Post 452: Bluebells and the Plein Air Posse

Bluebells and the Plein Air Posse

A story about the inaugural outdoor plein air painting session of the new Prince William Art Society group called the Plein Air Posse which had their first meeting and outing at the Merrimac Farm in Nokesville, Virginia on Sunday, April 7, 2024. The Bluebell Festival at this historic location made for a wonderful subject and feature for the group's artwork: Bluebells.

Bluebells and the Plein Air Posse

by Tom Payne

A crisp Sunday morning dawned on Merrimac Farm as members of the PWAS Plein Air Posse rode into Nokesville, Va. The sun was shining, the wind had died down from the previous day, and five PWAS artists were ready for a perfect day of painting among blooming bluebell flowers.

David Dillon, Robert Dew, Jess Kodad, Doreen Dauer, and Jeff Holman walked
down the trail that runs along Cedar Creek until each one found a suitable location to set up shop and begin their individual plein air painting experience.

The morning sunlight, streaming in from the east, cast long dappled shadows on the bluebells and the forest floor. Blues, greens, and browns were the colors of the day as beautiful sketches slowly appeared on the artists’ paper and canvas. Many visitors on the bluebell trail stopped to chat with the artists, offering compliments and words of encouragement. Everyone was smiling and enjoying the sea of azure blue at their feet.

Elizabeth Stathis and Donna Liguria held down the fort at the PWAS table. Lots of folks stopped by, admired the artwork, and inquired about joining our illustrious art society. We hope to see them again at an upcoming membership meeting.

One exciting highlight occurred when a photojournalist from Voice of America stopped to photograph and interview Doreen Dauer as she worked on her oil painting along the bluebell trail. 

He also stopped and photographed me as I was photographing Jeff Holman. Who knows? With a little luck, maybe PWAS will go worldwide as part of the story being done by VOA about the Bluebell Festival.

In case you didn’t know (I didn’t), Voice of America is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the USA! It is the largest and oldest of the U.S. funded international broadcasters, producing digital, TV, and radio content in 49 languages, distributed around the world. Its targeted and primary audience is non-American. As of November 2022, its reporting reached 326 million adults per week across all platforms. Very cool!

During the day, I wandered down the trail and captured photographs of each PWAS
artist hard at work and enjoying the zen magic of the glorious day. Stay tuned and keep an eye out as members of the Posse begin to share their artwork on Facebook, the PWAS website, and the PWAS blog - Artistry Spin. They don’t know it yet but I’m going to encourage the plein air artists to share their experience and insights at a future membership meeting. The Plein Air Posse is always ready to ride, in search looking for more awesome painters and painting opportunities. Enjoy today!

For Further Reading: https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/03/post-447-pwas-plein-air-posse.html

Tell us what you think in the comments below! We love hearing your feedback. Want to learn more about Plein Air Painting? Come by a Prince William Art Society meeting and join the group(s)! The Plein Air Posse is a part of PWAS. The next PWAS meeting is Monday, April 22, 2024 at 7:30pm at the Tall Oaks Community Center 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA.

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Author: Tom Payne

PWAS Member-at-Large (2024-2025) and digital artist, photographer. If a PWAS member has a suggestion or question to pose to the PWAS Board, contact Tom.

 

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: Tom Payne

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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 451: Blue Sunday

Blue Sunday, a Day Amongst the Bluebells

Sunday, April 7, 2024. Big blue sky, mud, and blue flowers. It must be the Bluebell Festival at the Merrimac Farm! The farm is located at 15014 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville, Va and there was a LOT of people there. Parking is limited and we understood that folks were waiting to get in or parked way down the road and walked to it. We think it was worth it and you might too once you see it.

The Bluebell Festival

What a wonderful history of this 300-acre farm. Read more here

https://www.pwconserve.org/merrimacfarm/index.htm

 

 

The Bluebell Festival provided the tent with one table and one chair, although the tents are shared. Small artwork was the main theme of the day for sales. Be ready next time folks, bluebells all day. Elizabeth Stathis and I were working the table for PWAS and when Tom Payne was finished taking photographs, he helped watch while I did a walkabout.

PWAS Plein Air Posse

A little later in the day, I took a walk to the "Exit" side of the path as I was hearing in that direction was the most BLUE. And our new group with the Prince William Art Society called the Plein Air Posse were supposed to be along the path. 

One thing that is so amazing for this Woodbridge girl, is the absolute quiet while out on the path. True, there are other folks walking along here and there, but along certain points once they've trekked on is the stillness, the quiet. An occasional bird chirping or calling. I would imagine the plein air artists had that enjoyment at points in their day.

This was the first outing of the PWAS PAP group and I think they had a great time of it. I would love to hear their stories of lessons learned as most of them were first time plein air painting I believe.

 

First, I came across Doreen Dauer who was finished painting for the day and heading home.

 

When they say don't wear tennis shoes, wear rain/mud boots...I'm glad I heeded that advice. I soon came across another painter off the bluebell beaten path (although the warnings were there to NOT pick nor trample the bluebells). David Dillon had picked a spot and was painting away in watercolors.

 

In the area where David was painting...

David said that Robert Dew had been nearby but had since moved further through the pathways. So through the mud I went, passing many people with their families admiring and snapping photos of the sea of bluebells.

 

I came across Robert Dew who had already done one painting and was working on another. A lady wanted to buy the first one - I hope they work something out. Robert paints with oils. 

 

To follow the path or go back to the tent...? I went back to the tent to help with sales. We had a few other plein air artists that were somewhere painting but I didn't come across them in my half loop. 

As I walked back towards the cottage, the quiet of being out in nature is slowly replaced by the voices and sounds of humanity as I came along the path. It is an awakening of the creative artists and appreciation of plein air painting being out there painting live.

 

Here are a few photos from Robert Dew

 

Photo by Robert Dew

 

Photo by Robert Dew

 

Photo by Robert Dew

Everyone that worked and volunteered at the Festival was marvelous, extremely knowledgeable and just great people. They would come around periodically and check on us and see how things were going. We enjoyed the day so much! My new friend Carolyn Rubinfeld sent me these great pictures too.

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

 

Photo by Carolyn Rubinfeld

I'm thinking to paint MORE bluebells for next year, how about you?

 

For Further Reading: https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/03/post-447-pwas-plein-air-posse.html

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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, Robert Dew and Carolyn Rubinfeld

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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 447: PWAS Plein Air Posse

PWAS Plein Air Posse

In a recent survey of the Prince William Art Society members interests, it was found that Plein Air was a leading art topic that the members wanted to learn more about and get involved in. Thus, PWAS is launching an interested party inaugural Plein Air field trip for this new extension of the PWAS art group. But if Plein Air Painting is new to you, read on dear artist.

What is Plein Air Painting?

As an artist, we spend a ton of time in our studios (or wish we could!). Many studios have great natural light and maybe windows that can open to circulate the air and that's all great. But perhaps many other artists have that urge to get outdoors to paint what we see too, to be in the great outdoors, wind in the hair, the bees a buzzin'... Nonetheless, nature does call us to come out and play. Maybe with paints and brushes in hand.

From the French came the expression "plein air" meaning "in the open air" which means getting out of our studios and being in the moment, painting in nature and all its elements. Talk about hands-on! In your face!

The Prince William Art Society has a new group of members forming a group of Plein Air painters are calling themselves the PWAS Plein Air Posse. A few members have great experience with painting out of doors while others are newbies.

There are no rights or wrongs nor rules or guidelines really. Do your thing!

What You Will Need

Think lightweight items because you have to carry the equipment somewhere into nature and the wind and weather and mud are other considerations. So through the woods, walking the river paths, to the beach and over the dunes, crawling over the rocks, or hanging out with the wildlife, the birds and the bees (hey, the insects!) - from head to toe and everything in between, dress for the occasion.

Dress according to the day - layers are typically best as then if the day changes on you, your comfort level can adjust with it.

Equipment

• A Portable Easel/Tripod. A lightweight field easel, pochade box or simply a sketch clipboard may be all you need, depending on if your medium is oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, or other medium or if you are doing a sketch or using color pencils, etc.
  
• Essential Art Supply Items - No matter the medium, choose to bring only the colors, brushes, palette, or any appropriate mixing solutions absolutely essential for the project, or to get the artwork started. Some artists can complete a painting quickly, others will finish in studio. Smaller sized tubes, containers etc will lighten the load.
  
• Sketchbook - many artists sketch first to decide composition and color.
  
• Your Phone/Camera - Take reference photos of your subject with the time of day your main concern to capture the lighting the way you want to paint it. The light will change on you - fast! While some artists can knock out a Plein Air painting quickly and can capture the essence of the subject, others will finish up the painting later with their reference photos.
  
• Be Prepared - in case of changes in the weather, heat, cold, rain, whatever.  Also, if its quite breezy, think how your artwork can be anchored down to keep from being air borne.
  
• Water for clean up, water for you. Collapsible containers may work there too. Perhaps snacks too. Just remember, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!!
  
• Paper Towels or rags for cleanup.
  
• A Hat, Umbrella. Think in advance too, will you need to have applied sunscreen?

Another consideration is a simple, lightweight camping chair or stool of some sort.

Most of all, enjoy the fresh air and have fun. Get to know not only your fellow Plein Air Posse members, but enjoy the learning and growing experience of being in the moment of painting out of doors!

PWAS Plein Air Posse

If you want to join the "Posse" for their first outing, please contact Tom Payne, paynereliefartworx@yahoo.com

The first Plein Air meeting of the Posse will be at:

Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm

Sunday, April 7, 2024

Meet at 9:00 am

15014 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville, Va

As far as the Bluebell Festival itself, there is a followup blog post and more information coming to the PWAS members for this entire event going on at Merrimac Farm. The Prince William Art Society will have a booth there!

For Further Reading

A Beginner's Guide to Plein Air Painting; Tips for Success

 

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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:
Tom Payne

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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 443: The Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm

The Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm

Prince William Art Society will be participating in The Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm, sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Check out the website and take note of the activities and tours scheduled throughout the day at this outstanding natural area.

Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm WMA

PWAS at the Bluebell Festival

PWAS will have an ‘information table’ set up at the Bluebell Festival where PWAS member's small artworks will be displayed and sold. In addition, the PWAS Education Committee is inviting members interested in Plein Air painting to bring your painting and drawing materials and participate in an informal sharing workshop held among the bluebell flowers.  

NOTE: Be sure to wear appropriate footwear! Pathways may be muddy and slippery. Hiking shoes/boots would be best. Tennis shoes, are not good. 

Below is information and a contact person for the opportunities at the Bluebell Festival.

 

Call for Art

  

Hello all PWAS artists!  Keep the sizes small. If you have tiny little canvases with tiny nature paintings on them, they would be fantastic, but please supply some tiny easels to display them. We want people to be able to see them. 

Come be inspired! We, as PWAS and the PWAS Education Committee, along with The Conservation Alliance of Prince William County, The Virginia Department of Wildlife Services, and support from the Marine Base Quantico are so excited to offer you the opportunity to display your lovely artwork depicting nature at a pop-up event at the Bluebell Festival in Nokesville, VA. 

The Three tenets of The Conservation Alliance of PWC 

People who care make a difference 

We are stronger together 

Acting locally is how we change the world. 

The Bluebell Festival is on April 7th and is held at the Merrimac Farm which is part of a Wildlife Management Area. I understand this event will most likely be attended by over 1,000 people! 

The address for Merrimac Farm is 15020 Deepwood Lane, Nokesville, VA. GPS won’t get you all the way there. You must follow the attached directions. I assure you, it is worth the drive! The festival begins at 10:00 am, but you must arrive at 9:00am. PWAS will receive its 20% commission, so please price your work accordingly. Sales will be conducted with Square cash box. 

Remember to bring boots, rubber shoes, or hiking footwear. Bluebells love the flood plains, and the paths are out of the way of flooding but can be a little mucky depending on recent weather. 

 

PROSPECTUS: 

Keep the sizes small. If you have tiny little canvases with tiny nature paintings on them, they would be fantastic, but please supply some tiny easels to display them. We want people to be able to see them. 

 

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. 

 

Sizes 

Please adhere to the following guidelines: 

 

1. No more than 3 small art pieces or canvases for each person. 

Examples: 3" x 4", 5" x 7", 8" x 10".  If you have some 3" x 4" pieces, then you could submit 4 of those, the smaller the better. 

2. No more than ONE large piece, such as, 11" x 14" framed. 

If you only have an 11” x 14” size piece of art, then you can only submit one piece of art. 

3. Please print out two sets of tags (one for the front, one for the back), your inventory list signed, and hold harmless agreement signed (see attachments). All must be handed on and signed the day you deliver your art to the event. 

4. Business cards, I want people to know all about YOU as the artist! 

5. If you’d like to add a certificate of authenticity, please do! 

6. Please follow the guidelines for art that is to be properly prepared for all PWAS pop ups. More on that… 

7. Proper wiring is required. No little sawtooth hangers. Typical standards apply for preparing your art; make sure it hangs securely. 

8. Artwork on canvas is to be on gallery-wrapped canvases and to have painted sides, or edges. 

9. This Show is un-juried, but art should be appropriate (i.e., family friendly). 

Please come help with the display! Let’s arrange everyone’s artwork for the advantage of all.  

For additional information on what to expect at pop up shows read Donna Liguria’s PWAS Artistry Spin Blog article: 

https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/p/show-lessons.html 

Merrimac Farm is gorgeous. When you bring your art to the festival enjoy the day! Spend time walking around and talking to the other vendors! 

Tom Payne and I walked the “Bluebell Trail” to see for ourselves where these famous bluebells of Virginia have been allowed to spread throughout the woods naturally. What a spectacle! It’s not a Bluebell Festival, it’s a Bluebell Adventure! You owe it to yourselves to experience this natural phenomenon at least once in your lifetime! 

 

Come be inspired.  

The Three tenets of The Conservation Alliance of PWC 

1. People who care make a difference 

2. We are stronger together 

3. Acting locally is how we change the world. 

Contact: Elizabeth Stathis,  elzbthstths@gmail.com. 703-595-8747. 

If you are unable to make it to the festival on the 7th, but would love to be a part of it, I will gladly help you out and take your art with me to display with the others. Just drop it off at my house before the 7th. Text or call me and we will make arrangements. I live 34 minutes from the festival. 

 Plein Air Painting Workshop  

(a.k.a. Plein Air Posse) - meet at 9:00 am 

 

The PWAS Education Committee, invites you to participate in its first Plein Air meet-up. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced Plein Air artist, you are welcome to come, learn, and join in the fun. In doing so, you will be one of the founding members of what will be known as the "Plein Air Posse”! This will be a very informal workshop. We will be learning from and sharing with each other at this first Plein Air gathering. See the poster and instructions with directions to Merrimac Farm!  More detailed information will be sent to those who are interested. To sign-up, simply email Tom Payne, if you haven’t done so already. 

 

Contact: Tom Payne,  paynereliefartworx@yahoo.com. 

 

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Authors: Elizabeth Stathis (PWAS President) and Tom Payne (PWAS Member At Large)

Photography/Video Credits:
Tom Payne

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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!