Showing posts with label Otis Stanley. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Post 621: A Great PWAS Meeting with Otis Stanley

A Great PWAS Meeting with Otis Stanley

The members of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) and several visiting artists, met on Monday, April 27 at the Tall Oaks Community Building at 7:30pm for their monthly meeting. We had a wonderful meeting with a special guest speaker, a time for social interaction, and got caught up on the upcoming business of the art group.

Guest Speaker Otis Stanley

Our guest speaker for April was PWAS member, Otis Stanley, who gave a wonderful talk on his life and artistic journey, finding the Prince William Art Society, learning to display art and talking about several artworks he had painted and on display. It is so inspiring to hear the story behind the artworks he creates, the feeling and the deep history found in so many of his pieces. And thank you for your service, Otis!

Many of us remember the time when we were part of the art gallery over at the Stonebridge Shopping Center (2021-2023) and were working as a gallery volunteers with Otis and his knack for getting people in to see the art... some of whom later became PWAS members! Otis is a treasure of a person and such an amazing artist.

A few pics from Ana Quispe:

The Business of PWAS

Welcome to all of our new members - there were a lot of new faces, so great to see you!

There are some very important upcoming dates for everyone that we discussed.

Thursday, April 30 is the deadline to ENTER the Jul/Aug PWAS ARTfactory art show for PWAS MEMBERS! The theme is Nostalgia.

Saturday, May 2 Art in the Garden with Plein Air Artists Robert Dew and David Dillon - see the notices on the PWAS website for more info. Prince William Art Society

Saturday, May 2 PWAS Spring Tall Oaks Show at 12298 Cotton Mill Drive is our biannual show for an art show, rain or shine, right there in Lake Ridge 10-5.

Monday, May 25 the next PWAS meeting will be when we award our Annual Scholarship to a graduating local high school senior that will be going forward and studying a career in art. Come and enjoy this wonderful celebration.

Monday, June 15 is the deadline for PWAS Members to submit their ideas for a new PWAS Logo. Watch your emails for info on this.

July 10-Aug 9 is the PWAS at the ARTfactory Art Show featuring the member artworks with the theme of Nostalgia. This is a juried show and the deadline to enter is above, Apr 30.

Saturday, Sept 12 is the potential date for the 'new' Arts Alive art show at the Hylton Performing Art Center. More info to come on that later. Info TBD.

Saturday, Oct 5 should be the Fall Tall Oaks Art Show - dates and times and show coordinator TBD.

Also discussed were some upcoming art classes (available on the PWAS website).

As I like to say, miss a meeting and you miss a lot! See you at the next one!

Drop a comment below!

Photos: Donna Liguria, Ana Quispe

Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.

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 (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).

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, April 22, 2026

Post 619: PWAS Meeting Mon Apr 27 with Guest Artist Otis Stanley

PWAS Meeting Mon Apr 27 with Guest Artist Otis Stanley

The Prince William Art Society, known as PWAS (pronounced "p-whauzz") is a 55 year old nonprofit art group in Prince William County, VA that meets monthly on the 4th Monday of the month. The group meets at 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 7:30pm. Meetings often have a guest speaker and for April, we'll feature PWAS Member Otis Stanley.

PWAS Meeting

On April 27 at 7:30 PM the Prince William Art Society will hold their monthly meeting at the Lake Ridge Community Center, 22192 Cotton Mill Road, Lake Ridge 22192. Monthly meetings feature a guest or member artist, a project, a show-and-share or our scholarship presentation. This month, members are invited to enjoy the work and philosophy of our accomplished member artist Otis L. Stanley, followed by a business meeting presenting opportunities to be involved in community arts. All members of the community are invited to attend these free meetings and art presentations.

For PWAS member Otis L. Stanley, art is simply living. Often painting in monochromatic colors Otis creates art that reflects his experiences and culture. Acrylic paint is his choice of mediums. Never conforming to popular themes Otis would rather tread a road less traveled to invite conversation about the work. Hoping to shine a light on the common humanity of us all Otis is at peace in his lane of subjects.

Otis has work hung in Va., Md., D.C., Pa., N.Y., N.J., Conn., La, Calif., S.C., Fla. and Tring U.K. Here is where you can view Otis' work: @otisstanley9127 on Youtube, and on instagram he is @otislstanley.

March Meeting Collage Activity

Last month members and guests ripped, tore and glued collages to create abstracts or landscapes, portraiture, or narrative or figurative backdrops. Everyone was encouraged to take their collage home and use pen, paint or mediums of their choice on them - to alter them, add outline or detail, or simply to use the backdrop as a taking off point for another style of contrasting work. There was already a wide variety of interpretations as we left that night. See https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2026/03/post-609-pwas-meeting-mon-mar-23-2026.html

Bring your altered collage back on the 27th to lay out on a side table to share. Anyone who missed last month can try a torn or cut paper collage (magazine scraps are perfect) on any mixed media paper, then use the dry collage as a backdrop for something going a little bit further. Then bring them in.

See you at the meeting!

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Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Post 618: Meet the PWAS Members 2026 Part 3

Meet the PWAS Members 2026 Part 3

Introducing the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) Members Part 3. The nonprofit art group meets monthly on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA. Besides updates on upcoming art projects for the art group, our meetings often feature art programs spotlighting area artists displaying and showing their art process, member "show and tell", and occasionally an art project to work on. Miss a meeting and you miss a LOT!

See Meet the Members Part 1

And Meet the Members Part 2

Let's meet a few more of the area's artist members of PWAS and this post includes the Members: Otis Stanley, Tinnetta Putney, Eric Ndofor, and Scott Elliott

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

Bio: PWAS member Otis Stanley feels art is simply living. Through his figurative paintings often in monochromatic colors; he hopes to create an avenue for conversation. With his work on both coasts and from Conn. to LA., Otis feels his work has touched many in a positive way.

PWAS Member Scott Elliott

Bio: Scott Elliott is a musician and artist that resides in Northern Virginia. Scott paints mainly with acrylics, also including mixed media. He has been an official member of PWAS since 2023. @ScottSpur

PWAS Member Tinnetta Putney (Vice President 2026-2027)

Bio: Tinnetta Putney is a contemporary realism artist dedicated to exploring the intersection of technical precision and the inherent beauty of the human subject. My work is intentionally restorative; I choose to move away from politics and controversy to focus on aesthetically pleasing imagery that celebrates the human condition for its own sake. I bring a sophisticated understanding of light and shadow to my drawings. By stripping away the distractions of a traditional palette, I’m able to reveal a different kind of brilliance, creating art that feels colorful and vibrant without the use of actual color."

PWAS Member Eric Ndofor (Treasurer 2025 - 2027)

Bio: Rooted in a career in public health, I’ve always turned to art for grounding, joy, and connection. I love acrylic for the bold colors and clean layers, and watercolor for its spontaneity. My style blends realism and impressionism, inspired by the calm energy of natural landscapes and seascapes. Many of my pieces reflect experiences and stories from the places I’ve lived, worked, and traveled to. As treasurer, I aim to strengthen PWAS’ financial systems, resource mobilization, and creative programming, supporting sustainable growth and a welcoming space for artists of all backgrounds. I enjoy uplifting creative communities across Prince William County (PWC) with PWAS- the oldest and most welcoming art community in PWC, offering artists diverse opportunities to learn, exhibit, and connect. Outside of work, I love exploring local art, learning languages, traveling, and spending time outdoors with my family and friends.

And MORE...

If you are a NEW member to PWAS, send your bio (short) and pic to the Blog Admin!

If you want to learn the HISTORY of PWAS, see blog post 1 at https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2021/08/post-1-about-pwas-history-of-prince.html

Remember to see Meet the PWAS Members 2026 Part 1 and Meet Members Part 2

Like this post? Comment below and share it on social media!

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Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Post 601: Upcoming PWAS Member Art Shows for Feb 2026

Upcoming PWAS Member Art Shows for Feb 2026

The PWAS Artistry Spin Blog is happy to post the PWAS Members art shows and events, individual or group shows every month. Each PWAS Member is welcome to send me info of any art event they are showing in, if you let me know some details... hey, it is FREE promo for your show! Let's see who has a show coming soon for you to check out! Some great art by some great artists!

PWAS Member Zee Berrios

The next show in the Prince William area that will show some of my pieces will be in the Manassas Central Library at 8601 Mathis Avenue, Manassas from Feb 3^rd till March 3rd. It will showcase pieces from various series. Other confirmed upcoming shows:

Aug, 2026 - (solo show) The Dance Series, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, 813 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Nov - Dec, 2026 - (solo show) The original Natives Series, Manassas City Library, 10104 Dumfries Road, Manassas, VA 20110

PWAS Member Kwaku Ofori Yirenkyl

My solo exhibit at the Montclair Public library from Jan 21 to March 19th, 2026.

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

PWAS member Otis Stanley is exhibiting in a Veterans Art show in conjunction with the Arlington Artists Alliance.

PWAS Members - You need to send me YOUR art show list at the end of each month to be posted FOR the next month. Dec for Jan 2026, Jan for Feb...etc. I can't promote you if I don't know what you are up to!

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Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Post 595: Upcoming PWAS Member Art Shows for Jan 2026

PWAS Member Art Shows for Jan 2026

Happy New Year! The PWAS Artistry Spin Blog would be happy to post the PWAS Members art shows and events, individual or group shows every month. Each PWAS Member is welcome to send me info of any art event they are showing in, if you let me know some details... hey, it is FREE promo for your show! Let's see who has a show coming...

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

https://goo.gl/maps/zQfQ3K4eLyAfGAiKA?g_st=am

PWAS Member Lizzy Javier

One of my paintings was selected for the "Women Artists of the DMV" exhibit.

Exhibition: January 10 - February 22, 2025

Location: Falls Church Arts Gallery in Fall Church, VA.

700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA

Meet the Artists Reception: 7:00-9:00 PM, Saturday, January 10, 2026

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Sunday, November 2, 2025

Post 582: PWAS Members Answer Some Artist Questions Part 1

PWAS Members Answer Some Artist Questions Part 1

The Prince William Art Society members were presented some questions about their art. In blue are their answers to the below questions. They also show some of their favorite artworks they have created thus far.

1. How many 'sellable' artworks have you created so far in your lifetime, best guess?

2. Do you find it better to focus on one medium or experiment with many? (Your favorite?)

3. What advice would you give your younger self when starting out? (Lessons learned!)

4. Do you keep a sketchbook or inspiration journal? (An idea book!)

5. What artwork have you completed that you are most proud of? (Did it sell?)

Let's take a look at what their answers are... You can click on a photo to enlarge it.

From PWAS Member Bruce Fasick

1. How many 'sellable' artworks have you created so far in your lifetime, best guess?

Too many…

2. Do you find it better to focus on one medium or experiment with many? (Your favorite?)

I prefer sculpting in various mediums…and I enjoy work in watercolors …any medium I can try

3. What advice would you give your younger self when starting out? (Lessons learned!)

Perhaps attending a different University that focused on my interests and abilities

4. Do you keep a sketchbook or inspiration journal? (An idea book!)

Yes, I do

5. What artwork have you completed that you are most proud of? (Did it sell?)

“Gates of Hell” Sculpture and "Against the Ropes” both are as I envisioned. Both I have not offered to sell.

Also the pointillism “A. Young AC/DC” 1981, also have not offered for sale.

From PWAS Member Bettie Sperty

1. How many 'sellable' artworks have you created so far in your lifetime, best guess?

I consider most of my creations “sellable”. Now, if anyone actually buys them is a totally different matter. I’ve done pieces that I’m just sure are going to sell right away! And they don't. I’ve learned that any piece of art has to wait for the right person to see it, have it call to them, for it to sell.

2. Do you find it better to focus on one medium or experiment with many? (Your favorite?)

I think every artist tries different things, which is good. It’s all part of the growing and learning process. And many times we will concentrate on a particular medium for a while (a week, a month, a year or more), then move on to another.

As for myself, right now I work mostly in oils or acrylic. When I have time, I also enjoy pottery/clay - especially hand building.
3. What advice would you give your younger self when starting out? (Lessons learned!)

1.Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s ok that everything you make is not perfect.

2.Look everywhere for inspiration and things you can learn - from other artists, classes and workshops, visiting art shows to see the work of others and just observing life around you.

3.Try everything, all kinds of mediums. You’ll find what fits.

4. Do you keep a sketchbook or inspiration journal? (An idea book!)

I rarely sketch, but I do have a few notebooks of sketches. I also keep a folder of things that I find inspirational. They are from magazines, cards I’ve received, all kinds of things. I sort them out on occasion and toss out things that don’t “hit me” anymore.

5. What artwork have you completed that you are most proud of? (Did it sell?)

This one really had me thinking. I store a lot of my art on my walls because I don’t have much storage space, but my favorites are also on my walls (or on the walls of my family members). I won’t sell my true favorites because I want to enjoy them myself. So I took a serious look around my house.

One of my very favorites is a painting of my husband playing guitar. It’s only 10”x10x1.5", is acrylic and oil on wood panel. I’m proud of the work on the guitar but I’m really proud of how I captured his hand. It looks so much like his real hand! I love hearing him just fooling around on his guitar, in his own zen, as I do other stuff around the house so this one means a lot to me.

And these are my favorite pottery pieces:

From PWAS Member Zee Berrios

1. How many 'sellable' artworks have you created so far in your lifetime, best guess?

About 30 originals, (and couple hundred printed or canvas copies of originals). (I've been painting for over 50 years). This does not include Murals paid for in advance.

2. Do you find it better to focus on one medium or experiment with many? (Your favorite?)

I find it better NOW to focus on one medium. During the "forming years" many works were produced and experimented with, but there was no coherent "style"... something that would be a trademark, where anyone who had seen the work before would say "I can identify its author".

3. What advice would you give your younger self when starting out? (Lessons learned!)

Try as many mediums, styles, methods and materials as possible, don't stick with a medium, method or style that doesn't feel natural or comfortable. Learn from, but don't imitate others.

Search for your own signature.

4. Do you keep a sketchbook or inspiration journal? (An idea book!)

Unfortunately, I don't. Anything I can grab that is around me ends up being the sketch note ... even a leaf.

5. What artwork have you completed that you are most proud of? (Did it sell?)

The completed artwork most proud of (that was not sold, and never will be for sale), was a painting of the last time our entire family was together. Here is the painting. It is 48" X 60".

This painting captured the essence of the spirit of the subjects ...

From PWAS Member Otis Stanley

Artist Answers to the above Q's.

1. 100 plus

2. I focus on one medium, but experiment on several. My favorite medium is acrylic.

3. Join an art society early in one's artistic career. Visit art galleries, locally and nationally sponsored and speak with curators and fellow creative minds.

4. I do keep an informal sketch idea folder

5.My painting entitled " Walking Blues" I'm most proud of. It showed in numerous venues and art exhibitions, was made into an banner as part of the Winchester, Va. ArtScape Banner Project and was sold this year in Arlington, Va.

1. Walking Blues speaks to the origins of this American music genre to lead to Jazz, Rock and Roll, R&B and country music.

2. Better Must Come speaks to the struggle of Black people in the USA and the pride and dignity which is maintained throughout. In this painting I show a cotton harvester, she works the cotton fields to earn money to clothe and feed her family. This was the first painting that I sold as a member of PWAS.

From PWAS Member Donna Liguria

1. How many 'sellable' artworks have you created so far in your lifetime, best guess?

675, and that is pretty close to accurate!

2. Do you find it better to focus on one medium or experiment with many? (Your favorite?)

Acrylic has been my favorite and the one I am most comfortable with. Experimentation is what artists can and should be trying at any given time, in my opinion. I like the idea of trying new things for our own growth, yet to move into oils would be space needed for the artworks to cure. Watercolors would mean that storage for the works along with matting and framing would be needed. Space is the 'killer' for me.

3. What advice would you give your younger self when starting out? (Lessons learned!)

Be bolder, experiment more. promote more, learn more, join an art group earlier, keep art in your life and don't wait until you retire. Keep your paint brushes in a perpetual drying state as much as you can no matter what else is going on in life.

4. Do you keep a sketchbook or inspiration journal? (An idea book!)

I keep a Note on my phone that when an idea comes to me, I jot it down, although I LOVE the idea of an inspiration journal. Perhaps I should carry a larger purse to keep a journal/sketchbook handy!

5. What artwork have you completed that you are most proud of? (Did it sell?)

I think I have to say "Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station" which won the P-Art-ners Paint Manassas First Place award in 2022. The original hasn't sold as yet but I have been selling prints of it.

There are some pet portraits I have done that I love, and I love them because they are each such a treasure for their owners to remember their beloved furry friends. Sometimes the tears shed...just gets me.

"Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station" and it captures that beautiful day with that pop of sun shining across the tracks.

"Lewes, Delaware" I painted after MANY years of not painting at all and I wanted to see if I "still had it". Perhaps being creative is sort of like riding a bike - you can pick it back up again. I gave this one as a gift.

This series of paintings was a challenge I set for myself to paint some of Virginia's most historic homes. There is also a commissioned series of the four seasons in Washington DC with various monuments and historic sites each set in a different season.

Want to see more? See a continuation of these questions asked in Part 2 - PWAS Members Answer Some Artist Questions...

Drop a comment below too!

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Pages

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

A Great PWAS Meeting with Otis Stanley

Guest Speaker Otis Stanley

The Business of PWAS

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

PWAS Meeting Mon Apr 27 with Guest Artist Otis Stanley

PWAS Meeting

March Meeting Collage Activity

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Meet the PWAS Members 2026 Part 3

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

PWAS Member Scott Elliott

PWAS Member Tinnetta Putney (Vice President 2026-2027)

PWAS Member Eric Ndofor (Treasurer 2025 - 2027)

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Upcoming PWAS Member Art Shows for Feb 2026

PWAS Member Zee Berrios

PWAS Member Kwaku Ofori Yirenkyl

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

PWAS Member Art Shows for Jan 2026

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

PWAS Member Lizzy Javier

Sunday, November 2, 2025

PWAS Members Answer Some Artist Questions Part 1

From PWAS Member Bruce Fasick

From PWAS Member Bettie Sperty

From PWAS Member Zee Berrios

From PWAS Member Otis Stanley

From PWAS Member Donna Liguria

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