Post 575: PWAS Member Art Exhibit People's Choice

PWAS Member Art Exhibit People's Choice

Saturday, May 31, 2025. The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) Member Art Exhibit came down today at the ARTfactory. This member only show was at the gallery in Manassas from May 15 until today. Our next show, the Best of the Region Fine Art Show and Sale is about to begin on June 3 and will run until June 15. We counted the People's Choice votes too.

People's Choice Awards

People's Choice awards are a fun way to see what strikes the gallery visitor's fancy and allows them time to really consider the artwork on display. Especially when there are so many wonderful artworks, in so many styles and subjects and mediums. We had a LOT of votes (that's GREAT!). Sheri Herrick and Evelyn Chatters did the honors of counting out the choices, so let's have a look at what the ARTfactory visitors loved the most - although most all of the artwork did receive some votes.

See the Web Gallery here.

Click on artwork to enlarge.

Third Place People's Choice

Mandy Powell's "Gratitude" 30x24x1.5 Mixed Media - Alcohol Ink, mixed media paper, oils

Second Place People's Choice - a Tie

Betty Sperty's "Beedazzeled" 16x20 which Bettie describes the media as Acrylic and Bling. The photo just doesn't do this artwork justice as it doesn't show the wonderful glimmer and shimmer work that went into it! This was a definite one to see in person.

Donna Liguria's "Spring at Merrimac Farm" (the Bluebells) 20x16x105 Acrylic (Painting SOLD!)

First Place People's Choice

 

"Stormy Seas" by Donna Liguria 40x16x1.5 in Acrylic

Best of the Region Fine Art Show and Sale

A People's Choice Award will also be given at the Best of the Region Show at the ARTfactory June 3- 15, so be sure to get to the ARTfactory and vote your favorite there too! The Art Reception is Saturday, June 7 from 6-8pm. Awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and some Honorable Mentions will also be awarded at the Art Reception.

See the online Web Gallery here for this show.

And a big thank you to PWAS Members Mark Clifton, Evelyn Chatters, Sheri Herrick, and Maria Briganti for helping out with the PWAS Show take down. Your help is appreciated!

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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: by each artist

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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 573: PWAS Member Penny Shaw Will Be Missed!

PWAS Member Penny Shaw Will Be Missed!

Monday, May 26, 2025. At the Prince William Art Society's May meeting held at the Tall Oaks Community Center in Woodbridge, VA Monday night, the group gave their goodbyes to a favorite member, Penny Shaw. Penny is moving out of the area and was recognized for her long-time devotion to the PWAS art group, serving as a volunteer and as the Hospitality Chair. Penny will be missed!

PWAS Member Penny Shaw

Penny was presented with a card and gift card and so many members told and can tell the stories of spending time at many art gallery spaces and events volunteering with Penny. And learning about art with Penny.

 

Monday, May 26, 2025 at the PWAS Meeting

From the Clearbrook Gallery at Tacketts Mill to the art gallery we once populated at Stonebridge, to the monthly meetings at Tall Oaks, we will all remember the times we did 'desk duty' with Penny. Art Talk to Recipe Talk - as Bettie Sperty said. 

I've worked with Penny on many occasions both in person, and on this blog for many art topics. Via phone calls and emails, calls for art, and art receptions, Penny has been a part of PWAS since before I joined in 2021, so her knowledge and friendship over the years became a part of our hearts and of this blog as she has graced our archival history. Penny taught classes and workshops, trained artists for volunteering desk duties and so much more. Have a look at some of the past posts:

Artists Interview with Penny Shaw this blog post is still one of the most often viewed posts from the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog archives.

Mixed Media Workshop with Penny Shaw Nov 2

Mixed Media Class with Penny Shaw

Open Space Arts Training with Penny Shaw

PWAS Meeting Recap from Monday, October 25, 2021

What is Mark Making in Art?

Artists Art Reception Strutting OUR Stuff! 

Onyx Art Group Show with 6 PWAS Members

Onyx Art Group Show Sat, Sept 21, 2024  

And this is where PWAS Members signup for snack duty:

PWAS Hospitality Signup Genius - an invaluable tool for the PWAS Meeting Hospitality Committee that Penny set up. For every monthly meeting, a person or two signs up for the snacks and beverages we all enjoy, thanks to Penny keeping this task organized - and to all that bring the goodies!

Yes, Penny will be missed by all of us in the Prince William Art Society and we all wish her well in this next phase of her life. She said she will come back for visits periodically - and we look forward to that.

Our people are what make an art group great - and a great team to be a part of.

We'll need people to fill in for various committees and roles as folks move on as well as for our Board positions - many that will be voted on in November of this year. I urge our members to consider next steps as PWAS grows and changes, so please see PWAS Board Elections Coming This Fall

Do you have a Penny story to tell? Drop it in Comments below!

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

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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!

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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 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.

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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 554: Amongst the Bluebells Part 2

Amongst the Bluebells Part 2

The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) along with the PWAS Plein Air Posse were once again at the Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm in Nokesville on a glorious Sunday in March. The artists were out in the Bluebell fields and paths, with easel and palette capturing the beauty of nature. At the PWAS table, we had a lot of Bluebell artwork and art prints from many of our members for sale. 

We enjoyed the day speaking with all of the guests that came by. And they enjoyed the artwork on display and some purchased a memory of the day out amongst the bluebells.

15014 Deepwood Ln, Nokesville, VA 20181

Painting Bluebells

 

Photo by Katie Keller Dugan

See Amongst the Bluebells Part 1 here

The PWAS Plein Air Posse artists dispersed early in the day to go in search of a great spot to paint from. Some artists take the day to perfect one painting or sketch, while others take the opportunity to relocate periodically and capture multiple scenes in various ways. There is certainly no 'best way' - it is the 'best way' that works for each artist - absolutely!

Some plein air artists will get the jist of the scene and take photos so they can finish what they started at home. Some of the works that they share on this post may still be in progress. With that said, let's see what the artists shared since Amongst the Bluebells Part 1.

From Katie Keller Dugan - we LOVE these photos!

From Kat Gates, a couple of artworks she started and a photo.

 

A photo of Nicole Goble

Kathleen said she will be refining these artworks more, so we can't wait until we see how it turns out! 

I love the thought of finding a place to paint from and letting it evolve as the day progresses. I heard Kat explaining how the colors of the clothing of the people on the pathways caught her eye. And the artist can leave out the things they don't want to include and add in the things their imagination sees. As Kelly did in her angle of the barn. Leave out the outhouses!! Someone suggested she leave them in but artist's choice ya know.

From Kelly Haneklau, a photo of her painting a barn there at the head of the trail.

 

The beginning of the walking trail

 From Nicole Goble - so this is what she was doing over in that corner of the Stone House! And a few more photos of the day.

 From Mark Clifton, an oil panel painting

From David Dillon:

Drop a comment below !

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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: Katie Dugan, Kelly Haneklau, Nicole Goble, Mark Clifton, David Dillon

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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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