Post 157: Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, Virginia - v.3, Acrylic 15x30

Painting Name: Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, Virginia v.3

In some previous posts about Blue Herons at Blue Ridge Shores, and "Growing Up Blue Ridge Shores", this is my third in a series of 4 blue heron paintings of various sizes (and a commissioned work!).

SKU: 07CD21ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 15x30 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Price: SOLD

Edition Year: 2021

Framed?: No

Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

Blue with His New Owner and in His New Home

Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores with his new owner, Gina - of BRS and Ashburn!

What Brought About this Painting?

"I want it bigger." Those words can be music to the ears of an artist. I had previously painted 2 smaller Blue Herons at BRS paintings that were only 10x20, so a bigger one? Absolutely!  So here is the new Blue at 15x30 on a gallery wrapped canvas. Varnish and wiring will happen here shortly along with his "photo shoot." 

See the Painting in progress at https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/2021/07/blue-heron-at-blue-ridge-shores-3-15x30.html

What kind of artist would I be if I didn't have my next canvas on my mind? Actually, the next several canvases! I am thinking - jellyfish.

Do you like my paintings? Do 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, or go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

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Post 156: Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores 4, 5x7 Acrylic Painting

Painting Name: Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores 4

A painting tip if there ever was one. Do you have leftover paint after mixing it up for a certain painting? Start a smaller version of it to use that paint up!

SKU: 07CG21AC

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 5x7 Stretched Canvas

Price: SOLD

Edition Year: 2021

Framed?: No

Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

What Brought About this Painting?

While mixing up a color for a painting, especially back ground colors, I find it useful to use up that paint on another canvas or two of any size necessary and do another version of the same theme. This is my fourth version of Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores and he is only 5 by 7 - someone expressed interest in a much larger version (hence, the commission of BH at BRS 4 [15x30]) and another person was interested in a smaller painting.

Well, sometimes you just paint with hope that maybe this one will connect with the right person...

I may tinker a tad bit more with him and I see sunlight from the window across this mini painting so an update will be necessary.

Find him here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1038032196/blue-heron-great-blue-heron-blue-heron?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

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Commissions are open!

To Shop for paintings, please go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

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Post 155: PWAS at Clearbrook Center of the Arts, Woodbridge, VA July and August 2021

PWAS at Clearbrook Center of the Arts, Woodbridge, VA July & August 2021

Digital cameras do NOT do a painting justice. Seeing art in person, up close and personal is what art is all about. Many people see it as an experience.

I have seen it myself and heard it about my own paintings over and over.

For those that live far away and cannot make it to Clearbrook - these pictures are for you to see -and get an idea of- the quality of artwork available from the members of the Prince William Art Society.

This is a taste of what you can see on display...

My "Spring in Occoquan" painting

I need to take more pictures of everyone's artwork...then again, PWAS is talking about starting our own blog and it "may" be me writing in it so that will take care of that. This is my painting of "Mercury Glass Flower Arrangement"

Another 2 of mine, "African Violets in a Terracotta Pot 3" and "Take Seeds with You, Poppies". That is my Print Stand with available prints thus far too.

2 of mine are here, "Washington Monument Cherry Blossoms" and "America Backs the Blue"

A very awesome painting by one of our new members

5 of my paintings are here - 1. "Hydrangeas on Rock Wall", 2. "Streams Never Stay the Same", 3. "Great Falls, Virginia", 4. "Just Look Up", 5. "My Island Paradise in a Red Dress". My apologies as I am just meeting everyone and working on names, but looking on is PWAS member Brenda Vann. (please correct me if incorrect!)

One of mine here, "Get Flowers, Paint Them"

July and August 2021 Theme Wall to the right coming through the doors - Flora, Fauna and Gatherings. I have one on this wall, the very small "Buzz the Bee" painting.

My volunteer at the gallery days are Saturday, July 24 and July 31, and Sunday, August 1, 2021 so hopefully more pictures then.

By the way, WELL DONE to those PWAS members that work so hard every couple of months setting up ALL the new artwork! You guys do a great job!

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Commissions are open!

To Shop for paintings, please go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

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Post 154: Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores 3, 15x30 Gallery Wrap Acrylic Painting

Painting Name: Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores 3

Apparently I have a Blue Heron series going on! Various sizes of the same bird.

SKU: 07CD21ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 15x30 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Price: SOLD

Edition Year: 2021

Framed?: Yes

Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

What Brought About this Painting?

I recently painted a 10x20 Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores painting and it sold before I even completed it! I had a lot of people asking about it, so I did a second version of the "BH at BRS 2" - also 10x20 but slightly different. While on vacation at the end of June, I met a very nice lady at Blue Ridge Shores that LOVED "BH at BRS 2" but she wanted one larger for her place. Hence, this commissioned work "BH at BRS 3".

Gesso is the beginning of nearly every painting so its anywhere from 3 to 5 coats with plenty of dry time in between. Let the Gesso begin...Meanwhile on the easel, a couple of mini paintings going on while the Gesso dries. (Play the Jeopardy music here.)

Have a peek at my Etsy Shop if you haven't already https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt

Painting in Progress Images…

Everyone has seen a blank canvas so there is no need to post an image of that and watch it drying. Images will be posted once Blue starts being somebody...

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 8:46 AM Progress thus far since early on this Tuesday morning. A long way to go but shapes are forming.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021 1:04 PM The floating legless Blue Heron...

Wednesday, July 14, 2021 9:10 PM - Didn't get a lot done on BH at BRS 3 today but I did notice the Blue Herons are multiplying....

Left to Right: Blue Heron at BRS 2, Blue Heron at BRS 3, and I did a quick knocked of BH at BRS 4 who is a 5x7. Useful sometimes to use the paint you have already mixed up and do a mini guy.

BH at BRS 4 Mini is 5x7. I'll need to make a separate post for this little guy and get him on Etsy.

Back to Blue Heron 3 tomorrow.

Friday, July 16, 2021 3:04 PM - a busy week. A bit slower on this painting than I wanted to be. He's coming along though. Now he is eying me.

Update: Monday, July 19, 2021 12:12 PM - I wasn't happy with Blue's legs, so I am redoing them. 

Wednesday, July 21, 2021 12:48 PM - Alrighty, I think Blue is about there. I will look him over for a bit to see if he needs any tweaking, then its on to varnishing, wiring and presenting him to the new owner!

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Commissions are open!

To Shop for paintings, please go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

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Post 153: The Gift of the Mini Painting

The Gift of the Mini Painting

What Brought About this Painting?

I recently purchased a box of 100 Ultra-Mini 3 by 4 inch mini canvases with the intention of creating a bunch of small paintings that could be used as gifts - either from me or for others to give. The intention is that they would also be reasonably priced. I believe in the gift of art, don't you? Not only is it a support for small business - artists ARE a small business after all - but it's a gift made by a local artist, an original artwork.

I have completed a few small minis before but I suppose I am taking it to a new level - see them on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt under the category of Small Paintings.

In a nutshell, there will be a whole lot of minis coming down the pike! Stay tuned!

Beach Grass Sand Dune, 6x6

Beach Holiday, 6x6

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Commissions are open!

To Shop for paintings, please go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

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Post 152: Fun Coloring with Watercolors

Coloring with Watercolors

I am currently giving watercolors a try whilst on vacation as stated in several previous posts. I found them easier to pack up and bring with me. So when the sun gets high overhead, it is time to escape the full sun over the pool and duck indoors to paint. Occasionally, once the sun sinks to the other side of the house, we crawl back outside to splash around in the pool again.

My aunt caught me tossing about some watercolors yesterday afternoon...

My first few watercolor paintings. Practice, practice, practice... Still learning the medium and blending and how much water to use. Rome wasn't built in a day and learning to watercolor will definitely take some practice.

Watercolor Painting 1 Landscape - not happy with this one, the clouds aren't "happy little clouds".

Watercolor Painting version 2 of the same landscape - possibly happier clouds.

Watercolor Painting 3 African Violets - off balance on the paper and not worrying about paper curl as yet. 

Watercolor Painting 4 Indoor House Plants started. Trying out the tape borders to help with the paper curl. Will see how this works out.

I think I miss my acrylic paint.

Shop, Share, Follow, Like, Comment and do all the social things for my painting Artworks!

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Commissions are open!

To Shop for paintings, please go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comments are welcome!

Post 151: Book Review: Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon

Book Review: Steal Like an Artist

Author: Austin Kleon

Edition Year: 2012

Website: https://austinkleon.com/

Think about it, every pose, every stance, every expression has already been painted, drawn, sketched, and photographed. Every animal, bird, insect, flower, and tree has been the subject of the same. Every mountain, ocean wave, sunrise and sunset too. Ok, so as this book and the Bible point out in Ecclesiastes 1:9:

What has been will be again,
    what has been done will be done again;
    there is nothing new under the sun.

Humans have been around for quite awhile and we have rehashed what has been done before us, seen by most anyone, said before by someone else, thought of by many, written about by some, or painted by another artist in the past. That is fine, we each have to live our own life and paths and takes on things.

What I like about this book is that Austin Kleon describes that this is what we do and need to do - just put your own creative take or twist on it. Or even our own colors on it.

As noted in a previous post, my aunt and I are house sitting in Richmond, Virginia for my cousin while they are away. It's been relaxing. The "Steal Like an Artist" book I found in the guest room belongs to my cousin and it was a fun read.  I especially liked his notes on daily logging "What are the best things that happened today?" Focus on the great things in life, while learning to deal - properly - with the less agreeable things. Keep up the good fight, keep doing YOUR thing, keep working and moving forward.

Back to the pool...although this morning I had to fish out the biggest frog I have EVER seen.

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Like my paintings? Need a handmade, original painting 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 in the form, or on my Facebook link. To Shop for paintings, please go to Donna Liguria Art on Etsy at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt to shop my available Artwork.

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