Post 474: Composition Part 6. The Use of Repeated Elements, Patterns

Composition Part 6. The Use of Repeated Elements, Patterns

Part 6 of 21 of my series on Composition

We humans just love looking at and for patterns and repetitions wherever we can find them. Compositions can be made quite powerful using color, shapes, lighting, and other options with repeated elements. When composing your art, you may only need to shift to the left or right, up or down to change the perspective of the pattern but in photography especially, look for variations in your angle to capture the patterns and repetitions.

There is a symmetry in repetition that is very powerful when captured correctly. Repetitions can occur naturally or be man-made. It is said that man-made repetitions are easier to spot than the ones made by nature. Sometimes you need to zoom in to see the patterns, but often, they are there.

The human eye sees these patterns and repetitions and tries to process them. To group them, to count them - it's what we do. We like order.

Photo by Chris Curry on Unsplash

Types of Repetitive Patterns:

• Color Repetition
• Shapes
• Opposing Patterns
• Abstract Patterns 
• Organic Patterns
  

A few notes on repetition and pattern:

• Element repetition creates a pattern.
  
• Repetition patterns cannot exist without at least three repetitions - more is better, odd numbers are best.
  
• Try zooming in on the repetition and fill the frame (or canvas)
• Or try to break the pattern, with either some extra space, or an unexpected pop of color 
• Architectural images lend themselves easily to patterns.

Here is a good article on Patterns and Repetition in Composition for more info on this subject. On this subject. On this subject.

This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts!

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!

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Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.

Post 473: New Mount Vernon Historic Virginia Home Series Painting

Painting Name: Mount Vernon 2 Historic Virginia Home Series

To paint a historic landmark that is easily recognized was a plan after visiting Mount Vernon again in June 2026, especially for celebrating America's 250. The very cool thing about these very famous historic homes, is they are often recognized from both the front and the back. If your patriotic little heart is a history buff like mine, you might enjoy this look at Mount Vernon from the front lawn - the view that even in George Washington's time, so many visitors (and there were many) had as they rode up to visit George and Martha Washington, our Nation's First President.

SKU: 06O26ACG

Medium: Acrylic, Acrylic Markers

Size: 11x14x1.5 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2026

Framed?: No

I believe the painting is on the verge of being finished. It's been on the easel since June for goodness sake! A tweak or two may be on its timeline yet.

I painted a previous Mount Vernon (1) Historic Virginia Home painting that has since sold. That painting was from the back side of the Estate from the Potomac River. The story on that painting is here Mount Vernon Historical Virginia Home and it involved a boat ride out on the river.

As said above, I recently went to Mount Vernon again, and took a lot of pictures, you can see my adventure here in 2 parts, and I hope you enjoy:

Mount Vernon Revisited Part 1

Revisiting Mount Vernon Part 2

That's one thing about visiting Mount Vernon, when you go, book a ticket in advance, for the lines are long so there is LOTS of time to chat with the folks in line around you and take zillions of pictures as you approach the mansion. 

Historic Virginia Home Series

What is the Virginia Historic Home Series?

The series began with:

1. Mount Vernon 1 - in Fairfax County, VA on the Potomac River (Sold)

2. Monticello, Charlottesville Virginia

3. Governor's Mansion in Richmond, VA

4. Gunston Hall in Mason Neck, VA near the Potomac River (Sold)

5. Rosemont in Berryville, VA (Gifted)

6. Mount Vernon 2 - this blog post

I do love Virginia and its varied history. And what a deep, rich history is found across the state.

Does anyone have any suggestions for the next one historic Virginia Home? Drop a comment below... Although I am hoping to go to Charlottesville again this fall and revisit Monticello again and I want to stop at Montpelier, the home of James Madison, our Fourth President. Even though I have lived all around Virginia, I haven't been to this home as yet.

Have you seen my Washington DC in 4 Seasons Series? I have 4 different historic landmarks in the Nation's Capital in each season. All of them are sold but I do have Prints.

Check Availability and Prints in my Etsy Shop DonnaLiguriaArt
https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!

_________________________

Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.

Post 472: Composition Part 5. Subject Symmetry and Visual Balance

Composition Part 5. Subject Symmetry and Visual Balance

Part 5 of 21 of my Composition Series

Visual Balance in art is described as, "when an Artist distributes the forms, color, line, and other elements of art to spread out in the space. Balance is one of the Principles of Art and Design and an essential one. People who do not understand balance in arts will feel that something is not right in the artwork." - From Madhansart.com

Learn About Dynamic Symmetry: Improve Your Compositions!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW8UDJZcgfM

Cody Ling

If your subject(s) are balanced across the canvas it could be that a visually heavy single item on one side is balanced by several smaller items on the other side. For instance, a single large tree to one side of the canvas has a grouping of smaller trees across from it. This helps to visually balance the design, not only with the number, but the 'weight' is distributed, via the colors, numbers, sizes, etc. Sort of like a balance on a scale of a single object may weigh the same as many objects on the other side.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash 

The balance in the image should be from left to the right, from top to the bottom and from foreground to background. Water reflections are very cool and interesting ways to show symmetry.

Photo by Matt Gross on Unsplash

This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts!

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!

_________________________

Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.

Post 471: Fall Art at the Mill 2026, Here We Come!

Fall Art at the Mill 2026, Here We Come!

Friday, August 7, 2026. Notification Day arrives! The waiting is over to learn my artwork's fate, and maybe for you too. Did our artwork get int? Was it accepted? Was it rejected? The biannual art show at the Burwell-Morgan Mill called Art at the Mill gave us our fates.

AATM Saturday, September 19 to October 4, 2026

The Fall Art at the Mill art show sent us our email notifications today, letting each of us know what got in and what did not.

The show is set to open on Saturday, September 19 and runs through Sunday, October 4, 2026. The Artist Reception is Sunday, September 27 from 2-5.

Where is it? 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA at the Historic Burwell-Morgan Mill. The Mill holds a biannual art show in the Spring and Fall and well worth the travel from Woodbridge, VA. Around 1000 artworks JURIED IN from about 300 artists. See my past posts about Art at the Mill for lots of pictures.

Click on any photo to enlarge.

Who got in? Here are a couple of my art friends that got in the show...

Sandra McClelland Lewin

Here are the 3 I got juried in:

The Mum & the Grasshopper

20 x 20 acrylic $650

Celtic Crows

20 x 24 Acrylic/Silver leaf $575

Marsh Life

24 x 30 Acrylic $1200

Bettie Sperty

Bettie got all 5 of her entries in!! Here are 4 of her 5.

Donna Liguria

Occasionally I will paint something with the intention of it being submitted to a particular art show, and what a relief when the do accept it or them! Otherwise, what do you do with them?!? I painted a series of Millstones with a total of 4 in the series. So 3 of the 4 were accepted and here are pictures of the 4 of my submissions that got in to Art at the Mill:

Millstone 1 Burwell Morgan Mill Series Acrylic 10x10x1.5 $235

Millstone 2 Burwell Morgan Mill Series Acrylic 10x10x1.5 $235

Millstone 3 did not get juried in. It happens.

Millstone 4 Burwell Morgan Mill Series Acrylic 10x10x1.5 $275

Fishing at the Occoquan River Acrylic 11x14x.75 Framed $335

Rebekah Keener

The crane one is "Idle Speed," 11"x14," acrylic, and $425.

"I Moth Ask You a Question," 8"x8" acrylic, $250 

Artists - I say it every year - you should enter this show OR at a minimum, go see it to experience it!

Art Lovers searching for art they love to go in their homes or offices, to give as gifts, to collect - with around 1000 artworks from artists all over Virginia - the selection is HUGE and quite a variety in styles! So go see this show!

And sometime on Friday, September 18 - the Gallery Tab will open on the website and you can see https://artatthemillfall2026.artcall.org/ all of the artwork (and purchase it - but you must go there to pick it up).

Art at the Mill, Burwell-Morgan Mill from Woodbridge, VA

A congratulations to everyone - just getting in to this show is wonderful!

We so look forward to the Art at the Mill every year and we hope you make the trip out to see this always spectacular art show. Hopefully the weather stays great because it is a very scenic drive - and coming from Woodbridge, a couple of great wineries along the way.

Drop a comment below to congratulate the art girls!!

See That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notifications 

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!

_________________________

Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.

Post 470: My New YouTube Channel Called "In Donna's World"

My New YouTube Channel Called "In Donna's World" 

I bit the bullet. I made a YouTube Video Channel and have begun the process of learning the intricacies of making videos, slideshows, shorts, editing, and adding audio. Getting your artwork out to the world and all that jazz on Social Media is a blessing and a curse, wouldn't you say? 

Creating a YouTube Channel and Videos

I've hesitated for a long, LONG time, but finally this week, I jumped into the tube...well YouTube. I don't like pictures of myself. I don't like listening to myself. I don't want to be in a video and always considered that I am terrible in pictures. But YouTube can be a great way to get your art seen. To tell your story. To show the world what you do, what you think, what inspires you. Terrible dilemma and I would think a lot of artists feel my pain.

Deciding to finally take the plunge, I know this will be awkward, I'll be nervous. I will edit. Re-edit. Edit the Re-edit. To Edit-finity and beyond! 

I suppose I'm starting off the easy way and putting slideshows together of various artworks and the occasional video I've taken. I plan to make process videos while creating my art and show art receptions, art galleries, and more. That's all a part of my world at this time of life...hence In Donna's World.

I've also read that people want to see the mistakes, the nervousness, the real you. Perhaps to prove you are real and not AI. But then again, artificial intelligence...isn't that what bravery at times? Well, here we go!

Here are a several of my first Videos and Shorts on YouTube. My Channel is called "In Donna's World" and found at https://www.youtube.com/@donnaliguria

Historic Virginia Artwork on In Donna's World - YouTube

The Making of Saltwater Aquarium in Shorts on In Donna's World - YouTube

My Island Paradise in a Red Dress on In Donna's World - YouTube

Washington DC in 4 Seasons Series In Donna's World - YouTube

Bear with me as the learning curve and the courage curve (to put myself in front of camera) are steep in the process of putting yourself out there. It is amazing all the hats an artist MUST put on, when honestly, all they want to do is have paint brush in hand and putting that paint on the canvas in front of them.

And I would appreciate your support and help in getting this Channel off the ground by doing the subscribe, comments, the likes, and your encouragement. Those watches and clicks help build the numbers on YouTube. Thank you all for your help!

YouTube In Donna's World - YouTube

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!

_________________________

Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.

Post 469: Composition Part 4. Add Energy with Diagonal Lines

Composition Part 4. Add Energy with Diagonal Lines

Part 4 of 21 of my series on Composition. Part 3 was on "Leading Lines"

It is said that the use of vertical lines add strength and that horizontal lines can create stability in an image. Then we toss in diagonal lines and we may get dynamic tension, uncertainty - and possibly an interesting engaging energy when we get 'leaning lines'.

When using diagonal lines, be rather obvious about it, and take the intersection off the frame or have it come from or into a corner. If you are too subtle with diagonals it may look more like a mistake than an intentional decision.

Get those "triangles" in there too!

Photo by Victoria Druc on Unsplash 

Suggested reading: The Use of Diagonal Lines in Photography Composition

This is part of a series of blog posts on the guidelines, or rules of composition. Look for all of them in the Search this Blog feature at the top right by searching for the word "composition". I hope you enjoy the posts - let me know in the comments below!

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!______________

Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.

Post 468: Perspective Part 2. Two-Point

Perspective Part 2. Two-Point 

Perspective is defined as a "view or vista" and gives the artist a way to show the appearance of depth and distance in art. Various focal points can be used to make the art subject on a canvas or paper appear three dimensional. This is Part 2 on a series on perspective, so whether you are new at it or old hat, a refresher may help get the techniques just so.

Two-Point Perspective

When your artwork subject is a building, a structure, a street corner, a cityscape, when the view is at an angle, you'll need to understand 2-point perspective. There is a horizon line and 2 vanishing points spaced apart on that horizon, which gives the artwork a better 3D view of the buildings, streets, a fence line, etc, receding into the distance.

How to Draw a City Using Two Point Perspective

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNq78n02fMQ

Photo by Dawid Zawiła on Unsplash

The features are:

1. 2 Vanishing Points
2. Horizon Lines
3. Orthogonal Lines

When drawing and painting any architectural forms, cityscapes, pathways, roads, illustrating an interior room, or furniture arrangements, use 2-point perspective to give a more realistic representation of the space - in 3D.

A good beginner how-to is here if you need to brush up on your skills: 2 Pt. Perspective Drawing

Photo by Kamilla Isalieva on Unsplash

Do you have any tips to share about perspective? Drop a comment below.

See Perspective Part One - One Point here - a good read on the basics and terminology of Perspective

@2026 Donna Liguria. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction is prohibited without permission

Like my content? Follow my Blog in the top right navigation!

_________________________

Author: Donna Liguria  is the Blogmaster for Donna's Cave Paintings and an artist member of the Prince William Art Society (PWAS) in Woodbridge, VA. Donna specializes in acrylic paintings 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.

 *I LOVE reading your comments on my posts! Just remember that the blog comments are monitored so they may not appear right away.