Friday, March 20, 2026

Post 433: 75th Annual Fredericksburg Fine Arts Show Mar 20-22, 2026

75th Annual Fredericksburg Fine Arts Show Mar 20-22, 2026

Thursday, March 19, 2026 Artist Reception for the 75th Annual Fine Arts Show and Sale at the Dorothy Hart Community Center in Fredericksburg, VA. On March 20th, is the official opening of the show with the celebration of the Women's Club of Fredericksburg 75th Show! A reception is scheduled for the opening today.

Website: https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/1306/Fine-Art-Show

(click on any photo to enlarge)

On With the Show

This annual show is interesting in that they don't jury the entries, they take a maximum amount of art until it fills. Your artwork is delivered the Sunday before the show and the artist "viewing" or reception is on the evening before the show officially opens. When the artists arrive, they are given a brochure and an awards list. I was very surprised to learn I won Honorable Mention for one of my entries in Acrylics!

The room has the gridwalls set up in rows and the artwork is hung according to medium used and the amount of entries per category. A row(s) of oil paintings, of watercolors, of acrylics, of drawings, mixed media, photography, and the 3D art is up front and around the room on pedestals. Awards are given per category 1st, 2nd, 3rd and an Honorable Mention and there is a Best of Show.

The artists begin to look for their artworks...and at some point, the show judge gives the "judge talk" on his/her art selection process. We understood there were 250 entries to this show. Everyone also votes for the people's choice, or popular artwork which will be announced at the show's end on Sunday, March 22, 2026.

My "Garden Patio" acrylic painting won an Honorable Mention ribbon in the acrylic category. PWAS member Terry Sandlin's artwork is below mine.

The art show's judge Sarah Lykins Entsminger

The judge talk given to the artists and guests

3D Artworks

Best of Show with the tri-color ribbon

The upper artwork (right) is by Sandra McClelland Lewin in the acrylics section

The lower artwork is by Sandra McClelland Lewin in the acrylics section

Catherine Hillis, if you remember was the juror for the Prince William Art Society's (PWAS) Best of the Region Show that we held at the ARTfactory in June 2025. She won first place in the Watercolors.

Sandra McClelland Lewin's artwork in acrylics

Best of Show

Sandra with her art

My other entry was "On the Table" in acrylics

So if you need something to do this weekend, go see the show in Fredericksburg! It is held at the Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal Street, Fredericksburg, VA.

Friday, March 20, 2026, 10am–8pm

Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10am–6pm

Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10am–4pm

Complete Winners List

Thank you for visiting! I would appreciate it if you Share, Comment, a please Follow My Blog!

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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.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Post 432: Upcoming Art Shows for 2026

2026 Art Shows

The art show season begins early in the year, perhaps depending on where you live, it is year around. Nonetheless, there are art shows scheduled throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall that I, along with many of the other area artists enter faithfully every year. And some shows spring up with little or no advance warning on occasion, hence the need for some art inventory! Let's take a look at what is on my spidey art radar so far in 2026.

January 2026

Somehow, I did not paint anything new from the end of November 2025 until the beginning of February 2026. Sometimes you just have other things you must get done. I did not enter any shows but I heavily updated my Etsy page! Not sure WHY, but I had a very good January on Etsy too. Perhaps folks were spending their Christmas money.

Donna Liguria Art's Etsy Page

February 2026

Did not enter any shows, but continued to update my Etsy page (on going).
Time to start submitting some art! I missed entering one of the shows at the Falls Church Arts group's gallery space. And the PWAS art group missed the Bluebell Festival Show too. I do like that art show!

March 2026

75th Annual Fredericksburg Fine Arts Show & Sale

Friday, March 20, 2026, 10am–8pm
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 10am–6pm
Sunday, March 22, 2026, 10am–4pm
at the Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal Street.
Free admission, the public is invited to attend

2024 Me with "No One Can Teach Riding So Well As A Horse"

Etsy updates are ongoing as well as needing to rehash the Donna Liguria Art Website.

April 2026

Applied to or submitted art to enter several shows. Just because you pay to enter, doesn't necessarily mean that your art is accepted to show in many of these shows. They are juried (which means someone selects what will show).

Spring Art at the Mill at the Burwell-Morgan Mill - 2 of my artworks were accepted.

15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA
Saturday, April 18, 2026 through Sunday, May 3, 2026
Art reception on Sunday, April 26.

Burwell-Morgan Mill photo taken 2025 by Donna Liguria

Annaburg Manor will probably host several shows through the year with April 24 being the first show. I entered several to this show but I do not know yet if I got in.

9201 Maple Street, Manassas, VA 20110

April 24-26, 2026

Art Reception April 24

2025 Annaburg Manor photo by Donna Liguria

May 2026

May 2, 2026 Spring Tall Oaks - the PWAS art group members show art at the community center next to the pool.

Time TBD
12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA

Tall Oaks Community Building photo by Donna Liguria

June 2026

June 27 - August 15, 2026 Creative Brush Studio "America the Beautiful". I hope to have a few pieces ready for this show.

8951 Center Street Manassas VA. 20110
Art Reception Saturday, June 27 11am-5pm

2021 Creative Brush Small Works Show, top left is "Great Horned Owl" by Donna Liguria

July 2026

ARTfactory in Manassas, VA. The Prince William Art Society will have a member art show with the theme of "Nostalgia" coming up. I'll be looking through my inventory and painting some new art to enter this show.

"Sunrise at Historic ARTfactory" by Donna Liguria

August 2026

Time to start thinking about the fall seasonal shows and applying to them. The Fall Tall Oaks Show, the Fall Art at the Mill, and Annual Piedmont Regional Show at The Plains calls for art will come out in August and September.

September 2026

Fall Art at the Mill TBD

15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, VA
Show Dates
Art reception

"Art Delivery to Art at the Mill" by Donna Liguria

October 2026

Oct. 2026 The Annual Piedmont Regional Art Show

Exact Date and Time TBD

Art Reception TBD

6507 Main St, The Plains, VA 20198

There is a fee to enter - at least for the Art Reception. Check before you go. Artists get a pass for the AR.

Grace Church at The Plains by Donna Liguria

Oct. 2026 Fall Tall Oaks Art Show - the PWAS art group members show art at the community center next to the pool.
Time TBD
12298 Cotton Mill Drive, Woodbridge, VA

2023 Fall Tall Oaks Show by Donna Liguria

Arts Alive TBD as the PWCAC has been discontinued, do not know the status of the show. Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

Hylton Performing Arts Center George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA photo by Donna Liguria

November 2026

The Fall ARTfactory show may be on the calendar again. This used to be the Artist Inventory Sale.

December 2026

PWAS Art Group has a members only Christmas party and do not meet.

Any art shows are TBD. As updates to the schedule occur, I'll update this blog!

Art Inventory

You quickly realize as an artist that you do need a LOT of inventory to enter shows, for several very important reasons:

Many art shows do not want you to resubmit art they have seen before. This means you need to track ALL of your art and where its been and when.
Some art shows have themes, so your work needs to clearly "fit" the display they are promoting for their guests. This means that you may end up with a lot of art that is for specific types of shows - for better or worse.
Artists gotta create and try new things, so its an ongoing NEED to make new art. Storing all that art begins to be a challenge in many a studio or home.
If an artist is scheduling a solo art show, the artist will need a cohesive body of work that the art space/gallery will display in a way that 'tells a story'.
Often, size does matter when it comes to art, which is a blessing and a curse in calls for art shows. Watching the size restrictions - both minimum and maximum sizes may shut out not only some of your art, but artists that only work large, or potentially work very small.

Have anything to add? Drop it in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting! I would appreciate it if you Share, Comment, a please Follow My Blog!

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Friday, February 27, 2026

Post 431: About the Blank Canvas

About the Blank Canvas

What came first? The blank canvas or the image of what would be on that canvas? What is your painting surface of choice? Want to learn more about canvases? This blog post has a look at this art vehicle in your artistic journey, studying the types, sizes, canvas prep, framing, shipping, storage, and buying canvases.

Assorted Canvases - photo by Donna Liguria

Types of Canvas

Canvases are made of various materials, come in an assortment of sizes, and may be created for specific purposes and medium uses.

Beginner Canvas

Save your "cheaper" canvases for art practice when developing as a beginner, art classes, or to learn a new style. These would be any "value packs", .75 width canvases, side or back-stapled canvases. Potentially, you could use the canvas panels as well.

Professional Canvas

Professional artists - fine art creators will use the best quality of canvases either cotton or linen that they can buy. Typical canvases used are in a gallery-wrapped presentation and are often ready-made and pre-primed.

DIY Canvas: I've heard from artists in my art group that when they were in college taking their art courses and the horrors of having to learn how to stretch and make their own canvases from scratch. Sure, anyone can make their own and perhaps depending on the size needed for some projects, they might need to. You do you of course.

See How to Stretch Canvas Painting: Easy Step-by-Step Guide

A Guide to Stretching Canvas / Jackson's Art

https://youtu.be/HP2lksxZKg4

Stretched Canvas - ready-to-use, ready-to-go, already primed (usually) canvas stretched over a frame.

Studio Wrapped Canvas - a stretched canvas of usually less than an inch where the staples may be visible and will often require framing.

Splined Canvas - the canvas is attached to the frame, not with staples, but with a spline (like used in screen doors).

Gallery Wrapped - this is a method of stretching canvas on the wooden frame so that it wraps over and around the sides, tucking and hiding the staples that attach the canvas to the frame. Often, there is not any need to frame a 1.5 depth gallery wrapped canvas because of the crisp and clean presentation. The artist can also paint the sides so that the view of the artwork is seamless from different angles.

Cotton Canvas - this is the most common type of canvas in use today and is the more affordable choice. Cotton comes in a variety of weights and weaves and good for most painting techniques.

Plain Canvas - standard type for general purpose.

Duck Canvas - tightly woven fabric, durable, suitable for heavy-duty use.

Linen Canvas - made from the fibers of the flax plant, canvases made of linen tend to be very durable and are definitely more expensive. Linen canvas is also less prone to stretching and sagging than cotton. See Linen Canvas 101: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying

Synthetic Canvas - made from nylon and polyester for use with waterproof applications.

Other Canvases - include hemp (coarser texture), jute (low durability), and ramie (used in blends).

Canvas Panels - a piece of canvas glued to a rigid board like Masonite, cardboard, or wood (a backing board), generally is pre-primed, is light-weight and easy to store. The canvas panel is excellent for traveling, plein air painting, and classrooms, but will require framing when showing.

Canvas Rolls - when you desire to create your own stretched canvas, rolled canvas is an option. These will need to be stretched and primed.

Watercolor Canvas - a more recent addition to the world of canvases, is similar to cold-pressed paper but more durable and can be stretched onto a frame like a more traditional canvas. The cotton canvas has been coated in a special formula allowing the surface to be more absorbent and able to accept water-based paints. The watercolor canvas also affords the opportunity to hang the artwork without framing or being under glass.

See What Is It Like to Use Watercolor Canvas?

Art Prints on Canvas - allows artists to have their artwork presented as ready to hang much like regular paintings. Flat giclee art prints require alternative packaging or framing that the art print on canvas may not. The print on canvas also is not of the original work.

Canvas Size

Canvases come in any size and shape, but there are the common sizes to consider, because there are common-sized frames that are ready-made and less expensive than a custom frame. While most galleries and art shows want the studio canvases framed, the gallery wrapped 1.5 depth canvas will typically need to be painted to include the sides and are typically not required to be framed.

Standard and common canvas sizes are in inches.

ART TIP 1: I've started to be more specific in my artwork descriptions to include the depth with the size as well. For example 16x20x1.5 or 16x20x.75. I've had clients ask how deep the canvas is because they were building a gallery wall in a hallway and didn't want the deeper canvas to profile that far outward.

Mini Canvas - great for gifts, small home accessories, ornaments, served best sometimes with a mini easel

Small Canvas - terrific for portraits, small landscapes, gift paintings, practice studies, plein air

4x4 - 4x4x1.5 I call "Bookcase Art" because it stands up easily on its own on a table or shelf
5x7
6x6
8x10
9x12
10x10

Medium Canvas - popular for still life, portraits, art competitions, landscapes

11x14
12x12
12x16
16x16
16x20
18x24

Large Canvas - great for bold statements, dramatic compositions, detailed landscapes, excellent for abstracts

20x24
24x30
24x36
30x40

Extra Large Canvas - for even bolder statements, dramatic compositions, detailed landscapes, excellent for abstracts

30x30
36x36
40x40

There is a point where a large canvas is not fitting in your car, you know. I remember being in the parking lot at a local Home Goods and watching a couple of women trying to figure out how to fit an art print on canvas they had just purchased into their vehicle. I knew it wasn't going to fit, that sucker was BIG...and they finally realized it and took it back into the store to figure out their next steps.

ART TIP 2: There are plenty of artists that only paint huge works and that's fine. There are also artists that paint mainly smaller works and that's fine too. A person's studio (or car!) may dictate the top canvas size a person could potentially store or move but also consider that some art spaces and shows ask for minimum or maximum size allowances for their needs as well. These requirements could potentially limit an artist's preferred canvas size. Generally, I consider having multiple price points (canvas or print sizes) for potential buyers as the better path.

See Canvas Sizes: Ultimate Guide for Standard, Custom & Specialized Dimensions

Canvas Prep for Painting

Canvas, in its raw form will need to be prepared in at least a few ways, and layers before paint for the actual artwork can be applied.

Sizing Layers (Size)

Sizing is the first layer and is a clear coating applied to the raw canvas, which seals the fibers providing a barrier. Types of sizing include: Rabbit Skin Glue (RSG), Acrylic Medium (Gloss or Matte), Gelatin, and Acrylic Sealers. The sizing will prevent the canvas fibers from absorbing too much paint.

Priming Layers (Primer, Gesso)

Acrylic Gesso is a primer that gives the canvas a smooth and durable surface compatible with acrylic and oil paints. Types of Gesso include Titanium White Gesso, Clear Gesso, Black Gesso, and Tinted Gesso. There are also solvent-based oil painting primer for use specifically with oil painting. It is advised to sand with fine-grit sandpaper between layers.

Some acrylic gesso can function similarly to sizing, but the gesso isn't a direct substitute for the traditional sizing methods.

Under-painting Layer (Ground)

The under-painting is a groundwork or base layer allowing the artist to establish structure, value, and contrast. A thinned-down layer of acrylic paint (a wash) establishes shadows, highlights, and tonal values.

See Size, Primer, Gesso and Ground Explained

Painting Layers

The actual painting of the artwork is very often processed in layers. Layers are achieved in various coats of paint applied one over the other to achieve depth, texture, and richness and meaning to the artwork.

Sealing Layers

Sealing Layer is an essential step in the painting process enhancing the longevity and resistance to any environmental damage. This protection is from dust, moisture, fading over time, and surface unification. Types of sealers include Acrylic Sealant or Varnish (brush or spray applications), typically available in matte, satin, or glossy. Varnishing can also enhance the colors of the painting as well.

Topcoat Layer

UV-resistant acrylic varnish is an additional barrier against sunlight and lighting damage.

Canvas - To Frame or Not to Frame That is the Question

Depending on where you want your art career to go and the choices in canvas surfaces, there are times when framing is a must. Framing adds to the costs in pricing, the weight in shipping, and potentially the Buyer's choice when deciding to purchase.

If you plan on selling artworks on canvas, entering art shows and selling in galleries, framing artwork has specific rules that must be adhered to. On the Prince William Art Society's Display requirements page, it is required to have canvas panels, side stapled and back stapled .75 width artworks to be framed. Always read any art show or gallery's call for art requirements to know what their expectations are.

Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvases are usually exempt from mandatory framing in Calls for Art, although painting the sides is required.

A good question to ask is do artworks sell more with a frame or without, with a basic and simple frame or something more elaborate? What do you think?

See Zee Berrios' recommendation in Selling Art 1 and To Frame or Not to Frame: A Guide for Artists Selling Their Work

Shipping a Canvas

The world is your oyster because you can sell artwork and ship it to anyone, anywhere in the world. Great. Now, how do you do that? What will it cost? Do you need to insure it? Even more so, how do you send that canvas as safely as possible?

Some of the answers about shipping I cannot answer here. In my Etsy Account, I opted to only offer shipping at the national level at this time, so it is fairly straight forward to configure the shipping costs for size of painting, its weight, and location.

The artist will need to have the right supplies so that he or she can 1. Safely; 2. Professionally; 3. Efficiently - send the artwork to the Buyer:

Glassine Paper (and/or) Plastic Palette Wrap - acid-free materials!
Bubble Wrap - do NOT let this wrap come in contact directly with the artwork!
Corner Protectors
Cardboard Sheets or Foam Board
Packing Tape/Gun
Cardboard Box - never use a previously used box for your fine art!
Kraft Paper or Packing Peanuts* - be careful if using the peanuts!
Sharpie Marker, Scissors, Knife/Box Cutter
Self Healing Cutting Mat
T-Square
Box Sizer Cutting Tool
Fragile Stickers, Do Not Bend Stickers
If rolling the canvas, Cardboard Tubes
Gloves
Weight Shipping Postal Scale
Shipping Label Printer

Your in home Shipping Station or chosen shipping method will determine the exact items you will need. Do a deep-dive into the research of shipping by exploring these articles:

FedEx - How to Ship Artwork

The UPS Store - Ship Artwork

How Much to Ship a Canvas Painting: Essential Tips for Cost-Effective Shipping

ART TIP 3: Always wrap the painting with the bubbles on the bubble wrap facing OUT! The bubbles can imprint on the artwork.

How to Mail a Canvas Painting Safely: Your Complete Guide

How to Ship Paintings / A Step-by-Step Guide for Artists and Galleries

ART TIP 4: Look up some YouTube videos as well on artists shipping their artworks to watch their process AND to get some great ideas on other artist's processes. I've seen some awesome, beautifully packed artwork that include the artwork's Certificate of Authenticity, a customized hand-written thank you note and business card. Some artists used beautiful ribbons and ties. Other ideas are a discount code for a future purchase and an art care document. The key here is to make it pretty, like the Buyer is receiving a gift.

ART TIP 5: Before purchasing multiple sized shipping boxes and envelopes, decide the sizes of canvas and /or prints you are willing and able to ship. Purchasing your chosen size selections in bulk is less expensive but you will need to store that inventory in your Shipping Station. You certainly do not need a container for each size of canvas or print, so configure your options. Of course, a box sizer cutting tool will help too.

Where to Buy Canvases

Locally - check your local Hobby Lobby, Michaels, well, even Walmart has canvases (but I'd use those as more a beginner or practice canvas). See if you have an actual brand name art supply store near you like Plaza Art, Blick Art, Utrecht Art, or an arts and crafts store. Do look at your local art stores for sales events before heading out and it might be good to stock up whenever they have a great sale.

ART TIP 6: Do check local thrift stores. I recently watched a video where the creator went to various stores like Burlington, Walmart, etc and purchased inexpensive, already framed artworks with smooth surfaces on canvas and took them home, primed them and then he painted his own artwork on top. The frame would need to be taped off to protect it of course, but what an interesting way to begin.

Check your local Facebook Marketplace for well priced options too.

Online - most big brand name artist supply stores have a website and offer shipping. The selections will be -awesome-. Again, look for art sales on your favorite brands.

Of course, there's always Amazon! And Michaels offers delivery and bulk buying options.

Jackson's Art Supplies

Artist & Craftsman Supply

Mister Art

MichaelsPro

I've read that Cheap Joe's Art Stuff in Asheville, NC closed, but a local company may have purchased it and plans on continuing the store.

Storing Canvases

We all must remember that canvases are very fragile things, and after the artist paints it, for the artist at least, a very valuable commodity. Getting paintings to and from art shows, shipping, and simply storing your unsold art inventory will need to be addressed as those canvases potentially start filling up your art studio.

See Storing Your Artwork

Alrighty then, my fellow artists, what tips or suggestions would you add about the world of canvases? What is your favorite brand? Drop a comment below and let us know!

This post was first published on the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog in January 2026.

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