Post 551: Bluebell Challenge Revealed

Bluebell Challenge Revealed

At the monthly Prince William Art Society meeting held on Monday, March 24 at 7:30pm, another challenge had been sent out the the PWAS members. Those that accepted this challenge were to create an artwork about Bluebells! Timely, yes, because the Bluebell Festival is this Sunday, March 30 at the Merrimac Farm in Nokesville, VA, which some PWAS members will have art on display at. And the PWAS Plein Air Posse will be out amongst the Bluebells - painting the beauty and glory of nature.

PWAS Bluebell Challenge

The first PWAS Challenge back in October, was about Limes, and the story about that one can be found here PWAS Lime Challenge Revealed

Thus, this second PWAS Challenge with the subject of Bluebells.

And for the next challenge...is to a PWAS member... if YOU want to do the next PWAS Challenge? What do you need to do? Here are some steps that I have taken in the past but you are welcome to come up with your own idea and how to present it. I would suggest contacting the PWAS Board to clear the idea first though - and because it needs to be included in the program for that month.

A Challenge for the Members

Step 1. We need a subject for the challenge.

     The Bluebell Festival itself was the inspiration for this challenge. The Prince William Art Society will have a table at the 2025 Bluebell Festival and we will also have some PWAS Plein Air Posse artists out in the fields and forest, painting away on Sunday. 

Bluebell Festival 2025

The Address to get to the Festival is Merrimac Farm at 15020 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville, VA. 

Date and Time: Sunday, March 30 from 10 to 3

    Notes: Get there early. Wear boots.

Sponsored By: This annual festival is sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

 

 

So back in January, each member was challenged to create something bluebellish - and bring the artwork to the meeting on March 24. (Obviously, you have to give the artists working in various mediums time to CREATE!) The artwork could also be entered into the Bluebell Festival and offered for sale.

Step 2. We needed a way to vote for our favorite.

    For this year, I used simple pictures of a bluebell that I cut out and each bluebell was a vote for the members to place in front of/on their favorite piece. The piece with the most paper bluebells, wins. AND it was hard to pick a favorite as they were all to wonderful! Great job everyone!!

Step 3. Should we have something for the winner?

    For the Lime Challenge, I gave out an inexpensive sketch book to the winner. For this challenge, we had a Michael's gift card!

Step 4. Should we have something to go with the challenge as far as food/drink?

     For something fun to do, I thunk, something fun to eat! I thunk and I thunk. And I also considered if I felt up to cooking or baking this time. The heavens opened and lightening flashed -  Blueberry Poptarts! Toast 'em and good to go!

Step 5. Take pictures! 

    We must show off the fun we have at a PWAS meeting! The pictures make for blog post fodder!! The PWAS Members were invited to place one mini bluebell paper on their favorite artwork. White the members were busy with the PWAS Meeting Program (see PWAS Meeting in the Bag), I counted the votes and....

And we have a winner!

 

Our brand new member Maggie Milligan was declared the winner of the 2025 Bluebell Challenge! Congratulations!!

It was another fun challenge, and I hope the PWAS members enjoyed it. We do hope to see you this weekend at the Bluebell Festival - where you may see some of these bluebell artworks in person. Let's hope for a beauty of a day too!

Got an idea for the next challenge? Drop a comment below if you do and we'd LOVE for you to present it! Like, share, follow folks!

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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.

Photography/Video Credits: Donna Merchant and Donna Liguria (the Donna Team)

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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 (below)! ...Remember, comments are monitored so they will not show up immediately.

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Post 535: PWAS Bluebell Challenge and Call for Art

PWAS Bluebell Challenge and Call for Art

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) will have a table and a shared tent at the Bluebell Festival again this year on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 10-3 which means that space for vendors and sizes of the artwork will be limited. We are combining this art show with a PWAS Art Challenge so that we have Bluebell and Nature themed artworks to show for the visitors.

The Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm

The Bluebell Festival will be held on Sunday, March 30 from 10 to 3 at the Merrimac Farm at 15020 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville, VA. This annual festival is sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 

The dress code for being out with the Bluebells is proper footwear! Pathways may be muddy, so boots are best.

Another note is to get there early. The parking lots filled early and the road to get in was backed up with cars. The suggestion is to carpool if you can!

Staci Blanchard and Donna Liguria are coordinating the PWAS table at the Bluebell Festival so questions should be directed to thegoddessofglitter.art@gmail.com and Donna.Liguria@outlook.com

PWAS Bluebell Challenge

The PWAS Bluebell Challenge starts now! January 31 to March 24 – Bluebells are the emphasis for our 2nd Art Challenge. We ask for the PWAS members to create small artworks for the Bluebell Festival in any medium they like. We'll do the Bluebell Challenge similar to how we did the previous Lime Challenge but for the Bluebell Festival, other nature artwork is acceptable as well for the show. 

Ok, we clear? The Bluebell Challenge is Bluebell specific artwork. 

For the Bluebell Festival - Nature and Bluebells can be submitted.

Display and Sizes to Submit 

 

1. Up to 4 Miniature 3x4 artworks with easels

2. Or, up to 3 SMALL art pieces or canvases.

   a. Small Art Sizes: 4x4, 5x5, 5x7, 6x6, 8x10, 10x10.

3. Or submit ONE 12x12 or a 11x14 piece; if framed - the total dimensions are 11x14.

4. Each artist may submit up to 4 fine art giclee PRINTS if you have them, nature themed. Only ONE print stand will be used.

5. Display Guidelines: All artwork must be properly displayed following the PWAS guidelines found at https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/p/display.html

   b. Proper wiring is required. No little sawtooth hangers. Typical standards apply for preparing your art; make sure it hangs securely. Note that we are NOT using gridwalls for this show but will be displaying on small easels.

   c. Please print out two sets of tags (one for the front, one for the back), and your inventory list signed and including the prints you are submitting. All must be handed in and signed the day you deliver your art for the event.

   d. Artwork on canvas can be on gallery-wrapped canvases and must have painted sides, edges. 

6. This Show is un-juried but Nature and Bluebells is the theme.

Nature Subjects 

 

Art subjects that would be especially appreciated are: 

 

• Birds - all kinds, cardinals, bluebirds, robins, eagles, hawks, etc… 

• Fish - all kinds, koi, trout, flounder, etc... 

• Flowers - all kinds, but especially bluebells, of course

• Trees - all kinds, especially woodsy subjects!

  Water scenes - especially rivers, creeks, ponds, and canoeing, kayaking, etc... 

• Nature’s creatures - all kinds, deer, coyotes, bear, frogs, bees, butterflies, grasshoppers, chipmunks, etc...

  Pours - bring some inspiring pours, especially if they transcend the viewer like a bounty of blooms or a sunset!

  Photography, oil paintings, acrylic paintings, pastels, chalk drawings, pen & ink, and digital art are all appreciated. 

 

Bring your finished artwork and inventory lists to the March 24 PWAS Meeting at 7:30pm at the Tall Oaks Community Center 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA. 

*Note that we may have a special presentation of the PWAS Bluebell Art Challenge entries at the March 24 meeting. This will be for the Bluebell specific artwork and we may vote on our favorites. Pictures will be taken to help promote PWAS at the Bluebell Festival.

Please provide protective material for your own art/prints for transport.

Plein Air Painting at the Bluebell Festival

The PWAS Plein Air Posse (PPAP) will be at the Bluebell Festival painting during the Festival on Sunday, March 30. Robert Dew and David Dillon are the leaders of the Posse, so if you would like to meet and paint that day with them, contact them directly at rddew@live.com and anarty1@comcast.net. The reference links above has pictures of the PPAP out painting in the bluebell fields. Time to be determined to meet, but last year it was at 9am. 

See Plein Air Painting Equipment and Supplies if needed:

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/05/post-463-plein-air-painting-equipment.html

Are you a member of PWAS? Have you renewed your membership yet? https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership Join today and join in the fun!

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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

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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Post 511: Lime Challenge Revealed

Lime Challenge Revealed

At the Prince William Art Society meeting on Monday, October 28, 2024 which takes place on the 4th Monday of the month at 7:30pm at the Tall Oaks Community Center in Woodbridge, we finally revealed our PWAS Lime Challenge artworks. The story is here on how the Lime Challenge began, and at the meeting, we showed our results.

 

The original Lime for the Challenge

PWAS Lime Challenge

Get a bunch of artists together and they see something 'out of place' and this is what they come up with. The task was to come up with an artwork for a lime in whichever way you see it - as is or how it should be.

Step 1. We need a subject for the challenge.

     For the story behind the Lime Challenge, see https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/09/post-497-pwas-lime-challenge.html

Step 2. We needed a way to vote for our favorite.

    I used simple pictures of limes that I cut out and each lime was a vote for the members to place in front of/on their favorite piece. The piece with the most limes, wins. AND it was hard to pick a favorite as they were all to wonderful! Great job everyone!!

Step 3. Should we have something for the winner?

    I gave out an inexpensive sketch book to the winner.

Step 4. Should we have something to go with the challenge as far as food/drink?

    Think Lime and much comes to mind in food and in drink. I made Easy Lime Jello Sugar Cookies. I think folks enjoyed them, there was only 1 left.

As members came in, they placed their lime works on the table. And we were NOT disappointed - you guys all did great with your limes! 

I kept thinking, now WHAT do we do with our Lime Challenge artwork? I didn't have an answer for that. Maybe someone does?

As you can see, voting on a favorite was NOT easy. I loved them all.

 

Our winner was Robert Dew's Lime with 7 limes

The PWAS Challenge can be anything that we want it to be, but this is how I played it. I think it turned out fun. I'm thinking we need to continue the challenge...

Who Wants to do the Next PWAS Challenge?

PWAS Challenge is something I would like the art group to continue and I've heard a few others say they enjoyed it as well and would like to see it continue. I played it the way I did but if someone wants to take over the next challenge with suggestions and do it differently - just stand up. 

I'd be happy to work with the next PWAS Challenge if need be, and I was thinking SNOW in January....

What do you think?

Other PWAS blog posts from the Monday, October 28, 2024 PWAS Meeting:

Mark Murphy's Photos from DC

PWAS Meeting Guest Speaker M. Jane Johnson

Miss a meeting and you miss a lot!

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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.

Photography/Video Credits: Donna Liguria

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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! pinterest-site-verification=3ad32cc9cfeae507ba5a382d62fcee17

Post 507: Creating Beauty from Chaos Upcoming PWAS Meeting

Creating Beauty from Chaos Upcoming PWAS Meeting

Come on by the next Prince William Art Society's (PWAS) next meeting on Monday, October 28th at 7:30pm at the Tall Oaks Community Center in Woodbridge and enjoy our guest artist, M. Jane Johnson. Also on the agenda is our Lime Challenge and what our art group has been up to. And we have a new PWAS member art show call for art.

 

MJJ Written in Code

Creating Beauty from Chaos

The Prince William Art Society will meet October 28th at the Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge VA at 7:30 pm. The meeting will begin with a program by M. Jane Johnson who will share her work and how she creates one of her paintings. Meetings are free and open to the public, who are cordially invited to attend.

 

MJJ In a Swirl

M. Jane Johnson uses a process-driven technique when she is creating her work.  She has learned to let the painting tell its story and carry her along on the path to completion.  As she works, she will photograph the work and use the value study to help guide her in the next phase of the painting.  She mixes various acrylic gels to create textures to play opposite collage she has added, so each piece is an intricate weaving of color, pattern, texture, and it's own history. As it moves closer to completion, she will start honing down the chaotic process.

 

MJJ Floral 2

Ms. Johnson has a BFA in Fine Arts with a focus on drawing and painting. She studied art in Italy and took many classes at the Art League School in Alexandria, VA, and her work is in international, corporate, and private collections.  Twelve of her paintings are in the Heart Clinic at Children’s National Medical Center.  She has had successful solo shows at the Art League Gallery in Alexandria, at the Arts Club of Washington in DC, at Artist & Makers in Rockville, and at the Workhouse Arts Center, as well as having participated in group shows and art fairs.  Ms. Johnson teaches at the Workhouse Arts Center and the McLean Project for the Arts. 

 

MJJ Floral 1

PWAS Lime Challenge

In September, PWAS sent out a Lime Challenge artwork challenge based on this solo lime sitting on a table while we were taking part in the Arts Alive Art Show in Manassas. So at this PWAS meeting, all members are requested to bring in their Limes! I know some of you created artworks based upon your green vision. See Lime Challenge. So be sure and bring in your lime artwork and let's pick our favorite.

PWAS Montclair Library Art Show

A call for art from the PWAS members was just sent out for the Nov-Dec art show at the Montclair Library, so check your emails!!

Location: 5049 Waterway Dr, Montclair, VA 22025

Art Submission Dates: Tuesday, October 22 until Sunday, October 27, 2024 11pm DEADLINE.

Art Drop Off Dates: Monday, October 28 at the Tall Oaks Meeting at 7:30pm to a PWAS Board Member (12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA); OR bring to the Montclair Library on Saturday, November 2 between 10-11am.

Montclair Library Art Show Dates: Saturday, November 2 through end of December (Actual Closing Date TBD)

 

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Author: Emily Hawes

 

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

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! pinterest-site-verification=3ad32cc9cfeae507ba5a382d62fcee17