Post 296: Art at the Mill

Art at the Mill - Art Drop

Saturday, March 25, 2023 12:38 pm. I learned something new today after I drove out to Clarke County to drop off my artwork for the Spring 2023 Art at the Mill art show which begins Saturday, April 22 and runs until Sunday, May 7, 2023. It's a beautiful drive that goes through some nice horse country and along the way the wineries are numerous. But the big surprise was to learn that the mill is an actual working mill. And the various types of flour being ground are for sale too. How very cool!

Burwell-Morgan Mill

https://www.clarkehistory.org/art-mill.html

15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, Virginia 22646

I asked how many pieces were juried into this art show and was told just under 1000 pieces of art. The estimated number of artists is around 300. Originally the number to submit for each artist was up to 7 pieces, but this art show the artist could submit up to 5.

A very interesting drop-off process. The volunteers at the mill are easily identifiable - they wear the blue t-shirts. And they promptly offer help to carry in the artwork. The art is taken upstairs to the check-in area. As all of the artwork is submitted and juryied online, the check-in is processed online as well. (And an email acknowledgement is sent per piece too.) 

The next step is to take the artwork to another area for unwrapping and their preprinted sticky labels are affixed to the back. Then the art is promptly taken and hung on the walls. That doesn't mean that the pieces will stay where they are hung, it is to safely "store" them until all are checked in. Then the volunteer army will "hang" the arrangements throughout the building and tweaked and retweaked as art sales happen. 

Art sales can also occur online but must be picked up in person. (No shipping) 

Another table is where the artists can sign up for volunteering at the gallery and pickup printed Art at the Mill invitation cards.

The artwork runs the range of paintings - multiple media types, glasswork, pottery, woodworks, and sculpture. Just walk about the space and many a "wow" is heard and said. I said it often enough!

The water source coming toward the Mill

Water streamed toward the Mill and diversion around the side. Some water is channeled through.

Some of the water stream is diverted away from the Mill

The parking lot side entrance to the mill, water source flowing in

Artifacts from an earlier life at the mill

Bagging the flour

Many artifacts on display

The working Mill - water rotates the mechanisms, grinding the corn, wheat or other grains creating the flour

Across the street is the Locke Store - awesome gourmet cheese, wine and deli store and The Buttery Restaurant at Locke Store. The artist reception is Sunday, April 30 so I'll be back. It is a very nice drive.

The web-gallery online doesn't look like it is published yet, but the show doesn't begin until April 22. Artwork is still being delivered Sunday, March 26, so I am looking forward to seeing ALL of the artwork on display online and going to the show too.  Watch these links for more info: 

https://artatthemillspring2023.artcall.org/pages/location

https://artatthemillspring2023.artcall.org/pages/web-gallery

I have 3 pieces that will be on display:

Sunrise at the Historic Manassas Art Factory 11x14 Acrylic

Mount Vernon 11x14 Acrylic

Sunrise at the Historic Manassas Train Station 16x20 Acrylic - won first place in the 2022 Paint Manassas Art Show

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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 295: Painting in March 2023

Paintings in March 2023

I've been working on several things this month including:

"Bird Bar" - 10x20 acrylic

"Goldfish 1 and 2" - each are 4x4 acrylic

4 Small Landscapes - each are 4x6 acrylic

It's been very cloudy these last couple of days so the lighting here sucks, but here is a peek. 

See the blog post on Artistry Spin Art Adventures in Woodbridge too. 

For today, I'm off to Art at the Mill in Millwood, Virginia to drop off some paintings for their Spring 2023 show. Woohoo - largest art show I have been in so far!

And tomorrow is the last day of the Stonebridge Open Space Arts Women's month show, I'll only have one (?) painting in next month's show in the Past People's Choice Winners section. 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA.

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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 294: Art At The Mill 3 Paintings Accepted!

Art At The Mill 3 Paintings Accepted! 

This is my first time entering Art at the Mill in Millwood, Virginia and I am tickled silly that 3 of my 5 entries were accepted! Here they are...

Sunrise at the Historic Manassas Train Station 16x20 Acrylic

Historic Manassas Art Factory 11x14 Acrylic

Mount Vernon - Virginia Historic Homes Series, 11x14 Acrylic

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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!

Post 293: Birdfeeder Bar

Painting Name: Birdfeeder Bar

Going by your window, you see a bright flash of color. Red. A flurry of bright orangey-red. The cardinals are at the birdfeeder.

SKU: 03F23ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 10x20 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

What Brought About this Painting?

Four cardinals have bellied-up to the bar for their daily dose of seeds from the birdfeeder. Three male cardinals are perched on and around the feeder while the female cardinal dashes by.

This painting is in its "almost finished" state AKA (also known as) Tweak-State. I see that as the artist (me) studying the painting to see what final touchups or changes need to happen. The tweak might be small yet mighty (in a way). Sometimes those very tiny barely there final touches of a paint brush can make a painting. 

I also find it helps to not only look at the painting not only in person, but a photograph of it really makes a flaw stand out - maybe not a flaw, but a troubling area. I proceed with caution...

What do you think, what touch ups would you do?

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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!

Post 292: Open Space Arts Next Art Show and Projects

Open Space Arts Next Art Show and Projects

A flurry of activity and artists (artivity) coming in and out as soon as the gallery closes, marks the end of an art show. The artwork that did not sell at the Open Space Art gallery is coming down from the walls Sunday and Monday, February 26 and 27. A lot of the artwork changed over the month, because a lot of it was sold and replaced with other works, so a very successful show! Hopefully the artists are taking home LESS art and prints than they walked in with a month ago. 

Meanwhile, new artwork comes in and is set around the gallery in preparation of going up on the walls. So what is next to go up in the gallery? 

What is the Next Show at Open Space Arts?
At Open Space Arts at Stonebridge, beginning on March 1, 2023 is 'Women in Literature' for March being Women's month, so the artworks are based on the writings of women. Too bad the Wizard of Oz and Cinderella weren't written by women. I had those covered.

Mini Ruby Slippers 3x4 Acrylic by Donna Liguria

Nonetheless, I do have some artwork and prints in this next art show. I believe there will be 29 total LOCAL Prince William County artists this month, and I have seen some of the artwork submitted....ooooo, what a treat! These are my paintings that will be there. As always, MUCH better in person! 

East Coast Sunrise 20x20 Acrylic - reminded me of a book by Susan Wiggs who wrote Summer By the Sea and Dockside and The Ocean Between Us

Pink Parasol Acrylic 16x20 - reminded me of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women to a degree, perhaps around that time period

Mini Painting Tiger Face 3x4 Acrylic - inspiration Karen Blixen

Wine Party 16x20 Acrylic for Jane Austin Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler because no book club should be without wine. And wine makes a party...

Open Beach Invitation 8x10 Acrylic - again, Susan Wiggs - Summer By the Sea

Mini Canvas Momma Cat and 3 Little Kittens 3x4 Acrylic - inspiration Eliza Lee Cabot Follen who wrote The Three Little Kittens of course.

Mini Canvas 3 Little Kittens 3x4 Acrylic - inspiration Eliza Lee Cabot Follen (update SOLD)

Cape Lookout Lighthouse 12x24 Acrylic - inspiration ML Stedman, the writer of The Light Between Oceans

I keep thinking, "Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my!" But that's The Wizard of Oz again, and L.Frank Baum was a guy.  This was an Animal Skin Pattern Series I did, of a Cheetah, Giraffe, Leopard, Tiger and a Zebra and all are 10x10 in Acrylic. Giraffe sold but I do have prints coming for it. The book author referenced is Karen Blixen, the writer of Out of Africa

Jellyfish Hijinks 8x16 Acrylic - inspired by Rachel Poliquin, the writer of The Strangest Thing in the Sea: And Other Curious Creatures of the Deep

Sun, Sand, Surf Seashore 16x20 Acrylic - Susan Wiggs inspired

Other Painting Projects?

Definitely other painting projects on the easel and planned. Here are a few:

Fly Like an Eagle and Blackbird, both 6x6 in Acrylic and in progress

The Fish Aren't Biting at the Lake 16x20 in Acrylic

I've also been gearing up on my print inventory, updating my Etsy page as well as my website. Of course, blog posts here and on the PWAS Artistry Spin Blog are always on the radar. The gallery has art receptions to go to which are always fun as well. 

But always, the next canvas is always on my mind. How about you?

The Artist Reception is Friday, February 3 at 6:30 and the public is welcome - so come and enjoy the show!

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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!

Post 291: The Fish Aren't Biting at the Lake

Painting Name: The Fish Aren't Biting at the Lake

An acrylic painting by Donna Liguria of fishing on the lake at Blue Ridge Shores in Louisa, Virginia.

SKU: 02E23AC

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 16x20 Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

What Brought About this Painting?

Living at Blue Ridge Shores in Louisa, Virginia meant time on and around the water. From swimming to water skiing to carrying a fishing pole is and was a part of "lake life". Sometimes the fish are biting and you could look forward to a nice fish fry to occasionally, the fish weren't biting today.

Update: February 28, 2023 9:47am Here is an update to the painting

A lot of tweaking from the previous photo below?

The painting is pretty close to done - it's in the studying phase...which means I 'll look at it for a little while and put in a tweak here or there. Maybe. It will eventually end up on my Etsy page, but let me know if you like it or are interested in a print. Other Blue Ridge Shores prints are available on my Etsy page too.

Do you recognize the area of the lake this is?

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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!

Post 290: DonnaLiguriaArt.com Updates

DonnaLiguriaArt.com Updates

My artwork has started off slow here at the beginning of 2023 - but I have been busy. Doing a lot of work around the house and creating blog posts on both the Artistry Spin blog for the Prince William Art Society and my own. I've also been working on updates to my websites...

Do I have any art in any art shows?

YES! I currently have a few art pieces at Open Space Arts at Stonebridge - 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA at the African American Voices and Visions. And I recently attended the opening artist reception there.

Do I have a website?

YES! You can find my website at https://donnaliguriaart.com I've been working on updating the site - made a lot of changes already. Have some of the newer art up, caught up with the more recent shows and some Christmas commission updates.

Do I sell prints?

YES! And I have gotten new shipments in. There are certain ways that prints must be packaged and stored. I'm offering a the prints of my artwork in multiple sizes: 8x10, 8.5x11, 12x12, 11x14, 12x15, and a few other sizes. It depends on the original canvas the painting was on for the print size. If anyone wants a print in a size I don't currently have, I can order it. I have been using GicleeToday and it generally takes about 2 weeks before I get the prints back.

Do I have an Etsy page?

YES! I'm working on the keyword updates and adding new prints to my Etsy shop. You can find it at https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt

And yes, I have a Twitter page, an Instagram, a Facebook, Pinterest... Some I keep up with more than others. I have been prepping some canvases with gesso, so I have some blank canvases looking at me. Hopefully new artwork soon, I HAVE TO! 

How's 2023 going for you?

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Let me know if you like my paintings and if 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, My Website at https://DonnaLiguriaArt.com, 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!