Post 465: Selling Your Art Part 3 - Sell the Artist

Selling Your Art Part 3 - Sell the Artist 

How to sell your art online or in person is what nearly all artists ask about at some point. This blog post is part 3 of the 3 part series on Selling Your Art. 

See Selling Your Art Part 1 - In Person and Part 2 Selling Your Art - Online

Photo by Kiril Krsteski on Unsplash

Nitty Gritty on How to Sell Your Art 

NO ONE is searching for you or your art, your website, your art show.

YOU must be the one to get your art "out there" so that it can be seen and potentially purchased. No one else is. 

UNDERSTAND your niche and style of art to build your understanding toward who your potential clients are in order to get your art in front of them and to TALK about your art.

A good article: How to Sell Your Art: 4 Things Art Buyer Really Want... 

Now let's take a look at the actual HOW YOU can sell YOURSELF.

Apply to art shows.

There are art spaces where your art must speak for itself - sort of. Many of the art galleries, shows, or exhibits you have your art in is run by staff and you are not physically there except perhaps on the day of the art reception. In this regard, you will or should be actively promoting your art on display on social media, local event avenues, friends, family, art followers, invitations to neighbors, etc.

Ask other artist where they were successful, what platforms they used, what art shows are good to attend, what typically sells at those shows and galleries. 

Then there are art shows, popup art shows, group art shows where you are on stage. Your vendor booth is when you are the person tapped to make the sale. Have a gander at this video:

 

Sales Tips for Live Art Shows by ArtsyShark Carolyn Edlund

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wi82l2w5Mw 

This is an excellent watch for ALL PWAS Members! 

Notice all the tips...

1. Greeting

2. Be prepared to engage

3. Listen to them

4. Ask questions

5. Place item in their hands (a little tougher with a painting, any ideas with this one?)

6. Include everyone in their party

7. Eye contact!

8. Child with party? Bubblewrap diversion

 

I would add to stand up when people come to your booth space. AND Stay off your phone. Create a script for yourself so you can reference it, memorize it. Many of us are not outgoing, so we need the help in speaking with people so we can make the sale. These tips work well with individual artist shows as well as art group shows.

See Lessons Learned at an Outdoor/Indoor Art Show 

"I certainly have not the talent which some people possess, of conversing easily  with those I have never seen before. I cannot catch their tone of conversation, or appear interested in their concerns, as I often see done." - Mr Darcy. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. And remember how Miss Elizabeth replies? Practice.

If you need to, create a script and memorize it!

Important to Remember:  people do not always buy artwork because its the greatest artwork in existence. They may buy artwork because of the artist. The buyer and artist have built a relationship, a connection. 

 Budget-Friendly Art Market Tips & DIY Display Hacks for Art Panel Walls

From Cassie's Colorful Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jkFX8XbhdE 

 Some great tips all around - after all, the reason you are doing art shows is to sell art, right? 

10 Rules to Selling Your Art at Art Fairs and Events by Dave Makes Things

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

Art Ideas Toward Making Income

Although the artist's ultimate goal may be the creation and selling of the own original artworks, there are other ways for the artist to earn income to support their art career. The sale of original artwork is a one-by-one process but these other ideas may offer ways to generate income as well. Do remember, some of these ideas will require a LOT of traffic, followers, and extensive marketing, as always - do the research and find what will work for you and your skills.

• Teaching art classes and workshops.
• Create and sell online courses.
• Craft fairs, art markets, farmers markets, art festivals, art or gallery walks, art crawls - wherever you can connect with a variety of people, collect emails, get feedback, test products, and more.
• Streaming / livestreaming your art process. 
• Sell digital downloads and templates.
• Art commissions for pet portraits, family portraits, murals, and more. 
• Networking with someone writing a book that might need an illustrator, or write and sell your own art books, art guides, or e-books. Think book covers, cook books, children's books...
• Offer limited edition prints and/or look into print-on-demand products.
• Art merchandise customized with the artist's designs - mugs, tote bags, t-shirts, puzzles, and more.
• Have extra space? Rent out studio space to other artists. 
• Offer graphic design services. Create a logo for someone, business cards, or flyers for a fee.
• Offer private art lessons. 
• Be a live caricature artist, a face painter, a paint and sip artist. 
• Apply for artist residencies. 
• Licensing your artwork for commercial use - get royalties. 
• Sell NFTs or digital art tokens. 
• Build a membership site with a subscription fee presenting exclusive content. 
• Monetize your social media, newsletters, blog with sponsored content, affiliate links, ad revenue, and more.
• Crowdfunding 
• Apply for art grants for an art project. 
• Feature "art sales" shows with square foot shows which are 12x12 artworks, each artwork priced the same and market the show extensively. 
• Go to your local gift shops and boutiques, that may sell local art.
• Try selling at gallery gift stores, museums.
• Watercolor greeting cards
• Offering your artistic services such as:
• An art show or contest Juror or Judge.
• Art talks, event speaker or panelist. 
• A photographer - not only the weddings but think about offering your art group members professional photos of their artworks for a reasonable fee. Set up photo sessions on a scheduled basis for specific sizes, certain number of pieces - whatever works for you. Once you have the equipment set up, its a great way to move through the process before moving to the next size of artwork.

See more: 

10 Practical Networking Tips for Artists to Boost Career

16 Creative Ways to Make Money as an Artist (That Actually Pay the Bills)

Follow-up When Potential Buyers Show Interest

Another part of selling is following up when someone shows interest at a show, through email, through a DM.

 

How do you follow-up when someone sends an inquiry about your artwork? Do you have a process to follow-up with them?

 

Let's say someone emails or DMs you on how much your artwork is. Don't get nervous, don't panic, don't justify your prices. Don't say too much. No excuses like 'because of this or that'. If you panic, your potential buyer may go silent. You'll be listening to crickets.

 

Instead: Have a follow-up process where you will be calm-cool-clear-collected.

 

Step 1: You will confirm to the buyer that you received their inquiry. Confirm what they are asking about - which piece, which service, which size.

Step 2: Very calmly and very clearly give them the data they requested. 

Step 3: Now, you will add just one "trust detail". Say something like, "This piece is available now, and can be shipped within 2 weeks."

Step 4: And we can make the next step extra easy for them by saying, "Would you prefer local pickup or shipping?" 

Step 5: Finalize by closing the loop with, "I can send an invoice and hold it for 24 hours." 

 

Something like this gives you and the buyer a framework that is clear.

 

This video below, is a very straight forward look at art selling. 

 

10 Tested & Proven Ways to Sell Your Art as an Artist (Complete Guide & Honest Overview) by Contemporary Art Issue (CAI)

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

ART TIPS: 

• Dress to impress is as important as always even when its terribly hot. Look professional!
• Your attitude is so important. A happy artist with energy will help to sell. 
• I do suggest going down the rabbit hole for a period of time when researching how to sell art and your art business. There are so many great videos and art tip suggestions that you can learn so much from, and a ton of tips on this blog too! 

The Art of Selling Art, Selling You, Selling Higher Priced Art

Alternatively, there are schools of thought that say in order to sell your art and to sell it at a higher price for the professional and established artists is to: 

• Find your target audience by posting you with your artwork with high quality photos and videos TALKING ABOUT your art - NOT trying to SELL it. Speak directly to your ideal Buyer.
• Develop the script for each artwork saying WHO it may appeal to and why.
• Do NOT send potential Buyers to a website link. 
• Always answer your DMs when someone asks about the price. 
• Post at least 3 to 5 times per week on your social media. Be genuine.
• Build a communication line to the potential Buyers and a developing a relationship with them directly when they ask how much it is or what else you have. Be engaging. Ask what they love about your artwork. 
• Build perceived value by:
• NOT offering the art merchandise that many artists do.
• Don't offer any marked down pricing.
• Have at least several high priced artworks that are extra large, running $5000+ and pose them in a very clean, very professional environment with YOU in the pictures as well. Build trust.
• If a person says that those artworks at that level are unaffordable for them, show them the 'more affordable' pieces that you have, say 16x20 and 18x24 medium to large range that are under the 5K. Perceived value.
• Close the sale - learn the scripts and tactics to make the sale. 

Let's face it. If your followers and people commenting on your social media posts are all other artists, you are not selling to them. They are trying to sell their own artwork. Finding your Buyers and moving toward making them repeat Buyers is the beginning of your marketing plan. As with anything, its up to you to learn the process of selling in order to sell well.

For Further Reading

Selling your artwork is very hard, and yes - I heard that "Duh!" Each of us will need to find what works best for each of us, our families and obligations and the period of life we are in. Nonetheless, knowing what we are getting into before we spend too much money or become discouraged means to not only create the best possible artwork we can, but doing the homework to learn how to make the jump into the art world as wisely as we can.

14 Best Places to Sell Art to Make Money - Etsy, Redbubble, local, Saatchi Art, Zazzle, Artfinder, Soiety6, eBay, Shopify, gift shops, coffee shops, farmers' markets, social media

14 Best Websites to Sell Art Online | Commissions, Marketing, and More - marketplaces, print on demand platforms, ecommerce stores

Top 10 Tips On How To Sell Your Art - Your story, website, show sold art, new venues, cohesive brand, SEO, social media, local shows, prints, positivity.

The Art of Selling Art: 10 Ways to Sell Your Art: A Beginner's 2025 Guide -  Optimize Portfolio, Social Media, NFT & Digital, Print on Demand, Collaborate, AR, Participate, Email, Commissions, Voice & Visual Search

 

How to Sell Your Art - Six Successful Artists Share Their Tips 

18 Platforms for Artists to Sell Their Creative Work Online in 2025 

Art that Sells - Understanding What Makes Art Marketable - researching trends, target audience, more

Everybody and their mother-in-law gives out art advice, don't they? Perhaps a lot of it seems at odds against what someone else is saying. I think articles like this may give another artist a starting point or an idea to look at something a new way and develop their twist on it. When you boil it down, find what works for you - and you do you.

Did you like this post? Learn something new? What tips do you have to share on selling your art? Drop a comment below and Follow this blog.

Selling Your Art - In Person Part 1

Selling Your Art - Online Part 2

Selling Your Art - Selling the Artist Part 3

@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 464: That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notification

That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notification 

An art call opens for a wonderful art show you hope to have your artworks show in comes into your inbox. You note the details of art show dates, the very important deadline date (!), drop off, pickup dates, and if there is an art reception. You fill your calendar with those notes. You thoroughly read about the show requirements on formatting, images and artworks to be accepted. Now what will you put in the show?

The Notification Wait Begins

All art shows and galleries that send out a call for art want your latest and greatest art, to select the best of the submissions to offer to the public and their supporters to view - of course, in the upcoming show. They want originals (no copyright issues) and art completed in the last 2-3 years, and not something that was previously entered (whether it was accepted or not).

You, as the artist, rummage through your art inventory list to find just the right entries to submit to the show. Hopefully, you have tracked if your artwork was previously submitted to that show and whether it was accepted or not. Does the show accept 2, or 3, 4 or 5 pieces of art? And what was that commission, again? Ensure that when you price your art that you account in your price, the cut (or commission) that goes to the venue...

The artist then fills out the form to email, or the website with their selected artwork(s) details, and then uploads their well formatted, quality images...looks over everything...then checks again...makes an adjustment...rechecks...and ever so slowly...clicks...Submit... Or to Send...and off into the ether it goes.

Your calendar has the art show's notification date marked on it, and potentially circled in red marker. And the waiting begins. 

You have noted on your inventory list the particular artworks that have been submitted to the show - which all could potentially be in limbo until that circled DATE on the calendar. Sunrise, sunset, the days edge toward the circle...In the meantime, back into the studio to paint. Oh that dang Jeopardy must again.

What I Submitted to the Fall Art at the Mill Art Show Yesterday

The Deadline for entry is Monday, July 27 at midnight for the biannual Art at the Mill and the notification is Friday, August 7. I can hear the Jeopardy music playing, can't you?

2026 Fall Art at the Mill at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA at the historic Burwell-Morgan Mill. The show is sponsored by the Clarke County Historical Association.

The Artist Reception Sunday, Sept 27 2-5

The show runs from Saturday Sept 19 to October 4.

Sometimes I take a risk submitting artworks, I suppose. I painted these Millstones that sit in front of the Burwell-Morgan Mill earlier this year. The art call is up to 5 entries and with a series of 4, if the juror doesn't like them...or all of them - Not to be considered. Gloom and despair and agony on me.

This Millstone series is covered in this blog post here. All of them are 10x10x1.5 acrylic on canvas. 

Millstone at Burwell-Morgan Mill 1

Millstone at Burwell-Morgan Mill 2

Millstone at Burwell-Morgan Mill 3

Millstone at Burwell-Morgan Mill 4

For the biannual Art at the Mill art show, you can submit up to 5 artworks, so here is the fifth submission. This is called "Fishing at the Occoquan River" and is 11x14 in acrylic, framed. This one started as a Plein Air artwork but was finished in studio. Look for the fishing bobbin.

For the last few years I have had at least 2 of my 5 entries to Art at the Mill accepted, but when visiting the Mill, I always take more pictures. When you visit the building - for me its on art drop off, art reception, and potential art pickup days, when the weather is great...its beautiful. It is breath-taking. It is charming. It is so steeped in history, nature, and water noise from the waterfall. And that's just on the outside.

Then there is all of the artwork during the Art at the Mill art shows in the Spring and Fall. Art on another level and HUNDREDS of pieces - nearly 1000 for each show. It is also the AMAZEMENT that such a wonderful art show CAN happen way outside of a city space and be so incredible.

A Photo of the Burwell-Morgan Mill 

Although I like submitting the maximum number of images for an art show, to hopefully up my chances for something being accepted, with a biannual show with up to 5 pieces, that is 10 artworks a year. Unless an artist is steadily replenishing their art inventory and working toward the best works they can each time, the potential is on the table of running out of inventory at some point!

How do you handle the waiting to hear if your art is accepted AND if it isn't?

Nonetheless, the art limbo of not knowing begins. 

@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 463: About PWAS - A History of a Prince William County Art Group

About PWAS - A History of a Prince William County Art Group

Prince William Art Society (PWAS) for Artists and Art Lovers

First Published by Donna Liguria on Sunday, August 29, 2021 on what was the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog

I found the answer to "What is PWAS" for the first time through Facebook, probably like many others. I saw a post about a local PWAS art event at Clearbrook Center of the Arts located at Tackett’s Mill shopping center here in Lake Ridge – Woodbridge, Virginia. Local artists, displaying their art, why can’t I do that??? So, the search began to find out more...

 

 

PWAS Facebook Page

What is PWAS?

PWAS, which we pronounce as "P-WHAZZ", is the acronym we use for the Prince William Art Society which is based in Prince William County, Virginia. The group is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization composed of local artists of wildly various backgrounds, styles, and medium use.

From emerging artists to established art makers, art enthusiasts and art dabblers, fine arts, photographers and sculptors, PWAS members are interested in creating and presenting the visual arts, paintings and mixed media, with many of the artists residing in Prince William County in Northern Virginia, south of Washington DC about 17 miles down 95.

How Did PWAS Get Its Start?

The Prince William Art Society didn't start with that name nor its acronym. It began 50 years ago (as of this writing) in February of 1971 with the name of Woodbridge Art Guild (WAG) and the art group kept that name for many years. They started with 60 charter members with one big issue: they did not have an official "home".

The group met in various locations in and around the Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, and Dale City areas. In 1973, the membership expanded making larger accommodations necessary, which meant meeting at Marumsco Creek Park (Veterans Park) and occasionally in local churches including Our Lady of Angels Church on Marys Way, Woodbridge. Other locations for meetings included the Dale City Civic Center.

The WAG members took part in demonstrations, critiques, sketch outs, workshops, art tours and exhibitions...while offering art shows and exhibits, quite often outdoors, including in a small building on the corner of Old Bridge and Minnieville Road - where the Exxon station is now. That was a sort of "Woodbridge Welcome Center" for a time that gave their artwork "cover" from the weather for shows.

Members also set up art shows in front of the local stores at the upper part of Tackett's Mill, until as things tend to happen, potential insurance issues were raised and those pop-up shows had to be stopped. Viva La ART! Art will find a way!!

There was even a monthly newsletter in years past keeping members informed on their area's art events!

In 1972, an artist bio-resume was developed which provided an interest/reference file for requests from the community, for art judges, teachers and special commissions for art work. - From a Woodbridge Art Guild's Edgewater Gallery announcement page.

In 1975, the guild joined the Eastern Prince William Chamber of Commerce, with an average of 125 members. The membership expansion meant lots of great art shows all over the county throughout the year and in December, PWAS would finish the year with a Holiday Reception and member art show.

The Woodbridge Art Guild was officially incorporated in the state of Virginia as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which has a board of governors, directors, meeting minutes - all of the paperwork and rules that necessitate that status in 1976.

Tackett's Mill Expansion

The WAG members longed for a permanent home for their art activities and for the community to enjoy, learn, and for purchase.

The Officers and Board of Governors at that time were Diane Angell, President and co-director, Fuller Brown, co-director Helen Turner, Jewell Burns, Kathy O'Day, Rick Alt, Jean Beamer, Sherry Smith, and Wanda Lin, along with the help of other artist members worked hard to fulfill a dream that was about to come true...

Tackett's Mill had built out the lower section of the shopping center with the Mill and pond - a beautiful area with paths and waterfall and new retail shops spaces waiting to be filled.

On November 23, 1984, the Woodbridge Art Guild Board and members (listed above) were instrumental in opening the Edgewater Gallery at Tackett's Mill in the lower level where the Mill is and there was a major celebration. The "water-front" space was a lovely location with a view inside and out, displaying the waterfall and nature outside and beautiful artwork inside. As many art locations do, the membership volunteers their time in "manning the store".

Then, unfortunately, after about 2 and 1/2 years, with time, space and rent changes, the Edgewater Gallery had to close and WAG was again, without a home. So once more, the artists were longing and looking for a permanent space for a gallery, classrooms and arts learning space - a real place to call home.

Interestingly, the original Tackett's Mill shopping area buried a time capsule on March 29, 1985. But more on that later...

WAG even had a brief stint in a store front location across from Lowe's on Minnieville Road in Woodbridge, VA. A non-profit small business often has difficulty using a spot rent-free when those shopping areas obviously want those spaces to make a profit. Meetings again took place wherever they could.

At that time many members were military spouses, and/or quite a few worked in DC or were deployed. As is true with this area of Northern Virginia, military families come and go annually, and the membership fluctuated along with it.

The artist membership had always created many types of art and sold it at their various pop-up shows and events. Their art ranged from paintings in acrylic, oils, watercolors, alkyds, mixed media, ceramics, pottery and more.

An occasional member "hit it big" with respectable sales success and moved on to bigger and better things in their own studios in the NOVA area and sometimes across the world. Lena Liu was one of those members that has had a very successful artistic journey.

The Change to PWAS

Prince William County is a very large county with well-known cities across it including Bristow, Gainesville, Manassas, Haymarket, Nokesville, Quantico, Dumfries, and Occoquan along with Woodbridge. Some discussion occurred with members feeling in (YEAR) that the name "Woodbridge Art Guild" was probably not inclusive enough to describe the entire county and perhaps draw (pun intended) more artists in. The membership changed the name to the Prince William Art Society representing that all artists residing in county are welcome to join (age 18 and up) and not just "Woodbridge".

 

The PWAS Logo

Often, PWAS members are and have been members of other local art groups and art galleries and shops. The Loft Gallery in Occoquan, the Lorton Workhouse, PWCAC - Prince William County Arts Council, Manassas Art Guild, and the several other galleries in Occoquan are a few other local art organizations in the area are where many of the membership have earned local recognition for their talent and hard work in those spaces as well as with PWAS.

In 2008, Alice La Bier, President of PWAS at the time, suggested a Scholarship Program that would work with PWC high schools and the program was begun. The program awards scholarships to up to two 12th grade students graduating and preparing to pursue a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts or Art Education. The program was named in honor of Jewell Pratt Burns, a founding member of WAG and PWAS.

Clearbrook Center of the Arts

In more recent years, Clearbrook has gratefully enabled the PWAS group to house and display their art - considering them to be the current "artist in residence". Clearbrook Center of the Arts is a space in the lower side area of Tackett's Mill Shopping Center located at 2230 B Tackett's Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 - near the Bee Store.

Photo by Ana Quispe, PWAS Member. Clearbrook Center of the Arts at Tackett's Mill Shopping Center, August 28, 2021

You are cordially invited to come by and visit, there is no fee to have a look around at the artwork. One room also displays the Tackett's Mill Time Capsule that was opened on May 29th, 2019, on its 50th anniversary of the founding of Lake Ridge. The Time Capsule it self may be moved at some point, so come see it now!

Read more about Clearbrook at https://clearbrookcenterofthearts.org/
Read the history of Tackett's Mill at https://tackettsmill.com/history/

Update: The Prince William Art Society dissolved their "Artist in Residence" at Clearbrook in mid 2022.

PWAS Today, Member Meetings and More

The Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Lake Ridge, VA 22192 is where PWAS meets once a month on the fourth Monday of the month. Visitors are welcome and discussion is on the latest and upcoming events and activities that artists may choose to participate in. Often there is a guest artist speaker or demonstration, periodically there is "show and tell" by members to show what they are working on now.

  

The Tall Oaks Community Center on Cotton Mill Drive, May 1, 2021 by Donna Liguria

Prior to the 2020 COVID restrictions, PWAS members participated in many wonderful workshops, museum field trips, art shows and other art events. 2020 tossed the art events into the air in PWC and those restrictions also meant that the Scholarship program was put on hold and the members went to Zoom meetings like much of the rest of the world.

In the spring of 2021, PWAS started meeting in person once again at the Tall Oaks Community Center and the Spring Tall Oaks Art Show took place in May 1, 2021. The gallery at Clearbrook is once again open every weekend, and the art events and shows are definitely on the calendar going forward. (See the section for Upcoming Events)

On Saturday, June 5, 2021, the PWAS membership gathered at The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm in Gainesville and celebrated the 50th anniversary of PWAS. Members, their spouses, and guests enjoyed celebrating the long history of art in Prince William County and presented a bouquet to Jewell Pratt Burns for her 50 years and dedication to PWAS and its Scholarship Program. For the month of June, PWAS members displayed artwork at the winery, which was juried in.

And as far as the Scholarship Program, which works in conjunction with the PWC school systems - we are looking forward to once again being able to award up to two 12th grade students graduating and preparing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts or Art Education with a scholarship award in 2022.

With our current "home" at Clearbrook, PWAS is currently displaying artwork for sale by its members of PWAS ever weekend from 1 to 4pm. The artwork ranges from acrylics, watercolors, photographs, pastels, landscapes, abstracts, etc. The gallery also features a Theme Wall, and all of the artwork, including the theme, is changed every other month. Come by and meet the attending artists and say hi and that you read about us!

---

In Closing

Much of this PWAS history was gathered from Jewell Pratt Burns, a charter member from the original Woodbridge Art Guild group. This blog will periodically present artist interviews of our members and the first one will be my interview with Jewell, so be sure and watch for that post coming VERY soon!

Also, a big thank you to Ken Meardon and Sandra  McClelland who were a great help with proof-reading and tweaks.

I have learned a LOT about PWAS since February of 2021 - (I joined in March 21) and as Jewell has pointed out, being a PWAS member is teaching me a ton I did not know about presenting art, hanging art, different styles and techniques and so much more. Besides that, I have made some great new friends! I have benefited tremendously as an artist and becoming a PWAS member, and YOU can too.

Your comments, sharing, and likes are welcome and appreciated!

---

Additional History Added July 13, 2024

In November 2021, PWAS opened an art show at the Stonebridge Shopping Center (15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA.) for a temporary popup show that was to run right after Thanksgiving, Black Friday and through that weekend. The management of the shopping center so enjoyed the popup show that they asked us to extend the art show into the first few weeks of December of that year. 

 

Open Space Arts at Stonebridge 2021

Open Space Arts Gallery

In early 2022, the Prince William Art Society was asked to help with a new gallery in the same space, now called "Open Space Arts". OSA opened with PWAS managing the art gallery space, PWC local calls for art and managing the desk in April 2022 to much success. Many artists throughout Prince William County had the opportunity to showcase and feature their art in the monthly art shows with various art themes and mediums.

The Prince William Art Society managed the art gallery of OSA until September 2023. And the Open Space Arts gallery officially closed under the new management in late 2024.

2024 Prince William Art Society

PWAS continues to hold various art shows and popup art events all around Prince William County, including some new locations, events, and festivals. New events included the Bee Festival in Manassas, the Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farms in Nokesville, the Artist Inventory Sale in Manassas, PW Native Plant Symposium in Manassas, and another show at the Sunshine Ridge Winery in Gainesville. 

PWAS Plein Air Posse

A new PWAS group called the Plein Air Posse was also started in early 2024 for artists that want to get out of doors. PWAS applied for and was awarded an art grant that is being used to fund art classes and art educational events for the group and community. Monthly meetings at the Tall Oaks Community Center on the fourth Monday of each month at 7:30pm with various programs are a part of what we do. 

Online PWAS Art Store

Also added in 2024 was an online Art Store on the PWAS website. With some art shows that the group displays their work, such as in libraries, the ability for viewers to purchase the artwork on display needed to be addressed. The library itself does not handle the sale so PWAS created an online Art Store to manage the purchase.

PWAS Board of Directors

A new Board of Directors is voted in every 2 years and new opportunities continue to be researched, planned, and promoted. One big goal of this new 2024 BOD is the search for a permanent Prince William Art Society home gallery of our own. Another big goal is to continue the growth of the membership in all things art in our community, so if you love art and want to be a part of the oldest art group in PWC, check out https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership

The PWAS future is looking VERY colorful!

@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.

Of note: This article was recovered using Wayback Machine Internet Archive after the Artistry Spin Blog was deleted.

Photography Credits
Donna Liguria and Ana Quispe

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

Post 462: Composition Part 2. Rule of Odds

Composition Series Part 2. Rule of Odds

Part 2 of 21 of my series on Composition - This series will post every Tuesday

Many of the "rules" of photography and cinematography are also used in art - drawing and painting. Let's take a look at the Rule of Odds and no, I am not talking about ice cream cones with eyes, that is quite normal in the art world. My previous blog post on Composition was on the Rule of Thirds, now let's look at the Odds.

Odd Numbers and Even Numbers

As many artists refuse to or rarely follow any 'rules', the composition of things are more like guidelines so that your photographs, your art - is visually more interesting to look at. So how you place the elements on your canvas can take it up to another level by at least taking the guidelines into consideration.
 
Basically, the Rule of Odds is that whenever possible, your composition will be better with an odd number of objects than an even number of objects.

Rule of Odds and Why It Works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKA4UImqyzM

by Richard Claremont

One, although the "Loneliest Number", is a nicer focus in a very busy scene.
Three flower vases are better than two.
Five lemons are more interesting than four.
Seven golfballs might be confusing on the green, but on a canvas, better for the eye to view.

Even in decorating, odd numbers of things or collections of similar things are easier to view than even numbers. Our brains try to unconsciously group things with even numbers into pairs. Odd numbered objects has the tendency to hold the eye a little longer, viewing the individual elements on the canvas. 

Give it a try. Go to your favorite still life painting - I bet it is composed of an odd number of objects. Unless the artist is a rule breaker of course...

Photo by Roberta Sorge on Unsplash

Again, give it a try in your next composition. Go ahead, be "odd".

Drop a comment below and let me know if you have a common odd number you use when you create, like do you always have objects in threes?

@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.