Thursday, July 22, 2021

Post 158: A Painting in Progress - Jellyfish Hijinks

A Painting in Progress: Jellyfish Hijinks

It is rather amazing that something so -yukky- can be so beautiful. Beautiful and terrifying. Beautiful to see floating and drifting about but -do not touch- ! They can sting (even if dead) and some of them can kill.

SKU: 07CI21ACL2
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 8x16 Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2021
Framed?: No
Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

Painting in Progress Images…

What would you name this Jellyfish Painting? Help me name it! "Jellyfish" just doesn't seem right...

Ok, I came up with one. Jellyfish Hijinks. It works. Playful, mischievous, rowdy activity as perpetrated by the jellyfish.

Wondering a bit online whilst considering the jellyfish, I had in mind "on the ocean, blue"...and I found this band called The Ocean Blue and the name of the song is "Between Something and Nothing" https://youtu.be/SCIEv73PF4Y - nice lyrics...

"...Could not convey the meaning, Of what this man has done, In a painting, On canvas"

This is the PHOTO that my painting will be loosely based on is by Kristy Galecka at https://unsplash.com/@kgalecka13


Photo Credits: Kristy Galecka on Unsplash - think she took the photo viewing an aquarium.

I'm going with a narrow canvas - 8x16. Anyway, I'm starting to wash in the background and layout. Layer, layer, layer...


Thursday, July 22, 2021 12:51 PM - Jellies - I believe these brown jellyfish are Compass Jellyfish. https://www.beaches.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/jellyfish-id-card.pdf


Thursday, July 22, 2021 3:47 PM - I am liking these Jellies!



Friday, July 23, 2021 9:48 AM - I still need a name for Jellyfish. And the debate has begun on is this done or not? What else does it need? Should I stop? What is it missing? Will anything else added start being too much?

The end of a painting is often up for debate. I would think this is true for many artists? How about you?


Let me know what you think, leave a comment below!

The Shop, Share, Follow, Like, Comment links are all here or to the right to do all the social things which I greatly appreciate!

See the "Where to Find Me" Links if you are in Woodbridge, VA to see the art in person.

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.

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

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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.

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

Thursday, July 15, 2021

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.


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

See the Share options and Where to Find Me Links.

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!

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

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!

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

See the Share options and Where to Find Me Links.

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!

Monday, July 12, 2021

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!

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

See the Share options and Where to Find Me Links.

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 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

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

See the Share options and Where to Find Me Links.

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!

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

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!

See the Share options and Where to Find Me Links.

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!