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:
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.
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.
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.
Business cards, I want people to know all about YOU as the artist!
If you’d like to add a certificate of authenticity, please do!
Please follow the guidelines for art that is to be properly prepared for all PWAS pop ups. More on that…
Proper wiring is required. No little sawtooth hangers. Typical standards apply for preparing your art; make sure it hangs securely.
Artwork on canvas is to be on gallery-wrapped canvases and to have painted sides, or edges.
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
People who care make a difference
We are stronger together
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.
Tom Payne
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