Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is a group of local artists in Prince William County in Northern Virginia dedicated to an appreciation of the visual arts and fine crafts of local artists and this is their Blog, Artistry Spin. Find information about and by PWAS, our events, our Scholarship Program, our artists, our art shows and exhibits plus much more. Many of our artists display art at locations all around Prince William County, Manassas and beyond.
Our Prince William Art Society monthly meeting is always on the 4th Monday of the month and most typically held at the Tall Oaks Community Building on the corner of Hedges Run and Cotton Mill Drive in Lake Ridge / Woodbridge, VA. The meetings often have a guest speaker giving a demo or program about various art topics, or meeting can be fun show and tells, art projects, or almost any thing else. I like to say, if you miss a meeting, you miss a lot!
On August 25 the Prince William Art Society will meet at 7:30 PM at the Lake Ridge Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA 22192. All members of the public are always invited to come and enjoy the free programs that begin the meetings.
This month, members and guests are invited to bring and share art they have done or work they are in the process of completing. If you wish to come and see community artists' work, please do. If you would like support or feedback on your own work, if you are stuck and would like suggestions, or if you have completed a work you're pleased with or had a great deal of fun doing and would like to share it with a friendly group of like minded people, this is your opportunity. We hope to see you there!
The Prince William Art Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 art organization that began in 1971, making this group over 50 years old. We have a wide variety of artists from 18 and older, many working other jobs, some retired, some beginners, some have been making and creating all kinds of art for many years. You are VERY welcome to attend and see what we are up to - and join us in what we do!
At our meetings, we often make important announcements of upcoming artist opportunities that may benefit you as an artist. Often, you need to be there to hear about it!
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
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 (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
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.
Every year, artists in Virginia look forward to their local 'art season(s)' which are usually early spring and again in the fall up to Christmas. Artist's Inboxes fill with Calls for Art and they make the decisions on which shows will work for their schedules, their artworks, and agendas. The emails from Clark County for the biannual Art at the Mill Art Show held at the Burwell Morgan Mill are much anticipated by some of the members of the Prince William Art Society too!
Burwell Morgan Mill in Millwood, VA
PWAS Members Entering AATM
You can search this blog for "Art at the Mill" and read the numerous blog posts and many pictures I've taken of this art show held in a LIVE working mill.
It is an honor just to be accepted to show at the Mill and many of the PWAS members have urged other art group members that even if they don't enter the show, to at least go SEE it, for goodness sake! And they have the show twice a year, in the spring and again in the fall. Just think about this:
Art at the Mill juries in about 1,000 artworks from about 300 artists, for each show.
This year's Fall Show begins on Saturday, September 20 and goes through Sunday, October 5, 2025. Their hours are Sundays through Fridays 12-5 and Saturdays 10-5. The artist's reception is Sunday, September 28, from 2-5. The address to plug into your GPS/Google Maps is 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA. From Lakeridge, here in Woodbridge...that's about 57 miles and about 1 hour and 12 minutes to drive.
"Over the river and through the woods, to Millwood, VA we go!"
Here are some PWAS members that will be trekking to Burwell Morgan to drop off their artworks soon.
PWAS Member Mark Clifton
This will be Mark Clifton's first time showing at the Art at the Mill and 3 of his 5 were accepted. Congratulations Mark!
"Bluebells" - 9x11 oil pastel on Pastel mat - matted and framed 14x20
"Little Barn" - 9x11 oil pastel on Pastel mat - matted and framed 14x20
"In the Forest" - 24x30 oil on canvas - framed 32x38
PWAS Member Donna Liguria
This is the first time I've had 4 of my 5 accepted, usually I get 3, sometimes only 2 in. I'm excited for this show!
"Art Delivery to the Mill", Acrylic on Stretched Canvas14x14x1.5 (unframed)
"Going For A Run", Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 16x20x1.5 (unframed)
"Ben's Chili Bowl in DC", Acrylic on Canvas 16x20 (Black Frame)
"Fall Up and Down", Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 8x8x1.5 (unframed)
PWAS Member Sandra McClelland Lewin
Sandra also had 4 of 5 accepted into the show!
"Owl in Oak Tree", Acrylic and Metallic Gold Ink 18"w x 24"h
"Bluejay in the Vineyard", Acrylic 20" w x 16" h
"Mushroom #4", Acrylic 16"w x 12"h
"Skull with Flowers", Acrylic 18.5 x 22.5 Framed
PWAS Member Bettie Sperty
Bettie had a couple of paintings accepted to Art at the Mill too!
"Burn Baby, Burn", Oil, 11x14”
"The Tiny House", Acrylic on wood, 6”x12"
Congratulations too all!
And because Art at the Mill processes their art shows through ArtCall.org (https://artatthemillfall2025.artcall.org/), on the day of or just before, the art gallery online will become available online alphabetically by artists and you can literally watch almost live, as items sell for the duration of the show. Pretty cool, right. And sell - yes, a lot of art does sell. Let's hope our art does too!
Are you a PWAS Member that entered Art at the Mill for this Fall Show? Send me your info to add to this post!
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
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 (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
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.
The
Prince William Art Society (PWAS) Artistry Spin Blog will explore the
use of technology and its impact on the world of art. There are so many
tools and resources that can benefit the artists to not only create
artwork, but to inspire them, to share their work with the world and to
potentially sell their artwork. We'll review and offer suggestions on
some of the top trending tech on the web, popular for artists, and those
wanting to find out more about art, and perhaps, YOUR art.
Art Today Goes Way Beyond the Canvas
Or perhaps the subtitle should say CAN go beyond the canvas. The choice is the artist's as to which technology available on any given day is of interest to them and what they want to be creative with.
Galleries,
curators, and art show spaces today make decisions on what they want to
include in their displays and what they will or will not include as art
changes over time and the mediums used. Many calls for art do not include digital art, or AI created artworks. Therein lies the controversy some may say.
A side note in that respect is that ANY art space HAS the ultimate right to include what they want in their call for art, no matter how you understand or sit on the idea. You don't agree with their decision? Move on to the next art call.
Artists have ever more avenues to create art, show, and share art. The world can be your canvas, not just in a small gallery in a small town somewhere.
Who art thou leads us to have a look at some of the terminology, the acronyms, and
sometimes controversial technologies available for artists - of which a
lot of it has been around a lot longer than you might think.
You may have seen this type of video before and it is very cool. Be there without getting out the passport.
AI - Artificial Intelligence
AI
is such an odd name for this HUGE topic - isn't it saying 'fake
smarts'? Artificial Intelligence is the use of a machine (a computer,
smartphone, software programs) to perform tasks, decisions, problem
solving, and potentially choices, that would pre-AI, be performed by
human intelligence. It mimics human brain function.
And
the perhaps scary thought that some AI can learn and adapt to
supposedly improve over time by identifying patterns used to make
predictions for future choices is built into some of the technologies to
make them 'smarter'.
An interesting note is the thought of labeling your 'nonmachine, nondigital' art as 'human-made'.
Label by Human Artist Donna Liguria
AI Visual Art
Paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, printmaking, ceramics (the visual arts) that are created (generated or enhanced) by using artificial intelligence programs.
Algorithmic Art (Algorithm Art)
Visual art for which the design was generated by an algorithm often with very intricate patterns, that probably could not be sketched by hand.
AR - Augmented Reality
Overlays
digital information (computer-generated sounds, images, or other
sensory stimulation) onto the real world of the user's reality.
Datamoshing
The intentional technique of distorting a digital video file compression info to create glitchy effects.
Digital Art
Digital Art is art created with computer, computer software and other technologies. This simple description doesn't really describe this form of art as well as it should.
This is the UK version of Adobe, but this article was interesting. What is digital art? It describes digital art as "being real art, its just a different way of working"
Also see:
Digital 2D Animation
Digital 3D Sculpting
Digital 3D Modeling
Digital 3D Animation
Digital Art Installation
Digital Collage
A digital graphic art that is like an onion and all those layers. Layers of images, concepts, and textures stacked on top of each other combined in order to compose an entirely new composition.
Dynamic Painting
A digital art technology that adds the perception of movement interactivity and participation.
Email Art
Artwork created for email. Animations, screensavers, computer graphics, digital scans of artwork.
Fractal Art
"Fractal Art is a form ofalgorithmic artcreated by calculatingfractalobjects and representing the calculation results as still digital images, animations, andmedia." - Wikipedia
Generative Art
"Generative artispost-conceptual artthat has been created (in whole or in part) with the use of anautonomoussystem. Anautonomous systemin this context is generally one that is non-human and can independently determine features of an artwork that would otherwise require decisions made directly by the artist. In some cases the human creator may claim that thegenerative systemrepresents their own artistic idea, and in others that the system takes on the role of the creator." - Wikipedia
Internet Art (Net Art, Web Art)
This type of new media art that usually offers some manner of interactive or some sort of participation.
Non-Fungible Token - For the definition of this one I HAD to go to AI:
"An NFT, or Non-Fungible Token, is essentially a digital certificate of ownership recorded on a secure digital ledger called a blockchain. Think of it like a unique digital signature that proves you own a specific digital or physical item, such as artwork, music, videos, collectibles, or even virtual real estate.
Non-fungiblemeans each NFT is one-of-a-kind and cannot be exchanged for another identical item because each has distinct properties and can have a different value. In contrast,fungibleitems, like a dollar bill or a cryptocurrency coin, are interchangeable because they hold the same value.
Digital art:NFTs can represent ownership of unique digital artworks, images, and videos, including famous examples like CryptoPunks and Bored Ape Yacht Club."
When you spend ANY time on social media, you will be approached by someone wanting to purchase your art as a NFT. Also noted in the AI explanation of NFT that it says that there is a LOT of ongoing fraud and scams as it is an emerging technology, and note the value fluctuates considerably.
I've steered clear of any of these requests but I'd love to hear if anyone has had any experience with NFTs.
Photomanipulation (Photo Painting)
The human imagination is a wonderful, beautiful, and crazy thing at times. We've all seen photographs of things that at first glance appear to be one thing, but then with some additional manipulation by the artist, the photo goes somewhere else entirely.
This form of digital art is a combination of various digital images and/or photographs altering the outcome into a new artwork. Adjustments can be color alterations, cropping, adding and removing objects, and the applications of textures or other effects to get the desired outcome.
A pixel is an element of a picture and is the smallest single point (a dot) on a grid that represents not only a specific color, but a brightness value within that image as seen on our smartphones and computer screens.
Pixel Art is a from of digital art that manipulates the images and its dots at the pixel level.
QR Codes
Our art group PWAS has used several different QR Codes in the last few years. We've used them to lead the viewer to more information about our nonprofit art group - to our website, to our art store for some art shows, and to our membership page, and donation pages. The link in the QR code has been used to show you a menu too.
QR Codes are a type of 2-D matrix barcode that the viewer scans with their smartphone camera, which brings up the appropriate link to the page destination.
When PWAS was at a gallery in our past, we had several artists that used QR Code Art. On a label or signage there is a QR code printed. The viewer can scan the code with their phones while in the gallery and access information about the artwork. This may include artist info, the price, more of the artist's work, or a VR experience. And the VR experience was very impressive movement on the artwork.
QR codes have even made their way into becoming the art and being embedded on the art.
Social Media Platform Technologies
Artists can use selected social media platforms to present their artwork, to engage with their followers, and to build their community of art fans.
Choose the platform(s) that work for you, like Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter/X, TikToc, DevianArt, Behance, LinkedIn, Twitch, Dribble, The Dots, Tumblr, Dayflash, Discord.
Choose the places where your potential fans (art collectors, friends, family) can be found and learn about the tools and resources the platform offers to best present your artwork.
When people Like and Share, engage with them and thank them.
Your community of art fans that you build will be curious when you taunt them with upcoming new art, tell them about upcoming shows and events, and more.
Find and pick the platform(s) that work for you - just be consistent, be real, be intentional, just BE there. Sure, experiment and try them out for awhile to find what works for you, but understand that it all takes time.
Vector Art
A type of digital art that is created by using shapes, lines, points, and curves based on mathematical formulas / equations that are scalable without blurring or losing quality. Commonly used to create logos, illustrations and icons.
VFX - Visual Effects
Let's go again to the AI definition:
"VFX, or visual effects, is the process of creating and manipulating imagery that cannot be achieved through traditional on-set filming. It involves using computer-generated imagery (CGI), live-action footage, and other techniques to enhance or create scenes that would be impossible or impractical to film in reality."
VR - Virtual Reality
A
completely simulated environment, computer-generated, a 3-D world,
usually seen in virtual tourism, gaming, and training simulations.
There are certainly other technologies out there and I am sure more is in development even as you read this.
Technical Art Fundamental Foundations
When it comes to the visual arts in any form, style or into the future, the basic technical foundations will always be there and must be learned because they construct the beauty, the balance, and truth of the arts.
Perspective, Form, Composition, Value and Lighting, Anatomy - any of the technology or medium we use, these are the fundamentals
Many
artists are still questioning....I wanted to type the "rights" and
"wrongs" of computer-generated art, as in, "Is it real art?" But we know
that honestly, there isn't really any right or wrong precisely in art. There are
better techniques to create a thing, draw, or paint it, and have it last over time - and the so called "rules" are often broken to great effect. The
experimentation of any of these technologies will be ongoing, refined, and change, perhaps for the better - Much like good quality paints and varnishes have evolved over
the years.
I came across this article called "When Machines Change Art" which starts off with, "At a few times in history, new technologies came along that changed the way we make art. Machines, chemicals, and/or algorithms replaced some of the steps that artists did, changing how we made art—and, sometimes, radically transforming what we thought think art is." by Aaron Hertzmann
Who knows where the future of art will go. Many calls for art (art calls) may limit the art submitted and be restrictive to digital art and other forms of computer-generated artworks. They are sticking to the more traditional forms of art made via a canvas, a board surface, or paper with colors applied in various media like oil, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, etc.
People sit on both sides of the argument. I've seen absolutely outstanding digital art and if you've seen PWAS Member, Tom Payne's artwork, I consider him as a very successful digital artists in our group. Do a search on Tom Payne in this blog and you'll probably come across some of his work.
Where are you standing when it comes to Technology and Art?
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
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 (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
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.
Calls for Art are interesting yet contemplative things for an artist. When a call for art shows up in your inbox or you see one in your social media, one of the first things you take note of is the title of the show. One of the next questions (for me at least), is where is it? This blog post looks at some of the perplexing art show themes, titles and other things where artists end up scratching their heads and going, "Hmmm".
I do realize of course that art galleries / art spaces need to name their upcoming scheduled art shows something. I could be wrong, but I'm thinking its more for the public's interest and promoting it than for the artist's sake except that how else are you going to refer to it? A call for art / art show name can make it appealing and a curiosity to the public and make it stand out, to even be a memorable event. Understood.
You can't very well name them "January", "February", "March", etc. for a lot of reasons. Many art shows don't sit in exactly those time frames either. So, what's in a name? I suppose a lot.
"Hey, do you remember that art show we did a couple of years ago called 'Coloring the County'?" - Yes, that name works better than saying, "Do you remember that art show we did in May 2022?" AND the name was pretty generic - a vague hint of submitting some colorful artwork... more or less.
And then there are the typical art show names, like "Art in Motion (insert whatever)...", "A Journey Through(insert whatever)...", and "Art Unleashed (insert whatever)...". Hmmmm. I'm thinking bicycling, traveling in my car, and freeing my canvases...
And THEN the questions that must be answered for you to figure out if you can enter the show:
Does the time frame work for me - from drop off/pickup and actual show dates?
Does the art I have fit the size or medium requirements they are asking for?
Does the location work for me - how far away is it?
Yes, location. As inWHERE the heck IS IT?I come across a lot of art calls online BUT finding out what state or city or even the country the thing is in is absolutely missing. Put out a APB to find that art show! Very often I have to do an internet search to find out WHERE it is! Maybe its me, but I think that's an important thing to PUT ON THE ART CALL. Last I remember, the internet is global.
And finally...
What is the art theme, and what the heckles are they asking for? There are titles I have puzzled over definitely. I don't like the idea of submitting my art to the show and hoping it fits the puzzle.
Hmmm. Google needs to come up with an art show app to decipher the names of art shows. Does anyone have an app for that?
Is the name actually the theme of art they want you to submit or it is just a generic name of the show?
"April Showers Bring May Flowers" is rather obvious. "A Sense of Play - Young at Heart" would leave me baffled. Whimsical art maybe?
The art call should spell it all out for you - IN YOUR FACE! I'm talking neon light here in some fancy colors.
Like:
"OPEN CALL - Landscape"
Ok easy enough there, they want landscapes. K.I.S.S.
"Call for Art Word and Image"
Also pretty easy, they want some kind of image and some text on the art in some manner. Whoever can mix that up in a meaningful and delightful way gets in I presume.
Befuddling Art Show Names
I can't be the only one here...How many of you have read the title of the art show and thought, "What the heck are they asking for?" And they want you to write up a statement about the art that you submit for it! Including how your artwork reflects that theme. Hmmmm.
I did just come across an art call like this: "Call for Artists - Get ready for the biggest art show of the year! 8' x 8' Small Canvas Art Show".Do you see the problem with that one?
Even "Emerging Artists" shows -hey I'm still emerging.I haven't been doing art all that long. Or are they asking for the spring chickens here?
Sometimes you just must bring out the soapbox (maybe in this instance I should say the pochade box) and say a thing on your mind. Sure, it is good to have an interesting and appealing name for an art show's call for art. But I do like the clarity of a oh, they want THIS kind of art. Just hopefully, I have something that will fit the moniker.
I'd love to hear some art show names that have puzzled you as well. Drop a comment!
Author: Donna Liguria is the Blogmaster for the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and Donna's Cave Paintings Blog, and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, Virginia. And she takes on the PWAS social media duties as well (help me!) Donna specializes in acrylic painting of landscapes, seascapes, historic locations, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com and her Donna's Esty site to shop her art.
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 (typically, but check the website in case of any changes).
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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