Thursday, November 14, 2024

Post 361: BRS Bird Watching

Painting Name: BRS Bird Watching

Having grown up at Blue Ridge Shores in Louisa, Virginia, I keep my eyes open for spots around the lake and great photos of the area that I might be interested in painting. This is the second photograph taken by Peter Olsen that I have asked for permission to use as inspiration artwork.


SKU: 10AO24ACG
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 14x14x1.5 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2024
Framed?: No

What Brought About this Painting?

Peter Olsen comes back to Blue Ridge Shores typically several times each summer and on Facebook, I often find and see the results of his camera. Always great photographs from around the lake, which goes by its acronym BRS and sometimes Lake Louisa. This summer of course, with the water level lowered because of the work being done on the new dam, all of the new growth of grasses made for a much different visual than is the usual. Nonetheless, Peter caught a Blue Heron and a White Egret in one photo, which also caught my eye.

I added the duck and the cardinal. Look closely to find the cardinal...

This painting is called "BRS Bird Watching" and is 14x14 painted with acrylics on a gallery wrapped canvas. I plan to bring this painting with me to the BRS Craft Fair held at the BRS Community Building on Saturday, November 23, 2024 in Louisa, Virginia.

The first photo by Peter that I asked permission to use was of an old pier on one side of the lake that was for all intents and purposes abandoned and left in disrepair for years. This is my version of his photograph, and I added a flying Blue Heron going past the broken down decking.

This painting is called "A Day at Blue Ridge Shores" and is 24x24 in acrylics on a gallery wrapped canvas. This one I will bring to the Fair as well.

See you at the Fair!
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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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Monday, November 11, 2024

Post 360: Stormy Seas

Painting Name: Stormy Seas

A big bolt of lightening over a stormy sea at night highlights this large painting by Donna Liguria of Woodbridge, Virginia. 

SKU: 10AN24ACG
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 16x40 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2024
Framed?: No

A Painting in Progress

The first picture has the painting well on its way to conclusion but you will see a few updates. The finished painting is at the end.

10/25/24 "Stormy Seas" in progress above
Update 11/1/2024 "Stormy Seas" in Acrylic, added the moon

And the final update to "Stormy Seas" just prior to varnishing. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Post 359: Visiting Family, Winery, and Shopping

Visiting Family, a Winery, and Shopping

Tuesday, November 5 to Saturday, November 9, 2024 - Roadtrip! Yes, Election Day - first I voted here at home in Woodbridge, VA then drove to Charlottesville, VA. There was an obvious difference in the drive this year compared to the last Election in 2020 that told me the outcome of the day. I know that mostly Northern Virginia and major coastal cities lean one direction and typically the more rural areas lean another. 

I shouldn't have to do this but let me state here - EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion. Period. All lives matter as well as all votes. It is the way America was created and I have always believed that America is the best place to be born and to live. And Virginia is pretty awesome too in so many ways.

Anyway, the difference was that the signs typically found in the rural areas FAR EXCEEDED any of the signs found in the city for the entire trip that I noticed. Even here around the Lake Ridge area. And what I did see wasn't as I expected to see. My guess is surprisingly, the Trump signs outnumbered the Harris signs about 20 to 1. That told me the outcome of the day, and it was correct.

The decision was made months ago for Election night, to meet at my Aunt's house in Charlottesville and watch the Election 2024 results come in with my mom and another Aunt, so we did. And if the voting gave us the results we all hoped for, we would go the next day to - where else in Virginia, near Charlottesville, would be an awesome place to celebrate the day?....well here - at Trump Winery. It was a good idea. And we were up until 3 am to see those results.

This photo above, was taken in the summer of 2023.

What Better Place for Us to Celebrate?

Once again, we were given a very beautiful day and crazy warm weather. Here are various photos taken from the gorgeous Trump Winery which is located just past Thomas Jefferson's Monticello outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. 

The food is excellent and of course, the wine is too. What also made the day so awesome, was the absolute joy of the visitors who were garbed in every conceivable red, white and blue and Trump gear imaginable. (AND shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses in NOVEMBER!) The folks all around you and walking past were happy, smiling and wishing each other a pleasant day. The staff as well. I cannot remember being anywhere except in some churches where folks would pause long enough to say, "nice to meet you", "where are you from", "have a GREAT DAY!!" and to wish you well. With genuine happy hearts.

Some of my photos from around the Winery. Click on a photo to enlarge.







All along the very long fence line were American Flags which I believe were posted in the summer of 2024. We had visited the Winery back in May 2024 and the flags were not there. I know some family visited in July and they spoke of all the rows of America's colors - and they are still there. For miles. 

With the Trump Winery being the largest winery on the East Coast, that's a lot of fencing on the road. And a LOT of flags.


Notice Trump Winery across the way. We didn't take the time to stop at the new Cidery that recently opened across the street behind this photo. That will have to be on another visit.


A cousin met us for lunch, helping to make for a thoroughly enjoyable day. It's NOVEMBER and we are in T-shirts! Luckily, we got there minutes before it opened and were the first to order. The lines started forming quickly - and the parking lots filled to capacity. More happy people coming to celebrate!






On Thursday, November 7, my Aunt, Mom and I went to Lynchburg for some consignment and thrift Store shopping - and it was my Mom's birthday. Another celebration!

There is something so grand to find treasures amongst all the goodies at thrift stores. And why pay full price when consignment store items often still have the price tags on merchandise that were never worn or used but are priced FAR less? And while we were there, I snapped a few photos...



The rain lasted all of about a minute. We actually had rainbow first, before the rain. We stopped for a bite to eat and got Nothing Bundt Cakes.

A hole in the sky

My Mom and I went to Louisa on Friday, November 8 - where my Mom lives as well as one of my Brothers and Sis-in-laws. I came on home Saturday, November 9. A great couple of road trips and many thanks to a gracious God for a very special week trekking across Virginia.

I'll note here that the comments added are monitored so play nice.

For the Beauty of the Earth 

by Folliott S. Pierpoint


  1. For the beauty of the earth,
    For the glory of the skies,
    For the love which from our birth
    Over and around us lies—
    • Refrain:
      Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
      This our hymn of grateful praise.
  2. For the wonder of each hour,
    Of the day and of the night,
    Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
    Sun and moon, and stars of light—
  3. For the joy of human love,
    Brother, sister, parent, child,
    Friends on earth and friends above,
    For all gentle thoughts and mild—
  4. For Thy church that evermore
    Lifteth holy hands above,
    Off’ring up on every shore
    Her pure sacrifice of love—

  1. See also A Short Trip To Charlottesville 
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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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




Friday, October 25, 2024

Post 358: Piedmont Regional at The Plains

Piedmont Regional Art Show at The Plains

The 76th Annual Piedmont Regional Art Show at The Plains was Friday, October 18 to Sunday, October 20, 2024 at Grace Episcopal Church. Located at 6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198, Sandra McClelland Lewin and I made the roadtrip to drop off our art to this very nice art show again this year.

https://www.piedmontartshow.org/


And for the drop off and the art reception, we ran into several artists we know.













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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Post 357: Plein Air Painting with Michele Frantz

Plein Air Painting with Michele Frantz

On Saturday, October 19, 2024, I met with several local artists for a Plein Air Class with Michele Frantz at the Occoquan Regional Park at a very cool 9am. The artists circled around Michele, who gave us instructions and tips, and showed us samples of her plein air sketches, thumbnails and equipment.

Michele's Umbrella was definitely a topic of interest as far as tools of the trade. The 9 artists had questions on everything and were enthralled to hear the various ideas on "painting hacks". Michele showed the artists her thumbnail quick sketches that captured various points of interests around the shore line of the Occoquan River. 

Finally, she released the Kracken, well the artists...and off we went. 

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Plein Air Painting Down by the River

Tasked with a few projects from Ms Frantz, the artists quickly spread out to find their starting points. Some did the sketching tasks, others jumped right into the painting. All scattered about finding their perfect spots to paint from.
 
For myself, that also involved capturing some snapshots of what I might like to paint along with the lighting that only stays "just so" for a such a very brief time. And of course, some things like wildlife (birds, ducks), boats (and kayaks), a cloud (which were at zero this day), the waves, etc last such a short amount of time, get it while you see it. You can always add in these interesting points later if you like.

Not sure we could have asked for a prettier day even if it did start with that chilly air. It quickly became quite a comfortable day with big blue sky, blue water and fall happening all around us.



These delightful and hungry ducks came along and studied us for awhile. Art critics, bah. They didn't have any helpful tips to add. Of note, if you look especially close at the tree trunk, there is a red and white fishing bobbin. 



The kayakers were a load of entertainment as it was possibly their first time. We enjoying listening to their antics. 

I take so many pictures to emphasize the quickly and ever changing light through the trees landing on the surfaces to show all the options provided while plein air painting. 



Of course, the light coming through the trees onto my canvas on my easel was snapshot worthy too.


When the light hit just right, you could see various fishing lines streaming and sparkling from the trees, along with a second bobbin hanging from the tree just beyond this painter.


The beauty of plein air painting is painting what you see AND leaving out what you don't want to see.




Our plein air artists regathered at 12:45 to see how we were doing and ask any final questions. Of special interest to all were the various equipment and ideas that everyone uses to get the job done.

One of the artists left earlier but the rest of us collected what we created and had a great discussion on what we did.







Of particular interest was this u.go™ Anywhere™ Pochade Box of which 2 of the artists had on hand.

https://www.jerrysartarama.com/u-go-plein-air-anywhere-pochade-box-and-accessories

https://www.amazon.com/u-go-Plein-Anywhere-Pochade-x11-25/dp/B07F8XMTPN?th=1



After the Plein Air Painting

This was my first time plein air painting -outdoors- with acrylic paint. I must say I struggled with getting the colors where I wanted in the time available. Of course, when you are new to painting outdoors, it also takes some configuring on setting up your supplies as well, so there was that too. Kudos to those that are up and running in mere minutes.

My question is - can you still call it plein air painting when you take it home to your studio and finish it up? 

This blog post was written on Wednesday, October 23 - so 4 days after the class. Here's a picture of my painting on where it's at - at the moment. There are a few more things I'd like to do to it, but I am getting closer to happy.


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Let me know if you like my paintings and if you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member. If you want to commission me to do a painting for you, please contact me through this blog, on Facebook, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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