Showing posts with label Burwell-Morgan Mill. Show all posts

Saturday, August 8, 2026

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

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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.

Friday, July 24, 2026

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).

Decisions, decisions...

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? Drop a comment below.

Nonetheless, the art limbo of not knowing begins.

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

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Post 444: Millstones at Burwell-Morgan Mill Series

Painting Series: Millstones at Burwell-Morgan Mill

A couple of times a year, in the Spring and the Fall, I love the opportunity of making the trek out to Millwood, Virginia to take part in the biannual art shows called Art at the Mill at the Burwell-Morgan Mill. This historic landmark is lovely, and on a beautiful day on top of that just calls for "take pictures of me!" And I do. And I always take pictures of the millstones, which led to, "what am I going to do with all of these pictures?"

What is a Millstone?

If you have ever been to a gristmill, you've probably seen or even walked over a millstone. They are the grinding stones used in crushing, milling, or triturating grains and flours. There are runner stones and bedstones. They are often big, look very heavy, and several are propped up outside of the Burwell-Morgan Mill in Millwood, VA.

Burwell-Morgan Mill
The Burwell-Morgan Mill is located in Clarke County, Virginia at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA. It is a water-powered live working mill that was built in around 1780 or so. They still grind various flours when they aren't having their biannual art shows called "Art at the Mill".

See more about the Mill here Clark County Historical Burwell-Morgan Mill

Art at the Mill
Is an biannual art show held in the Spring and the Fall at the Burwell-Morgan Mill for which approximately 300 artists apply for each art show, and jurors select about 900-1000 pieces of artwork to be shown at each show. Can you imagine jurying between 1300-1500 pieces of art?

We understand that the very first thing that happens after an art call deadline passes is that the jurors select the "Show Piece" for the show, which will go on all of the Mill's promo materials. Wow, what an honor that would be.

This is a huge art show. And as typed above, whenever I am gratefully juried into this art show, on drop off, art reception, and art pickup days (if art doesn't sell), I take a lot of pictures. Do a search on this blog for the multiple blog posts and stories I have previously posted.

I wondered how old those millstones are that are in the picture below.

Photo by Donna Liguria of the Burwell-Morgan Mill 2026

I painted this mini series (4) of the millstones in front of the mill. If you are a history buff, this live working Mill is such a lovely spot, and it is fascinating to watch the waterfall, and how the Mill functions. See https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/2023/03/post-296-art-at-mill.html for some photos of the Mill at work.

I do urge our Prince William Art Society members to see Art at the Mill and sign up to be included on their mailing list for the calls for art.

Do you want to peek at the Millstones Series? Here are some photos of the paintings close to being finished.

The Millstone Series In Progress

Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 1

SKU: 05K26ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 10x10x1.5 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2026

Framed?: No

"Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 1" by Donna Liguria, Acrylic on 10x10x1.5 Stretched Canvas

Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 2

SKU: 05L26ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 10x10x1.5 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2026

Framed?: No

"Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 2" by Donna Liguria, Acrylic on 10x10x1.5 Stretched Canvas

Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 3

SKU: 05M26ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 10x10x1.5 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2026

Framed?: No

"Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 3" by Donna Liguria, Acrylic on 10x10x1.5 Stretched Canvas

Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 4

SKU: 05N26ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 10x10x1.5 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2026

Framed?: No

"Millstone Burwell-Morgan Mill 4" by Donna Liguria, Acrylic on 10x10x1.5 Stretched Canvas features the millstone lineup in front of the Burwell-Morgan Mill at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, Virginia

Have I painted the Mill before? YES, I have!

"Art Delivery to the Mill" by Donna Liguria, Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 14x14x1.5

George Washington's Gristmill

Grist Mill Park, featuring George Washington's Gristmill and Distillery, is another mill near to me. I've been by that mill a few times while going to Mount Vernon, and I plan to go there again soon. The first time I went there was an Elementary School field trip! I'm going to Mount Vernon again in a couple of weeks so the plan is to stop at the Gristmill too. Perhaps there are millstones waiting for my trusty camera there too.

See https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/gristmill

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

Like my content? Follow my Blog!_________________________

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.

Do you need a handmade, original painting for yourself or as a gift for a friend or family member? Yes, I do most commissions, so 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.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Post 441: Art at the Mill Art Reception Sun Apr 26, 2026

Art at the Mill Art Reception Sun Apr 26, 2026

Prince William Art Society (PWAS) members Sandra McClelland Lewin and I trekked out to 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, Virginia on Sunday, April 26, 2026 to go to the art reception for the biannual Art at the Mill Art Show. This is one of my most favorite art shows that I have been to thus far in Virginia! We, along with a couple of other PWAS Members were delighted to be juried into this show.

The Spring and Fall Art at the Mill

Spring Art at the Mill as well as the Fall show are held at the Burwell-Morgan Mill in Millwood, VA and is a LIVE working mill. They grind lots of different flours that are available for purchase.

The Fall Art at the Mill usually sends out their call for art in about July or so. I suggest getting on their email list! They use this wonderful website to announce and manage the art show submissions, with the added benefit of watching the art sales...almost LIVE as things sell. The online Web Art Gallery opens the day of the show opening and may only be available for a short time afterwards, but check it out here https://artatthemillspring2026.artcall.org/pages/web-gallery

15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA, which is in Clarke County. The website is here https://artatthemillspring2026.artcall.org/

The Spring show is April 18, 2026 through Sunday, May 3, 2026. And from here in Lake Ridge, Virginia it takes only a little over an hour to get to the show - and its a very nice drive through the countryside. A few wineries along the way too!

Click on a photo to enlarge.

When you arrive at the Mill, the search begins for the artist - Find your artwork! I found my African Violets in a Terracotta Pot painting downstairs at the back. With 949 juried in artworks, it can be a challenge. REPEAT - 949 artworks were JURIED IN!

Water running through the Mill

No, someone did not leave their carryout behind. There is a lot of outstanding 3-D artwork in this show too.

As we got there a few minutes before 2, the art reception was almost ready for attack. They have a lovely spread out for the hundreds of artists that attend the reception...and visitors too.

Found another one of mine upstairs, Mahogany Humidor. As you can see, you need to look high, you need to look low, you never know where your art will go. AND you also need to check the website to see if it SOLD!

I hear a lot of artists say that they paint by inspiration. A great quality and thing to do - and certainly do what works for you! But I also think YOU have to go see this show! It is inspiring to see all of the artworks, the ideas, the styles, the creativity, the professionalism, dang it! the inspiration of wandering this show!

I'd LOVE to see more PWAS member artists enter this show. We were hearing a story about a Maryland art group that has many members enter every year and when they are juried in, they use a van to carry the artists and artworks on drop off day. What a merry art road trip! We know that PWAS members Bettie Sperty and Kelly Haneklau also have artwork in this show.

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Photos: Donna Liguria and Sandra McClelland Lewin

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Post 434: Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the River and Through the Woods

Friday, March 27, 2026. A road trip to the Burwell-Morgan Mill at 15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, Virginia means ONE thing. And that it is almost time for the Spring Art at the Mill Show to begin. I rode with my art friends Sandra McClelland Lewin and Bettie Sperty to deliver our accepted artwork for the show that is opening soon.

Art at the Mill

Twice a year, we love doing that over the river and through the woods road trip. Generally, from the Tall Oaks Community building at 12298 Cotton Mill Road, Woodbridge (where the Prince William Art Society holds its monthly meetings) to Millwood, Virginia is 55.4 miles and takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes to the Burwell-Morgan Mill. And that's a live, working mill. Although these days, during the art show, I do believe they hold the milling because of the potential for dust.

Google Maps from Woodbridge to Millwood (Boyce) Virginia

And you will pass Three Fox Vineyards and another winery or two, or three along the way. There are several of them. The scenery is spectacular through farm and field, vineyard and valley, seeing horsey critters and cows. Toss in the mountains and mole hills...and The Plains and Paris. We're almost there.

The Spring Art at the Mill (AATM) Show will begin on Saturday, April 18 and will run every day until Sunday, May 3, 2026. The art reception for the artists is on Sunday, April 26 from 2 to 5. There is a small fee for visitors.

The Burwell-Morgan Mill

I had to show you my painting "Art Delivery to the Mill" (2025) Acrylic on Canvas by Donna Liguria. This one was shown at the Fall 2025 Art at the Mill and is available on my Etsy here or as a print here.

A body must be able to do the stairs at Art at the Mill. During the show, some artwork is available on the main ground floor, but the bulk is up a flight of stairs. On the 'basement' or bottom floor, that is where the flour is milled and historical artifacts are mainly displayed. That narrow stairway may be closed during the show. And as you may have read in some of my previous AATM posts, the artworks on display number somewhere between 850-1000 pieces from about 300 artists. The show is juried of course, which means that just getting accepted to this show is an honor in itself.

When the show opens, all of the art is shown on their ArtCall.org website gallery and you can watch what sells in nearly real-time. If your artwork sells is shows online and you'll also get an email with the good news. The web gallery link will pop up on this page https://artatthemillspring2026.artcall.org/ and you can see how incredible this show is.

The Art Check in Process is stop at one table and give your name. The Volunteers check your art in online and give you your art labels. Second stop is handing your checked in art over where the volunteers attach the labels to your works. Other volunteers then take the art and most will go up on the walls directly (at least temporarily in a spot). Any Blue Dotted art goes up the next flight of stairs to the "attic" holding area (more on that coming up).

As the volunteers put the art up, it doesn't mean it stays exactly in that spot, they are placing them around the space and will arrange the show after all artwork is dropped off Friday and Saturday, March 27 and 28. The 3-D artwork is generally put on long tables and dispersed throughout the Mill for the show.

Now what about all that artwork up on the 4th floor where the Blue Dots go? As artwork sells, the volunteers automatically go upstairs and fetch artwork to fill in the blank sold spaces so that by the time of the Art Reception, ALL of the artwork will be up on the show walls. And remember, ALL of the artwork is on the web gallery online by artist alphabetically so it is being viewed. There is a preshow for special members and when the gallery goes live, you will see a LOT of artwork SOLD already.

Here are some of my previous posts about Art at the Mill if you'd like to check those out. Lots of pictures, lots of different art and of course different art accepted to each show. Basically, Art at the Mill is wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling, in and on every nook and every cranny of art in many mediums including 3D- wooden, pottery, glass, and more. No photography is allowed.

Sept 29, 2025: Art Reception at art at the Mill

Sept 2, 2025: Out to Art at the Mill and 3 Fox Winery

May 5, 2025: Art at the Mill Art Reception

Sept 2024: Fall Art at the Mill

Oct 3, 2024 Art Reception

Sept 2023: Fall Art at the Mill Art Show - A Nice Drive to Millwood

May 5, 2023: Art Reception at Art at the Mill

March 2023: Art at the Mill - Art Drop

Well, now we wait until the show and the web gallery opening on April 18. I love this art show, there is so much to see from artists all over Virginia (maybe beyond?). If you are a Prince William Art Society artist, I urge you to go see the show and to consider entering your art in the fall show. It is such a grand learning experience.

These are the 2 of my accepted artworks that will be at the show:

"African Violets in a Terracotta Pot" acrylic on canvas 10x10

"Mahogany Humidor 1" acrylic on canvas 8x10

If you are an art collector, art admirer, art buyer - Art at the Mill is the best show with hundreds of outstanding works all well worth seeing. If I don't see you at the Spring Art at the Mill, be sure and go to the Fall show!

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Donna's Cave Paintings Blog - by Donna Liguria Art

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Saturday, August 8, 2026

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

Fall Art at the Mill 2026, Here We Come!

AATM Saturday, September 19 to October 4, 2026

Sandra McClelland Lewin

Bettie Sperty

Donna Liguria

Rebekah Keener

Friday, July 24, 2026

Post 464: That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notification

That Waiting Period for the Art Show Notification

The Notification Wait Begins

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

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Post 444: Millstones at Burwell-Morgan Mill Series

Painting Series: Millstones at Burwell-Morgan Mill

What is a Millstone?

The Millstone Series In Progress

George Washington's Gristmill

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Post 441: Art at the Mill Art Reception Sun Apr 26, 2026

Art at the Mill Art Reception Sun Apr 26, 2026

The Spring and Fall Art at the Mill

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Post 434: Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the River and Through the Woods

Art at the Mill

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