Post 363: Art Tips 2

Art Tips, Tricks, and More...2

You never know when you might hear an art tip about something that is just the suggestion that will solve an issue for you or help you and your work in some way. This will hopefully be an ongoing series of tips and I would LOVE to have your suggestions as well!

 

Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash

Art Tips, Advice, Suggestions 

1. Look around the house for items that can add texture. Create stencils out of: bubble wrap, doilies, lace, clean sponges, and more.
2. Change your point of view for your inspirational photos - look up, look down, get low.
3. Acrylic paint drying too fast for you? Try spraying the back of your canvas with water to help hold the moisture longer. There are mediums you can use as well that will slow down the drying time. 
4. Use a covered palette with acrylics - and spray water in it for added moisture. The ones with the damp sponges work well too (stay-wet palettes) - just clean and change periodically to avoid issues.
5. Keep your coffee cup AWAY from your paint water cup. 
6. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (from PWAS member Michelle Baker #6-12)
   
7. A thrifted baby diaper bag with lots of pockets makes a great art carrier.
8. Plastic containers can get a new life after being thoroughly washed as brush stations or palettes.Try incorporating found items in your work either for patterns or textures-orange red mesh bags can be used in so many ways.
9. Dollar Tree plastic placemats or thrifted plastic mats are great for taping watercolor paper to if you like to work on more than one painting at a time.
10. Goodwill is a great place to pick up art supplies to try new ideas or mediums.
11. Egg cartons are fantastic for many art projects.
12. Facebook pages like "Buy Nothing Gainesville, VA" or "Buy Nothing Woodbridge, VA" are great places to score materials.

What art tips, art advice or suggestions do you have to add? Money saving tips, new art tools, art "hacks" - using every day objects in usual ways - what ideas have you used?

 See the Art Tips Series on this page for more tidbits of advice: https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/p/art.html

Send me YOUR art tips too or drop them in the comments below. AND let me know if you find an art tip here that you LOVE!

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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.

 

Author: Michelle Baker for her 6 great tips too!

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Local Art: Visit us at any of our local art shows and our monthly meetings.
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.

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

Post 362: PWAS Art Group Meeting Jun 26, 2023 Featuring Anna Gatling

PWAS Art Group Meeting Jun 26, 2023 Featuring Anna Gatling

The Prince William Art Society is a 50+ year old group of artists and art enthusiasts that meet monthly on the fourth Monday of the month in Woodbridge, VA. PWAS consists of a very diverse group of artists - from beginner to professional, that work in a variety of mediums and styles. The group typically mixes group business (what art opportunities and things are going on), refreshments, and fun art programs including anything like "show and tell", how to presentations, or what the featured artist does types of programs. 

  

Anna Gatling at Open Space Arts in February 2023 for the African American Voices and Visions art show, where she won People's Choice for "Cotton and Chain" which was purchased. Art Prints are available.

Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:30pm at Tall Oaks

The Prince William Art Society will host a program by Fine Artist
Anna Gatling, who primarily works in water media including watercolor
but with a recent emphasis on acrylics. Her work ranges from fluid,
expressive abstracts to realism featuring intricately worked surfaces
and lush spreads of color. Come attend the next membership meeting on
June 26th at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 7:30 pm to enjoy this
free program. Programs and meetings are free and the public is cordially
invited to attend. Following Ms. Gatling's presentation, there will be
refreshments and an opportunity to speak with the artist, then a
business meeting where you will hear about local opportunities for artists.

Location:   12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA, 22192

Click on the image for a larger view

 

Anna's "Closer Look"

 

Anna's "Fluid Weave"

Anna Gatling also is the PWAS Membership coordinator.

Come by and meet Anna as well as many of the PWAS members, learn more about our group and enjoy your time with us.

Learn more: 

Prince William Art Society

Benefits of Joining a Local Art Group

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Author: Emily Hawes, PWAS Program Director

 

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: 

Anna Gatling

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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!

Post 361: Art Tips 1

Art Tips, Tricks, and More...1

You never know when you might hear an art tip about something that is just the suggestion that will solve an issue for you or help you and your work in some way. This will hopefully be an ongoing series of tips and I would LOVE to have your suggestions as well!

 

Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash 

Art Tips, Advice, Suggestions

1. Rules are made to be broken, then sketch the broken box they were carried in on.
   
2. As Bob Ross put it, there are no "art accidents", you can make "happy little trees" or whatever is logical to your art. I've made lady bugs or birds out of paint splatters.
3. A sketch a day, makes a better apple. A better doodle, a better face. Skill sets are ALWAYS improved with practice. If you played guitar you would need to practice, right? Become a better artist by DOING.
   
4. Take a lot of time "seeing" your art. Take a picture of it, view it from different angles.  Turn it up-side-down, sideways. Check the balance, feel and intensity of whatever is on the canvas. Stand back from the work as you would if it was hanging in someone's living room. You will "see" the overall effect better and see where improvements are needed.
   
5. You are your own worst critic. A family member is often just a cheerleader. 
6. Don't compare your work to another person's artwork. Everyone is different.
7. Watch, learn, inspire and admire, how could you make it your own, make it better, do it differently? What twist can you put on something so that you are not copying someone else?
8. Don't mess up your art admirer viewer's Chi by pointing out where you think your mistakes are. 
9. Begin by staining your canvas in a dull tone to do away with the glaring white of the canvas to better determine your color values. 
10. Use an inexpensive 12x12 picture glass-front frame as your pallet. Put a neutral gray paper under the glass as the background. To clean the dry acrylic paint off of it, spray with water, let sit, then wipe or scrap it off. 
11. Dried paint on a brush? Misshaped brushes? Don't toss - try Murphy's Oil Soap and water! Let soak for a couple of hours then try working that paint out, rinse, then let dry flat - or better yet with the brush side slightly lower than the handle. You can also use fabric softener to help clean brushes, rinse well.
12. Use an old cookie sheet with the edges to dry your brushes. Put paper towels in the center and lean the brush handles on the edges so that the brush tips are in the center of the cookie sheet. This will help to drain the water from the ferrule (the metal part).
    

15 Genius Sketching Hacks You Wish You Knew

What art tips, art advice or suggestions do you have to add? Money saving tips, new art tools, art "hacks" - using every day objects in usual ways - what ideas have you used?

Art Tips 2 and 3 are coming up soon... 

 See the Art Tips Series on this page for more tidbits of advice: https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/p/art.html

Send me YOUR art tips too or drop them in the comments below. AND let me know if you find an art tip here that you LOVE!

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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.

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Local Art: Visit us at any of our local art shows and our monthly meetings.
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.

Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!

Post 360: A Taste of Woodbridge and a Touch of Art June 10, 2023

A Taste of Woodbridge and a Touch of Art June 10, 2023

Saturday, June 10, 2023 Stonebridge "Taste of Woodbridge" street festival found the Prince William Art Society members out on the street. Well, setting up a popup art show in the street in celebration of this annual Woodbridge street festival at Stonebridge.

Open Space Arts Gallery 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA

We had a beautiful day! PWAS Members at the party, um...art show: Anna Gatling, Susan Furr, Sandra McClelland Lewin, Richard Tyler, Maria Briganti, Otis Stanley, Donna Liguria, Sheri Herrick, Carol Rusaw, Fatima Fatool, Doreen Dauer, Megan Richert, Tom Payne, Helen Burroughs,  Dave Dillon, Fatima Farzana, Connie Huebner, Kelly Kaneklau, and Evelyn Chatters

Art Show Pictures

So if a picture speak a thousand words, what does a thousand pictures have to say? Photos by Otis Stanley, a PWAS member...

 

Mark Murphy, PWAS Treasurer

 

Fatima Batool

 

PWAS Tent up at Stonebridge "Taste of Woodbridge"

 

Richard Tyler

 

Donna Liguria

 

Evelyn Chatters, our art show coordinator

 

Maria Briganti and Susan Furr

 

Sandra McClelland Lewin and Donna Liguria

 

Richard Tyler working on an art piece

 

David Dillan and Robert Dew discussing art theory, perspectives and composition...maybe...or it could have been the weather

 

Fatima Farzana and Megan Richert

 

Evelyn Chatters and Mark Murphy, it's only rock and roll but I like it...

 

Evelyn Chatters and Mark Murphy

 

Tom Payne

 

Susan Furr

 

Fatima Farzana

 

Mark Murphy and mini-friend working on the intricacies of balloon holding

 

Susan Furr, Anna Gatling, Evelyn Chatters and Brenda Vann holding down the "fort" - inside the Open Space Arts gallery

If I don't have everyone's name listed, let me know - we are a big group and new folks are joining all the time!

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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

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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!

Post 359: PWAS, What's on Your Easel?

PWAS, What's on Your Easel?

Periodically i post a question of our Prince William Art Society members of 'What are your currently working on?' Usually I get a lot of responses...but it has been a busy month with vacations, art shows, gallery stuff, family stuff. Nonetheless, I'll go with what I did get and I added an art tip.

BTW - I'm working on a blog post with art tips if you have something to share.

Bruce Fasick

Working on the prep for my RAW “Duets” show at Madigan’s June 28 (Occoquan)

Invite enclosed….Hope some of the group will stop in.

 

Donna Liguria

Just finishing up "Wading Shackleford Pony" 12x16 Acrylic inspired by a recent trip to Harker's Island, North Carolina.

Update: Saturday, June 17, 2023 "Wading Shackleford Pony" has found a new home.

Art Tip: I recently went to the Loudoun County Art Studio Tour and one thing I noticed an artist do is a way to protect the bottom of her canvases. She had taken a pool noodle and cut off lengths of it and sliced down the noodle longways on one side and inserted it at the bottom of her canvases. So whenever the painting was sitting on the floor, it cushioned the edges. Smart, right?

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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.

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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 and our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, 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 358: Flower Show at OSA People's Choice Winners for May-June 2023

Flower Show at OSA People's Choice Winners for May-June 2023

The current art show at the Open Space Arts gallery at 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA has been running between May 3 and will close June 18, 2023. At each art show we have the visitors vote on their favorite art piece and drop the little cards in the People's Choice box. Well, the public voted and we LOVE announcing the winners!

You Came, You Saw, You Voted - AND Some You Took Home!

It's getting closer to the time that this show will wrap up, which means we count all those votes in the People's Choice Voting Box. Wow, this has been our most successful show ever. TONS of visitors and gosh, have they enjoyed the show. And some pieces have found new homes!

And this is how you voted your favorite art pieces currently hanging at the gallery:

1st Place Blue Ribbon - Tom Payne for ”Lotus Farm”

2nd Place Red Ribbon - KC Claure "Tired of Sharing" Showing to the right in this picture (This painting was sold and has now been picked up)

3rd Place White Ribbon -  Pierre G. George "A Distant Stare"

Congratulations!!

Pictures from around the gallery when setting up the art show:
 

The Next Art Show - Pride

The next art show will begin June 21 and run until July 23 called "Pride". The art reception is Friday, June 23, 2023 at 6 or 6:30pm.

"A warm round of applause to all of the juried artists whose work was selected for the OSA June's art show 'Pride' at OSA." - Penny Shaw, PWAS member and OSA Committee

Ahmed Khalid Gardizi             

Mandy Powell             

Ana Quispe             

Ava Beckman                    

Bettie Sperty

Connell Calvert          

Dinah Conteh          

Evelyn Chatters                  

Helen Joyce Burroughs        

Jamie Lynn O'Connor   

Katie Brogdon         

Kellie Tennis                      

Kelly Haneklau

Kofi Karikari

Kyran McCann        

Leah Boynton                    

Maureen Guillot                       

Robert Dew                 

Shadow                 

Tom Payne                       

Tony Muller   

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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:
Donna Liguria

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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!