Showing posts with label Otis Stanley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Otis Stanley. Show all posts

Friday, September 1, 2023

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 FĂ©lix 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?


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.


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!

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

Post 380: The Art with the Artist of PWAS 1

The Art with the Artist of PWAS 1

Otis Stanley is a member of the Prince William Art Society and not only is he a wonderful artist, but a photographer as well. He has participated in many PWAS events, volunteered his time to the cause, had his paintings hung in the Open Space Arts Gallery at Stonebridge, invited hundreds of people to come into the gallery and while attending many events, taking and editing photos of our shows and receptions. He is also the creator of the blog series PWAS Comics.

PWAS Artists with Their Art on Display

These photos, taken by Otis, are of some of the current fellow PWAS artists with a piece or two of their artwork currently on display at Open Space Arts.

The current art show at OSA is called "For Those That Serve" and most of the art in the gallery reflects that theme. This show will be on until Sunday, August 20, 2023. The next show, open to all PWC artists (18 and older) is "Strut Your Stuff" which will run August 23 to September 17, 2023. I hear 48 artists entered this Call For Art!

As always, click on the photo for a larger image.

Katie Keller Dugan

Mandy Powell

David Dillon

Ahmad Khalid Gardizi

Nicole Fisher

Robert Dew

Tony Muller

Evelyn Chatters

Otis Stanley

This blog post would not be complete without a photo of Otis.

Art by Otis Stanley is from a previous art show at OSA

Other PWAS Members *Attention!*

If you are a member of PWAS and want to be included on a blog post similar to these PWAS artist members, this is what is needed:

  • 3-6 great images of you with your hanging art (for now at OSA would be a good background)
  • At least one of those images should be a closeup of the LABEL, please ID which image it goes with too.
  • Send the images to Otis Stanley - he will make the montage and Donna Liguria will post. 
  • NOTE: If you have images of an alternative art show, please label it with the name of the show and dates.

Have an idea for other blog posts? Are you a decent writer and want to help out on this blog? Contact Donna Liguria


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:
Otis Stanley

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!

Saturday, May 20, 2023

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!


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.


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!

Friday, April 21, 2023

Post 337: Spotlight on PWAS Artist Otis Stanley

PWAS Spotlight Artist Otis Stanley

The Artistry Spin Blog is starting a series for Prince William Art Society (PWAS) members called "Spotlight Artists", where those artists that want to be featured will submit a prearranged template for posting here and spread on our PWAS social media sites.

Our featured Prince William County member artist...

Otis L. Stanley

Date: 3/29/2023

Artist Style: Human form

Artist Mediums: Acrylic paintings

Artist Bio:

Otis creates work that reflects the art of simply living. His work captures images that reflect his culture and heritage. Otis enjoys inviting viewers to explore his work and engage in conversation about each piece. Often painting in monochromatic colors, Otis stands alone in presenting his work in an often otherwise room of color.

Artist’s Awards:

Otis is a two time winner of the People’ Choice Award at the Open Space Art, (Dready, 2-2022 and Sultry, 2-2023) He also placed 2nd at the annual Veteran’s Show in Winchester, Va. for his entry of Going Home, (11-2022)

Artist PWAS Member Since:

09/2020

Artist’s URL:

https://otis-stanley.pixels.com

Artist’s Contact:

Phone: 703-401-4245 and Email: slimric1513 AT gmail.com


See the other featured PWAS members by searching for "Spotlight Artists".


Author/Photographer/Artist: Otis Stanley
 
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.

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!

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Post 335: When Open Space Arts First Opened

When Open Space Arts First Opened

Open Space Arts is celebrating one full year of being open, the anniversary date is Saturday, April 2, 2022. What you might not know is that the Prince William Art Society were actually invited to show art in the space the weekend after Thanksgiving, 2021. The art gallery was such a success on that weekend in November, that we were invited to keep the gallery open through the first few weeks of December 2021 as well.

The Beginning of a Gallery

While the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) members were all volunteering in the gallery, Otis Stanley also set up a canvas at the front of the space and invited children to paint along with him...So did you ever wonder what happened to that painting?

This is the painting that was started when we first opened OSA, by children that came in with their parents. I entitled it Sarah and the Sheep Clouds. - Otis Stanley
 

Photo: Otis Stanley

Photo: Otis Stanley

Photo: Otis Stanley
 
Photo: Donna Liguria

Photo: Donna Liguria
 


Author: Otis Stanley
 
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.

Photography/Video Credits:
Otis Stanley and Donna Liguria

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!