Post 420: PWAS Members Share What They Are Up To

PWAS Members Share What They Are Up To

Several Prince William Art Society Members share what they've been up to and where their art is.

Bettie Sperty

This one is a commission for someone. I hope to finish it this week.
It is a gift for the woman’s husband and is a painting of their dog. The woman is also a quilter and made the quilt for the dog’s bed, so it’s important that I get the quilt accurate, too. It is 11”x14” and done in oil.

Donna Liguria

This painting is in progress and will be called "Last Light Lighthouse NC". It's 24x24 and painted with acrylics on a gallery wrapped canvas. I just did a commission for someone for Christmas, so I can't post that one until after the holidays. I'm going to North Carolina, Harkers Island for Thanksgiving and I hope to be taking this one with me as I'll be setting up for an art show there. Also, was working on another commission that will be called "White House Having a White Christmas".

Find Donna's art here: https://donnaliguriaart.com, on her blog at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/, on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/donna.liguria. Also, some of my art is in our PWAS Art Shop too!

Sandra McClelland Lewin

SLMLart.com Sandra's website

Bettie, Donna and Sandra are currently part of the GoWell Stonebridge and Warrenton locations committees, have been members of the gallery committee and other PWAS positions.

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, 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

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!

Post 410: Donna's Cave Paintings Blog - by Donna Liguria Art: Post 327: Art Reception at Art at the Mill

Donna's Cave Paintings Blog - by Donna Liguria Art: Post 327: Art Reception at Art at the Mill: Art Reception at Art at the Mill   

 

Art at the Mill is the most outstanding of all the art shows that I have been a part of thus far in my a...

 

 

 

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, Donna's Etsy 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 and our monthly meetings which are held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, 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! 

Post 394: Donna's Cave Paintings Blog - by Donna Liguria Art: Post 322: Fall Art at the Mill Art Show

Donna's Cave Paintings Blog - by Donna Liguria Art: Post 322: Fall Art at the Mill Art Show - A Nice D...: Fall Art at the Mill Art Show - A Nice Drive to Millwood   Over the river and through the woods, to Millwood, Virginia we go! Sandra McClelland Lewin...

Highly recommended to go visit Art at the Mill when the show opens September 23 - October 8, 2023. The Art Reception is Sunday, October 1. 

PWAS Member Michelle Baker is also showing at the Mill - are there any more PWAS members at this Fall Art at the Mill show?

More pictures and information available on Donna's Cave Painting blog

Post 391: What Are the PWAS Members Working on Now?

What Are the PWAS Members Working on Now?

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is a group of artists and art lovers located in Prince William County, Woodbridge, Virginia. The group has been meeting and creating art for over 50 years. While this blog has only been in operation for a couple of years, we have a lot of artists that we like to show off occasionally and share what they do and think about art.

On Our Easels, Laptops, Tablets, and Work Tables

For this blog post, I asked the PWAS members what they are currently working on along with 2 other questions/opinions.

1. What are you currently working on?

2. What art tip is the BEST thing, best advice ever given to you as an artist?

AND/OR

3. What is your opinion on an art education?

Let's see what the responders say....and click on the picture to see a larger image.

PWAS Artist: Leora LaGraffe

Here are two recent (this past week) works of mine in soft pastel on UArt pastel paper. Both are 12x9 inch 

The best advice I’ve received from other artists is to never get discouraged from comparing your own work to other art. Just keep trying to be the best you that you can be, and if you must compare, compare your own work to work you did years ago. There is a good chance you will see improvement in your work over the years, and this will help you remain encouraged and hopeful about your work.

Thank you for this opportunity to share, and for all you do. - Leora LaGraffe

PWAS Artist: Jeffrey Holman

“Art Appreciation”. I was at the OSA desk one evening and saw this young girl playing games on her mom’s phone while surrounded by art. I was struck and amused by her focus on the little screen, ignoring all the creativity around her. We ALL need to LOOK at the world around us more often.

Art Education…a complicated topic. Having a ‘teacher’ is important, whether it’s in school, workshops or teaching yourself. For some people going through a structured curriculum is very important (or essential): Being shown/told which way to go, these are the rules, ‘how it’s done’, ‘how it should/must look’. I think too many artists get trapped in standard approaches and their teacher’s ‘style’. Some are better off self-taught, sometimes called “Un-taught”; exploring things on their own without rules, traditions and preconceptions. Being your own teacher can help you see and do things in a different way…not a bad thing. Classes and mentors can save lots of time, perhaps years, getting to a ‘professional level’, but we run the risk of our work looking too mainstream or standard.

In the end we are all, more-or-less, self-guided in our journey through artistic expression. We make choices, whether it be college, workshops or the trial and error of being ‘un-taught’ (my personal choice). There are myriad directions to choose, and we can change course, or not, whenever inspiration prods us. Probably the most difficult part of art education is knowing how to recognize when, or if, to chart a unique individual course deeper into art that only you can explore and experience so you can create YOUR art, not reflections of someone else’s.

PWAS Artist: Sheri Herrick

I'm almost finished with this painting of Raglan Castle in Wales.  One of my  ancestors married Sir William Thomas who did the major building of the Castle in central Wales in the early 15th century. Fortunately, a distant cousin did all the hard work of  finding our origins in Brecon, Wales and the history of my 10X great-grandfather who came to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia in the early 1600's.

PWAS Artist: Zee Berrios

1. Currently working on: (attached) It is 48" X 48" acrylic on canvas. It will be titled "Grateful Company". It is based on a photograph by Irwin Penn in the 60's. 

2. Best art advice ever given was by the late Artist/professor Félix Bonilla. He said that the potential for a masterpiece was a creation of "something that was never done before, universally understood and that would teach something"; also that the best pieces of art will always include a "dominant, a subdominant and a subordinate"...

   3. Art education is a wonderful opportunity to progress and go beyond the normal, nevertheless, there are extraordinary, wonderful and amazing artists that have never had an Art Education.

PWAS Artist: Otis Stanley

16x20 Acrylic Working on black stretched canvas.

Best art tip given to me was "free your mind and your art will follow".

PWAS Artist: Donna Liguria

Painting miniatures almost feel like a painting frenzy. The 3x4 mini canvases that I show come with a mini easel and are quick works in acrylic and markers, that I hope are enjoyed by all that see them. This week I have so far done 24 of them. Yep, 24. And started another painting called "The Marshes of Harkers Island, North Carolina" 16x20 Acrylic on canvas. Maybe it could have an AKA as "Morning Glory".

I am a mostly self-taught artist but I can certainly see the value in an art education...but is it needed? An absolute must? No, I don't believe so. If you have a creative soul and the desire to learn, see the absolute need to practice, I think an artist can do wonderfully well.

As I am the writer of a LOT of my weekly art tips, I can just point you to the entire series and you can find them listed on this page: https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/p/art.html

It will be wonderful to see the finished artwork once these artists are done, won't it?

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Etsy site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 52-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia.
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!

Post 387: People's Choice Winners of For Those That Serve

People's Choice Winners

Everyone wants to know whose artwork was selected as first, second and third at Open Space Arts, right? Visitors come to the gallery and enjoy all of the local artists on display, and vote their favorite artworks and we announce them here for all the world to see.

For Those That Serve

These are the final days of the art show at Open Space Arts (OSA) at Stonebridge, as the "For Those That Serve" show closes Sunday, August 20, 2023. Before we show the winners, lets see a few pictures from around the gallery...

 

Art prints are available from many of the artists, and visitors enjoy supporting the artists of Prince William County - whether purchasing as a print or the original artwork.

 

So many things to see at OSA - from fine art, jewelry, and more

 

And meet the artists that man, or woman the gallery, as volunteers. Say hello to Evelyn when you see her!

 

Original artwork and handmade gifts are great ways to not only support the arts and decorate your own homes, but also are interesting ways to gift your friends and family and those that are "hard to buy for".

 

Have you been to the gallery lately? The art shows change out approximately monthly, so the art is always changing and varied.

 Well, I suppose I should show you the People's Choice Winners of the ribbons for this month. Drum roll please...

In third place, the people chose PWAS member Sandra McClelland Lewin's "In Memory of"

In second place, the people voted and selected, PWAS member Donna Liguria's (me!! Wooohooo, go me! - ok settle down...) "Washington Monument Cherry Blossoms"

And in first place, Mandy Powell's painting "Last Salute" was chosen as the Open Space Arts gallery visitor's favorite artwork.

Congratulations to everyone!

Pride Show People's Choice Winners

As many of us do in these summer-time months, we head out for vacations, and I did too. I don't have the pictures and the order of the winning People's Choice winners for the Pride show that ran between June and July 2023. 

If anyone has the first, second and third place winners, please update in the comments below.

Strut Your Stuff Art Show

Beginning on Wednesday, August 23 and running until Sunday, September 17, 2023 is an art show for Prince William County artists called "Strut Your Stuff". Well, knowing that artists LOVE showing off their art - we hope that you will come and see what we've worked on for you to see! AND we hope you come out to the Artist Reception on September 15 at 6:00.

See you at the show - the gallery is free to visit - Congratulate the winners - and Support the Arts!

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, Donna's Etsy site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

Photography/Video Credits:
Donna Liguria

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Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 52-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia.

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!

Post 378: PWAS Member's Pet Helpers and Inspiration

PWAS Member's Pet Helpers and Inspiration

Sometimes an email goes out to my fellow Prince William Art Society members with a question, some artists respond, many do not. Free advertising/promo...The question could be "What's on your easel?" or something like a favorite quote, favorite art tool, etc. This one was a little different.

PWAS Members Pets

Do you have a pet(s) that 'helps' you with your art or been a muse or inspiration for what you do? Leah actually posed the question, so thank you Leah...

Leah Boynton

I've got three little helpers! 
Ellie - 6 year old yellow retriever whose favorite thing in the world is playing tennis ball (jpg attachment Ellie Inspo and Ellie Art) the artwork is a 5x7 acrylic painting

Suki- 4 year old torti who is queen of the household and oversees projects (jpg attachment Suki Inspecting and Suki Art) artwork is an ATC (artist trading card) 3x5 watercolor/mixed media

Loki- 3 year old black cat is my mischief maker who lives up to his name and has gotten his own little "Loki Adventure" series

(jpg attachments Loki Helping and Loki Necklace plus the Loki Digital Collage) the necklace being real butterfly wing jewelry and the digital art is 8x8  

Donna Liguria

It took me a long time to paint my last cat, who passed awhile back. I did a cartoony version of her on a 3x4 mini canvas

 

Tupy, 3x4 Mini Canvas

It's been awhile since I had my aquarium going, but this was a nod to my fishy friends in a freshwater aquarium. 

 

Bettie Sperty

This is Mack. He was my daughter’s dog. I did this as a birthday gift for her a few years ago. It is acrylic on canvas. 12”x12”. 

By the way, fellow Prince William County artists - the deadline for the Call for Art for the Strut Your Stuff art show is Saturday, August 5, 2023 midnight https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/call-for-art

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 52-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia.

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

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

Post 359: PWAS, What's on Your Easel?

PWAS, What's on Your Easel?

Periodically i post a question of our Prince William Art Society members of 'What are your currently working on?' Usually I get a lot of responses...but it has been a busy month with vacations, art shows, gallery stuff, family stuff. Nonetheless, I'll go with what I did get and I added an art tip.

BTW - I'm working on a blog post with art tips if you have something to share.

Bruce Fasick

Working on the prep for my RAW “Duets” show at Madigan’s June 28 (Occoquan)

Invite enclosed….Hope some of the group will stop in.

 

Donna Liguria

Just finishing up "Wading Shackleford Pony" 12x16 Acrylic inspired by a recent trip to Harker's Island, North Carolina.

Update: Saturday, June 17, 2023 "Wading Shackleford Pony" has found a new home.

Art Tip: I recently went to the Loudoun County Art Studio Tour and one thing I noticed an artist do is a way to protect the bottom of her canvases. She had taken a pool noodle and cut off lengths of it and sliced down the noodle longways on one side and inserted it at the bottom of her canvases. So whenever the painting was sitting on the floor, it cushioned the edges. Smart, right?

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, Donna's Etsy 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 and our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, 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!

Post 352: What's on Your Easel, PWAS?

What's on Your Easel, PWAS?

The creative art group members nearly always have something they are working on. Occasionally several things at once too. So my often asked question of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) members is what are they working on now (what's on your easel)? 

I know for me, when I first started the article, all I had was a blank canvas with an idea, prior to this blog post question hitting the Inbox. Then I was able to jump in and start with some mini works along with a larger piece. For some artists, a title for their work comes after the piece starts coming together. Here are the answers from some of the members, in various stages of progress...

Elizabeth Stathis

"The General's House" Slated for the next issue of a community magazine. Winsor & Newton cake watercolors & Micron Pen on Arches 140lb cold press watercolor block. 8" X 10"

Sue Rosenbaum

“The Currant”.  It represents a frozen river that is thawing quickly with the warm early spring sun. 8 x 8 cold pressed watercolor paper with Alcohol inks and Alloy (acts a little like silver leafing) Variety of blue artists papers to represent the water. 

The Lunar new year stamp represents new beginnings, the two butterflies represent transformations, the Ruth Asawa modernist sculptor stamp represents creativity!

Michael Kent

"George Gershwin" 20x16 Oil on canvas 

Saul Roldan

"A Life that Will Never Be" 36x48 Oil

Otis Stanley

Untitled currently, 16x20, currently in charcoal, Undecided about oil or acrylic 

 

Richard B. Tyler (RBT)

"Lady of The Rose Field" Medium: acrylic and watercolor paint Size: 18 x 24

 

Donna Liguria

 Why work on only one at a time?  Minis are an easy acrylic painting fill in while another work is drying..9x12 "Woodland Stream", Two 3x4 Mini cat paintings, Two 4x4 "Lavender" paintings, and one tiny Mini 3x4 painting for a friend of a North Carolina light house and her 2 little dogs.

 How do you handle juggling multiple art pieces at one? Do you?

 Leave your comments below and FOLLOW!

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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Local Art: Visit us at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
The Prince William Art Society is a 52-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 324: PWAS, What's On Your Easel?

PWAS, What's On Your Easel?

Creative folk nearly always have something they are working on. So my often asked question of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) members is what are they working on now (what's on your easel)? Here are the answers from some of the members.

Javier Silvio

The title of my work is called a little bit of everything it is oil the size is 18x20

Evelyn Chatters

Valley Vibes, 12X12 

Otis Stanley

In the early stages. 11" x 14" Acrylic "Wash Day"

 

Bruce Fasick

“Ponder”medium watercolours paper Strathmore 22x30

 

Michelle Baker

Earth Day Project - I am moving into the direction of industrial art lately. These Earth Day Wire Flowers were made from leftover material when my husband replaced our smoke detectors. He cut off the connectors. I stripped off the plastic coating and designed them. Love the lightness of the look. 

 

Zorri Berrios (Zee)

This is what is on the easel. It is acrylic on canvas 48” X 48”. To be titled: “Slava Ukraini”.

Donna Liguria

I've got a double thing going on here - Two 5x7 waterfalls in acrylic. I've been doing that a few times lately, several similar paintings of the same size, different versions. Also, a tip to take note of if you haven't already discovered it yourself, is that taking a picture of your painting in progress helps you to SEE it better. For some reason, the image clarifies the view of the painting and helps you to see problem areas that don't seem right and then you can make alterations for improvement.

A Call for Art is coming out TOMORROW, April 2 for "April Showers Bring May Flowers" the Open Space Arts gallery at Stonebridge for their May art show. The Call will be open for about 2 weeks so if you are not already on the Prince William Art Society's email list, get on it quick! See info below.

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Author: Donna Liguria
An artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA and Artistry Spin Blog Admin, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.

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Local Art: Visit us at Stonebridge Open Space Arts at 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA - Open Wed to Sat 12-7 and Sun 12-5
The Prince William Art Society is a 52-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!