years ago too!

The Tall Oaks Community Building 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge
Ana Quispe was face painting. David Dillon and Richard Tyler were plein air painting. Nicole Goble, James, Staci Blanchard, Maria Briganit, Eric Ndofour were manning the battlestations.


Maker Faire and Friends Sale and Bull Run Library Shows

PWAS members getting tired yet? Some of us are! We've had a busy year already in the art world! So of course, here are MORE opportunities to show off your art!

The Bull Run Library is located at 8051 Ashton Ave, Manassas, VA 20109 and there are TWO art events there.

Upcoming June 7 from 10 until 3 at the Bull Run Library is the Maker Faire and PWAS Members can contact Bettie Sperty if they want to be a part of that day's events. Space is limited so get in early.

June and July at the Bull Run Library - contact Bettie Sperty if you want to be a part of this event. Art delivery is scheduled for Sunday, June 1 from 1:30-2:30pm. This show will also appear in our PWAS Online Art Store https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/category/all-products. Please follow up by reviewing this PWAS Artistry Spin blog page on our Art Store

IMPORTANT: The Bull Run Library does NOT handle the art sales for the June and July art shows. If a person wants to purchase your art, there is a QR code that when opens, goes the the PWAS Website Art Store and purchases can be made directly on the website. The Artist is then contacted to make arrangements with the Buyer to hand over art. 

See this post when we were previously at the Bull Run Library

Beyond July

There will be the annual Arts Alive! show at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas and the Fall Tall Oaks Show at the Tall Oaks Community Center. In the meantime, stay tuned to this blog and the PWAS website for meetings and updates. 

On our agenda for the end of the year are of course our monthly meetings with various presentations and speakers and our Board Elections too. We've to plenty of irons in the fire - I should say paint brushes in the varnish, here at the county's oldest art group, the Prince William Art Society. Come by and check out a meeting and jump onboard! 

*Movie Reference is from the movie Dodgeball when White Goodman says, "There's no resisting when White Goodman puts on his shiny shoes."


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.

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

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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Saturday, May 10, 2025

Post 566: What's on Your Easel PWAS Members?

What's on Your Easel PWAS Members?

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) asks the members various questions each month to see what they are up to and want to share with you. This month's question asked about their in progress artwork with "What's on Your Easel?" Let's go see the show...

PWAS Member Zee Berrios

The working title is "Commended Spirit". It's part of the "Sacro" series. It is acrylic on canvas, 12" X 20" (smallest acrylic I've ever done). 

PWAS Member Tom Payne

Tom Payne is our Prince William Art Society Member-at-Large and he's also taken on the management of the workshops and classes for our art group too. He created this video of the Art in the Garden at the Benedictine Monastery this past May 3, 2025:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wpjtd2k7opgfu48cip0lb/Art-in-the-Garden-May-2025.mp4?rlkey=gysjlh1emzrnqdihymm19b1aj&e=1&st=jb4mlf7u&dl=0

PWAS Member Donna Merchant

I just wanted to share a drawing that I’ve been working on. This photo was taken at my son Ben’s graduation from VCU last year. He’s the class of 2024, I’m the class of 1992! This hug represents how proud I was, AM and ALWAYS will be of my one and only “Son-shine”. I’m finishing this drawing this weekend as a Mother’s Day gift for myself..but he will get this drawing eventually. 

 


PWAS Member Otis Stanley

"Daddy Sent For Us" Acrylic 16"x 20"

PWAS Member Kathleen Gates

I've been working on this 20 x 20 canvas. I'm not sure if it is complete. 

PWAS Member Patty Gulledge

Although I still have a lot of work to do on this painting, it's coming along.  We're renovating two bathrooms, and this piece is meant for the entrance to the one that has a coastal feel (think colors of sea glass and bleached wood).  This is the first time I've painted something for a specific room in my house, so I'm hoping it says "this way to the beach!"  


PWAS Member Donna Liguria

The working title is "Art Delivery to the Mill" and its a 14x14 canvas in acrylics. The story behind the painting is on my blog Donna's Cave Paintings. The painting in its finished state will be there too.  Art Reception at Art at the Mill

I'm a big fan of the biannual Art at the Mill art show held in the Spring and Fall in Milwood, VA. Do a search on this blog Artistry Spin too for more stories and pics about Art at the Mill. I highly recommend that artists at least go see this show if they haven't answered a Call for Art to it yet.

I agree with Kat Gates, I always question if a painting is done yet....don't you? I may spend a couple of days tweaking, tweaking...turn it upside down and look at it that way for awhile and tweak some more.
 
And I love Patty's idea to paint an artwork for a specific room. Why in the world would we ever use generic artwork to decorate our own homes!!!??? 

PWAS Member Mark Murphy

This rendering of a fish was created using Yupo (plastic paper), a pour of acrylic paint, and details in watercolor.  This fun, colorful, and more abstract style was a fun departure from my typical art.

PWAS Member Katharine Owens

40x60" No name yet


Thank you to all the artists that participated in this "What's on your easel" - I look forward to seeing the finished works.


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.

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

Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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