Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Post 500: Artistry Spin Blog Post 500!

Artistry Spin Blog Post 500!

What a milestone! The 500th blog post on PWAS Artistry Spin! The post is about what the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is planning on for the future for its members and the community with all those upcoming art shows, classes, events, exhibits, challenges and MORE!

Upcoming Events Around the County and Beyond

The thoughts ran through my head of what should be the theme to this 50th blog post for Artistry Spin be? I finally settled on what the Prince William Art Society has on our radar which is actually a LOT! It is definitely an ongoing and growing list due to the diligence and dedication of a lot of our members!

Here is an overview of what is currently pinging LARGE on the art group's radar:

Tall Oaks Fall Art Show Oct 5

This is a bi-annual art show hosted by PWAS in the Spring and again in the Fall at the Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr. Woodbridge, Va. The art show is rain or shine as we hold it in the building so come by and see the show! Click on the images to enlarge. PWAS members register here for the show: PWAS Register

Benedictine Garden Classes and More on October 5

Watch the PWAS website https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/news-events for more information and register for classes on the Benedictine Gardens website

Benedictine Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Rd, Bristow, VA.

https://www.pwcva.gov/department/virginia-cooperative-extension/horticulture-classes

PWAS Hosted Art Classes

We've already had a wonderful series of free art classes around PWC all summer and any upcoming class will have a registration here on the PWAS website https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/register

These classes are FREE and so enjoyed by anyone that attends. AND they fill up fast! ONLY sign up if you intend on coming because we have plenty of overflow registrations and you are taking up a spot if you don't show up! ( a big no-no )

Bettie Sperty led the Metallic Gilding class

Upcoming classes include:

Fred Markum at the Benedictine Gardens Oct 5 - Plein Air Painting
Elizabeth Stathis at the Benedictine Gardens Oct 5
Michelle Frantz plein air painting in or around Occoquan (TBD)
Penny Shaw teaching mixed media art (TBD)
Mark Muphy with Watercolor Essentials Nov 30 at the Montclair Library
Tentatively a Framing and Selling Art Class in 2025 (TBD)

The PWAS Lime Challenge

We've thrown down the fruit bowl on this one! Get a piece of artwork ready for the next PWAS meeting of Monday, Oct 28 at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 7:30 pm. Paint a Lime. Paint it any way you see it. Paint it as it will be or should be.

A small artwork is fine but you are welcome to do what you want with our wee lime below. See the blog post on the Lime Story below.

The PWAS Lime Challenge Story https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/2024/09/post-497-pwas-lime-challenge.html

PWAS Monthly Meetings

As noted for the PWAS Lime Challenge, the art group meets once a month at the Tall Oaks Community Center on the fourth Monday of the month at 7:30pm. The next meeting is Monday, October 28th. We have something interesting scheduled for every meeting, usually at the beginning where a guest speaker will give a demo, a presentation, or a talk on various art topics. Occasionally we have "Show and Tell" on what artists are working on now.

Monday, September 23, 2024 with Patty Gulledge on the Tools and Techniques Needed for Painting with Pastel

More info will be announced as we get closer but for October and November we have some very interesting programs planned that you will not want to miss.

October 28: Layering
October 28: Show your Lime Challenge Art!
November 25: A critical look at a piece of art of yours that you want to bring in... Ever do a piece of art that you didn't finish, or you didn't feel was "just right"? Look for more info on this closer to the meeting.

PWAS Field Trip! Let's Go to the Gallery

A field trip to the National Gallery of Art is planned for October and we must have a minimum number of folks sign up in advance so that we can schedule the bus for this event! This should be a GREAT time and I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to this one and letting someone else drive to DC, while seeing some of the greatest art in the world whilst rubbing elbows with my art buddies!

Isn't there a sing-along-song for "100 bottles of paint on a wall"?

PWAS Plein Air Posse is Out and About

A group of Prince William artists that LOVE painting outdoors - the group began in April 2024 and meets regularly to enjoy their passion of moving around NOVA and DC with their paint medium of choice and getting those spots on easel or paper.

The PWAS PAP meets about every other Sunday to paint. Hope to have more info later on their plans...but the potential is there for paint-by-the-seat-of-your-pants with a looser schedule of where they will be next!

PWAS at the Montclair Library Art Exhibit

Watch the PWAS website for more info https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/news-events

PWAS will have art on display at the Montclair Community Library, 5049 Waterway Drive, Dumfries, VA 22025 for November and through December of 2025. The art will be for sale... more on this later as well.

PWAS Online Art Store

See the PWAS website https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/category/all-products An ongoing showing of member art.

Artist Inventory Sale at the ARTFactory Dec 7

The Prince William Art Society will be at the Artist Inventory Sale held at the ARTFactory in Manassas in December. Smaller works are typically the best to show at the event.

94119 Battle St., Manassas, VA 20110. This show has traditionally been at the Harris Pavillion in the Spring and Fall, alas...usually the weather has been very awkward for art groups and their art. Hence, the ARTFactory is bringing the Artist Inventory Sale under their roof in December.

The Annual PWAS Christmas Party

In December, the Prince William Art Society foregoes their monthly meeting and schedules a lovely Christmas party for the members + 1, adults only. The date is to be determined but we have always had some wonderful holiday celebrations. Not to be missed PWAS member event!

2025 Events, Shows and MORE

And a lot is on the radar for 2025 here in Prince William County.

The Bull Run Library show, other libraries and wineries, and other spots in Woodbridge, Manassas and beyond, and more are definitely on the PWAS for 2025. As you can see in the list above there are many proposed events that are in the works and many that will be added, as well as our annual art shows.

The PWAS Board begins their second year of service in January 2025, with our bi-annual Board elections taking place in November 2025. If you want to get involved and help get things done, consider this option as well.

New PWAS Member?

If you live in the area and want to get involved with the Prince William Art Society, you are WELCOME to jump on board! We have many artists of every art experience, at every artistic level AND some that are simply art appreciators! We LOVE it when people have and share and get involved with their enthusiasm, great ideas, and willingness to help where needed.

Membership dues run from Jan to Dec every year with a prorated mid year rate, so be sure and check that the membership info available here and we hope to see you at our next meeting.

https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

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

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!

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Post 499: Onyx Art Group Show Sat, Sept 21, 2024

Onyx Art Group Show Sat, Sept 21, 2024

Six members of the Prince William Art Society established the Onyx Art Group and held their second exhibition, “A Journey Through Art” on September 21,2024, at the Westridge Swim and Dive Clubhouse at 12764 Quarterhorse Lane, Woodbridge, VA 22193. The six artists displaying their work are Evelyn Chatters, Nicole M. Fisher, Anna Gatling, Akon Otoyo, Penny Shaw, and Otis L. Stanley. And what a lovely show it was!

Left to Right, Penny Shaw, Akon Otoyo, Nicole Fisher, Otis Stanley, Evelyn Chatters and Anna Gatling

Photos of the Show

Very nicely done, Onyx Art Group!!

The Onyx Group will have another show in November, so be sure and look for it coming up in the Woodbridge, Lake Ridge area!

Photography/Video Credits: Donna Liguria

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!

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Post 498: PWAS Member Zee Berrios Answers to Questions

PWAS Member Zee Berrios Answers to Questions

Many of our Prince William Art Society members answer the questions sent out to for what they are currently working on and what art shows do they have coming up. Occasionally, other questions might be asked and here are Zee Berrios' answers and art tips to share with you.

Zee Berrios in Studio

The Questions Asked and Answered by PWAS Member Zee Berrios

1. How do you find inspiration?

Inspiration comes depending on photos taken or books and articles read.

2. Why are you drawn to a certain style of art?

Drawn (no pun intended) to semi abstracts because of the challenge to the viewer in completing the image in their heads. This style because it is not realistic or totally abstract and because there are no gradations form one tone or one color to another. There is basically a "hard edge" to all colors. The merging of the colors and forms happens in the viewers mind.

3. Who are your favorite PWAS artists and why???

Favorite PWAS artist are a few, but will mention Evelyn Chatters and Ana Gatling because they have an excellent control in form and color on their "Pour" paintings (a style difficult to manage and harmonize).

4. Which art tips have helped you that you'd like to share?

Art tips that have helped so much (when painting with acrylic paints):

Create your own blacks instead of using Mars Black ( for example: ultramarine blue + burnt umber + alizarin crimson)
Never leave brushes in water, always clean them after each use.
Store brushes with the hair (bristle) facing up, not on the hair to keep the hairs straight)
A few drops of distilled white vinegar to the stored jar of paint avoids mildew and the loss of your paint. (there is an excellent book by Gill Barron, titled "Compendium of Acrylic Painting Techniques".) (wish would have read a book like this when I started painting decades ago.

5. Have you taken any of the PWAS art classes and which have been your favorites so far? What classes would you like to take?

Yes, took the PWAS class on "pour acrylic by Ann Gatling. It was great!

6. Why do you create art?

I don't create art, but rather express something that already is, an expression of what moves (inspires, hurts, bothers, inspires, lifts) ... to share that expression with the viewer.

Any other PWAS members want to answer the questions for a blog post?

Photography/Video Credits: Zee Berrios

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!

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Post 497: PWAS Lime Challenge

PWAS Lime Challenge

Arts Alive was Saturday, September 14, 2024 and a fun day it was. What puzzled our creative artists was this lime sitting near an exit door all day where we were set up. A still life? Yes and no. A paint project? Yes! Hence, the PWAS Lime Challenge was born.

Photo from Donna Liguria

Let's Have a Paint Challenge!

Get a group of artists together and the ideas start happening. This lonely green guy sat on this table all day. The question was raised, why was it here? Who did it belong to? What should we do with it? We had no idea but we decided at first that it was a still life. Should we add more oddball items with it through the day to make a more interesting still life scene out of it? Was some woman without her lime in the coconut?

The final decision was a PWAS Lime Painting Challenge for the entire art group. We would like to throw down the Lime Challenge and have anyone in the PWAS art group do a painting of a lime and we can bring the paintings to a meeting and see and enjoy our results.

Paint the lime in whatever your style is: realistic, abstract, paint pour, whatever. Create a Picasso Lime! "Mona Lime" by Leonardo da Vinci. "Girl with a Pearl Lime" (Johannes Vermeer). "Starry Limes" (Van Gogh). "The Son of Man" with a Lime instead of a green apple (René Magritte).

Or a simple lime on a table.

Small painting? Maybe...but you do you.

Lime is a color so shoot for whatever interpretation of a lime you want to do.

Maybe even as you see his ultimate purpose in life. A margarita? A Corona? A Keylime Pie?

We offer here a few reference photos to get your lime thoughts stirring, no limetations.

Photo from Donna Liguria

Photo from Anna Gatling

When to Show Your Lime Challenge Paintings?

With the next PWAS Meeting scheduled for Monday, September 23 at 7:30, at the Tall Oaks Community Center - 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge - there may not be enough time for everyone to get limed up. Do you want to shoot for October's meeting on October 28?

Next steps...How to sell our lime paintings/interpretations? We'll need to come up with some good ideas on this too. Want to vote on your favorites as a group? (Perhaps don't sign the front for this idea.)

Don't show your Lime paintings beforehand but we'd love to know if you are taking part in the Lime Challenge! May this not be our first and only PWAS Challenge!

Photography/Video Credits: Anna Gatling and Donna Liguria

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!

Monday, September 16, 2024

Post 496: PWAS Art Up at Arts Alive!

PWAS Art Up at Arts Alive!

Arts Alive! Yes they are! The Prince William Art Society (PWAS) was at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia on Saturday, September 14, 2024 for this wonderful, annual celebration of the arts. Let's have a look at some photos from the day.

PWAS Artists at Arts Alive

Arts Alive used to be on a Sunday but this year it was held on a Saturday. Prince William Art Society had 17 artists showing a variety of art from small to large, from multiple mediums, prints, and other art merchandise. The artists at the show:

Anna Gatling
Sandra Lewin
Evelyn Chatters
Nicole Goble
Nicole Fisher
Donna Liguria
Staci Blanchard

Jewel Pratt Burns
Maria Briganti
Elena Jochem
Anna Huerta
Richard Tyler
Kathleen Gates

April Mckether

Ana Quispe

Mark Clifton

Kenneth Mckether

Photo by Donna Liguria of the Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20109

Let's See the Show!

Around 10 am the artists begin to arrive. The art hanging equipment comes in and gets set up first and the artists draw numbers to mark their territories. Up goes everyone's art and those with art prints and other merchandise, prepare their tables. The art show begins at 12 noon and went until 5pm.

Photo from Staci Blanchard

Photo from Donna Liguria

Photo from Donna Liguria of our dear PWAS member, Jewell Pratt Burns, next to her art

It was so good to see not only the visitors enjoying our art creations and seeing all of our art friends, but to see Jewell Pratt Burns arrive. She is an original PWAS member from the 1971 Woodbridge Art Guild that later became the Prince William Art Society. Three pieces of her art are up here at Arts Alive. You can see it here along with some of the other PWAS members at https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/category/all-products

When they say it takes a village to do some things, an art group gets some things done too! A big thank you to all that stopped by and to the folks that took some of our creations home by supporting the arts!

Photography/Video Credits: Staci Blanchard, Donna Liguria

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!

Friday, September 13, 2024

Post 495: Prepare Your Own Go-to-the-Show Art Bag

Prepare Your Own Art Show Go Bag

If you are an artist having your own art show or you are in a group art show, prepare an art show bag for yourself so that you have what you need so that you are ready to start selling art when the show opens! Here's a check list of supplies to have stashed in your show bag.

Photo by Zac Meadowcroft on Unsplash

Being Prepared

You know the drill: There is always that often -frantic- hour or two before an art show begins where every artist scrambles to ensure that their art is up and out, labeled correctly, organized nicely and displayed perfectly by the time the show doors open. It is up to each artist to be as prepared as possible - and on time.

Anticipating the supplies you need before the show is something that should happen BEFORE you even leave the house. Know before hand what the venue provides and what they do not. (Tables, chairs - how many?)

Besides the obvious of bringing your artwork, prints and other creatives, there is much more that is needed AND desired, in anticipation of what could be important for last minute fixes or adjustments. Or if something gets broken!

If your are responsible for your own show, the check list is considerably larger as you will need to hang your own art and whether or not the show is indoor or outdoors which has its own challenges and lists. Nonetheless, you or your group MUST have:

Sales - point of sales equipment, charger, and invoice sheets
Cash - in case you need to make change OR to purchase lunch, or other art! As per typically happens, the first sale of the day starts with a large bill coming in and wiping out the change drawer. It is good to know your art group companions might be able to help you out from their "stash".
Bubblewrap, Paper wrap - wrap artwork with bubbles OUT!
Gift bags to able to package smaller art
Print Rack(s), Gridwalls and all the other paraphernalia that goes with those
And much more

But here is what could be in your art show go bag no matter if a solo or group show:

Art Show Go Bag (ASGB) Supplies:

Your Phone/Camera and Batteries
Chargers, Extension Cords
Your Business Cards, Brochures
Invitations or Flyers to your next event
Your Exhibitor Badge or other ID
Your QR Code for your Website
Your Name on a Sign or Tablecloth (Branding)
Price List, Inventory of Art
Price Stickers, Red Dot Stickers
Clip Board, Stapler and Staples, Paper/Notebook, Index Cards, Paper Weight
Pens, Pencils, Rubber Bands, Paper Clips, Calculator
Scotch tape, Masking Tape, Blue Tape, Duct Tape, Glue
Price Cards, Labels - front and back tags for nearly all shows
Red and Black Sharpie
Tape, Twine, String, Wire, Wire Cutter, Fishing Line
D-Rings
Scissors, Multi-Purpose Tool – screwdriver, hammer, pocketknife
Zip Ties, Clothespins, Curtain Hangers, Clothesline
Sewing Kit, Safety Pins, Measuring Tape
Bungee Cords, Bulldog Clips
Battery Powered Lights
Wet Wipes, Paper Towels
First Aid Kit
Small Folding Step Stool
Umbrella, sunglasses, hat
Personal Items: Ibuprofen, Chapstick, Tissues, Mirror, Lipstick
Snacks, Drinks, Water, Chocolate
Trash Bags

An ASGB can be a backpack, a duffel bag, a tote bag or whatever you deem necessary. I'd keep the bag prepped and readjust or resupply it periodically too.

Are you planning on painting/creating while at the show?

Bring your equipment and an apron so you can do so if space and the venue allows. People love watching people doing what they do.

Good idea to have and know:

Guest Book - do you have an email list you can build on?
Know if you have to bring your own chair and a chair cushion
Know HOW to use the POS equipment!
The weather forecast!

All that said, at every group show I attend, there is always at least one person, or ten, or even someone in the next booth saying, "Hey, do you have __fill in the blank__ I can borrow?" And its always something from the list above.

Can you think of anything else that should be included?

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!

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Post 494: Artists Gotta Art

Artists Gotta Art

Most months, I like to ask the Prince William Art Society artists what they are working on, sometimes in various ways. What's on your easel isn't always the right thing for every artist as they work in various mediums. Nonetheless, let's see what the artists are doing at the moment and what might be on their radars.

PWAS Member Mark Murphy

Below are two quick paintings from my sketchbook. One is of the Kinderdijk windmills outside of Rotterdam (definitely worth the visit) and the other shows a man that I met on the Rotterdam water taxi with his bike and dog. I'm trying to get in the habit of quickly documenting recent events with a loose ink sketch and watercolor washes. Many artists recommend adopting the practice of quick, daily sketches so I'm giving it a try. It certainly takes the pressure off of trying to always produce the next "masterpiece" and they help me see what I need to do differently if I choose to develop these into larger paintings.

Also below, is a black and white image of my reference photo modified with Notanizer. Side by side, you can see that my quick, freehand rendering strays from the original image and I might do another version that is truer to the values of the photo. There are many ways to produce a simplified "value study" like this but the Notanizer app (only $1.99) lets you choose how many levels you want between black and white and providers sliders to adjust the threshold or sensitivity of each level. It is a convenient way to quickly visualize the range of values. I learned about this in the watercolor class taught by Gwen Bragg at the Workhouse. She is an excellent instructor.

PWAS Artist Zee Berrios

What is on the easel...an acrylic on canvas 36" X 48". In the Original Natives" series to be exposed next year.

What's on the radar: a solo show at the FCCA (Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts) next year. (presently showing 8 paintings at the Open Arts space (in Stone Bridge)

PWAS Member Donna Liguria

Although I recently had this painting in the artist reveal video at our last PWAS meeting, it wasn't quite complete. I believe it is now as of TODAY, less the varnishing. So sitting upon my easel is "Lincoln Memorial in the Fall", which is the 3rd commission from a fellow that resides in Washington DC. I've previously painted Spring "Cherry Blossoms, an Annual DC Event" (the Washington Monument), and Winter "White House Having a White Christmas", so I have a whole DC seasons series going. The final Summer season painting is yet to be determined but it just seems like it should be fireworks, don't you think?

I ended up throwing more Fall at it.

And we have Arts Alive this Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas from 12 to 5. Come on out and support the arts!

PWAS Member Elena Jochum

The painting I am currently working on is for my small business, Tidewater Trove. It is a depiction of riverglass and pottery artifacts from the Potomac River. Some of the artifacts date back to 1800s.

This is a watercolor painting where I am focusing on light, reflections, textures, man-made objects - and the fleeting of time. The composition is also representing negative space. I am challenging myself with abstracting realism.

PWAS Member Pierre George

I'm back in town and was able to get back on the canvas again. What's on my easel? A 30 x 48 painting, I have just completed this weekend. I am currently in the sketching phase of another very, very large painting called "Wash Day".

Inspiration: J.C. Leyendecker, Michelangelo and a host of other artist who has come and gone.

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

Here's what I'm working on; Morning Cast, acrylic, 24" x 36'

PWAS Member Mandy Powell

I’ve been working tremendously and have a solo show that just opened this weekend at Sunshine Ridge Winery! It will be there until November 17 with the reception on Sat Nov 16th! I’m so excited!! Please share.

Drop a comment below and let them know what you think.

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!

Pages

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Artistry Spin Blog Post 500!

Upcoming Events Around the County and Beyond

Tall Oaks Fall Art Show Oct 5

Benedictine Garden Classes and More on October 5

PWAS Hosted Art Classes

The PWAS Lime Challenge

PWAS Monthly Meetings

PWAS Field Trip! Let's Go to the Gallery

PWAS Plein Air Posse is Out and About

PWAS at the Montclair Library Art Exhibit

PWAS Online Art Store

Artist Inventory Sale at the ARTFactory Dec 7

The Annual PWAS Christmas Party

2025 Events, Shows and MORE

New PWAS Member?

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Onyx Art Group Show Sat, Sept 21, 2024

Photos of the Show

Thursday, September 19, 2024

PWAS Member Zee Berrios Answers to Questions

The Questions Asked and Answered by PWAS Member Zee Berrios

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

PWAS Lime Challenge

Let's Have a Paint Challenge!

When to Show Your Lime Challenge Paintings?

Monday, September 16, 2024

PWAS Art Up at Arts Alive!

PWAS Artists at Arts Alive

Let's See the Show!

Friday, September 13, 2024

Prepare Your Own Art Show Go Bag

Being Prepared

Art Show Go Bag (ASGB) Supplies:

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Artists Gotta Art

PWAS Member Mark Murphy

PWAS Artist Zee Berrios

PWAS Member Donna Liguria

PWAS Member Elena Jochum

PWAS Member Pierre George

PWAS Member Otis Stanley

PWAS Member Mandy Powell

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