Monday, November 21, 2022

Post 283: Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, Virginia As It Once Was

Blue Ridge Shores As It Once Was

I did some of my growing up at Blue Ridge Shores many moons ago. Spending my teenage years there was fun and when I see the main beach when I go to visit family there, I see it as it used to be too. This series of mini BRS paintings are how I remember the days at the lake. 

From the red, blue, yellow and green umbrellas that we used to hang our beach towels from and those big red and white barrels marking the swimming area - a LOT of time was spent on that beach. A lot of those houses were not there in the background as yet either, although my aunt's house at the top of the hill certainly was.

Painting Name: BRS Memory 1

SKU: 11FO22ACM
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 3x4 Mini Stretched Canvas with Easel
Edition Year: 2022
Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

There is a mini sand castle, bucket and shovel in the foreground as well.

Painting Name: BRS in 1970s 2

SKU: 11FP22ACM
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 3x4 Mini Stretched Canvas with Easel
Edition Year: 2022
Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop


Painting Name: BRS Main Beach Retro 3

SKU: 11FQ22ACM
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 3x4 Mini Stretched Canvas with Easel
Edition Year: 2022
Check Availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop


Interested in a BRS Mini Painting? 

I also painted a series of Blue Ridge Shores Mini Paintings as they are today. All of the minis are available on Etsy @DonnaLiguriaArt - also found directly at Etsy Blue Ridge Shores






Other Blog Posts about BRS

I have written other blog posts about Blue Ridge Shores as well as painted a few other things at the lake, including some Blue Heron paintings. If you search on "Blue Ridge Shores" those should come up, here are a couple of them...

https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/2022/07/post-261-day-at-blue-ridge-shores.html

https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/2021/06/blue-ridge-shores-louisa-virginia.html

I hope you enjoy.

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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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Thursday, November 17, 2022

Post 282: I Miss Green on the Trees Already

I Miss Green on the Trees Already

Painting Name: To View a Tree

As November creeps by and the leaves lazily, if not determinedly, sashay toward the ground, leaving bony arms lifted skyward, I miss the green that was there not so long ago. 


SKU: 11FN22ACG
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 18x24 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2022
Prints Available Upon Request or on Etsy

What Brought About this Painting?

And I think, I don't have to miss the green on the trees, I can paint them.

Then comes the naming of a painting. I had a previous tree painting called "Just Look Up", and another called "Up in the Trees". Ok, been there, done that. Then comes to mind the poem by "Trees" by Joyce Kilmer...but can't use anything from that I think, although "Only God Can Create a Tree" is awesome. Alas, I settled on "To View a Tree".

"To View a Tree" is another play on "Just Look Up" as I do like that view. The painting is nearly done, hence, the blog post. Like it?

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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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Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Post 281: Artists Sunday is Nov 27, 2022 Shop Local Art

Artists Sunday is Nov 27, 2022 Shop Local Art

It's that time again - Artists Sunday is Thanksgiving weekend. https://artistssunday.com/

Black Friday - Nov 25

Small Business Saturday - Nov 26

Artists Sunday - Nov 27

Use the hashtags #shopart #artistssunday along with #shoplocalart and more to include YOU if you are an artist! #DonnaLiguriaArt #supportlocalartists #buylocalart

Artists get listed here https://artistssunday.com/artists/ 


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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!


Sunday, November 6, 2022

Post 280: Paint! Manassas First Place: Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station

Paint! Manassas First Place: Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station 

Friday, November 4, 2022  My painting of the Manassas Train Station won first place for the 15th Annual Paint! Manassas sponsored by p-ART-ners! 


Artist: Donna Liguria
Title: Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 16x20 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2022
Check availability and Prints on my Etsy Shop

Local Scenes by Local Artists

Artists that wanted to participate were tasked to register and paint a scene within the boundaries of the Historic Manassas area, within a period of time of late September to October 24 - to start and finish their entries. The canvas or surface had to be a maximum of 16x20 or under and be signed on the back by specific person or location reps. 


There was also a date set aside for plein air painting too.


On Monday, October 24, the artists needed to bring their works to Grounds Central Station to be juried into the contest and be on display. Jurors selected from about 19 or 20 local artist's works and the artwork was hung in the coffee shop. The artwork was 'judged' and the winners were announced on Friday, Nov 4 during Gallery Walk.


Was I surprised to be selected! ALL of the artwork is fantastic by these local artists!


The painting is still on display in Historic downtown Manassas at Grounds Central Station and is for sale. There are some wonderful pieces being shown there and the People's Choice voting will continue for the month as well.






Go by and see it! I have a second piece also on the walls called "Sunrise at Historic Manassas ARTFactory".

And then go upstairs to the Lovejoy Gallery on Main and see the artwork there too, I have 4 pieces on display. Then you should stop at Creative Brush Studio/Gallery and see the Small Works art show, I have one painting showing there.
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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!

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Post 279: Manassas First Friday, Gallery Walk, Paint! Manassas, MAG, Lovejoy, Creative Brush and Grounds Central

Manassas First Friday, Gallery Walk, Paint! Manassas, MAG, Lovejoy, Creative Brush and Grounds Central 

Oh, what a night...hey, that's a song. Friday, November 4, 2022 in Manassas, Virginia in Old Town, there were a lot of things going on. From Gallery Walk to First Friday, art was everywhere - in every nook, cranny and coffee shop. 

I began the evening arriving at 3:30pm to Centerfuse to set up with the Manassas Art Guild for our art show. That's the trick, get there BEFORE they shut the streets down at 4 and get your car into the nearby parking garage. Yep, that tow truck got someone that didn't read the sign and one of our artists got a ticket. Get there, unload and RUN!!

Manassas Art Guild (MAG) Art Show

So along with the crew from MAG, we setup the gridwalls in Centerfuse, hung the art and in my case, set up a table for my mini paintings - with the addition of some mini painting ornaments this time.

Thanks to Bettie Sperty and Michelle Baker for the additional photos. By the way, you can click on the photos to enlarge.










Grounds Central Station with P-ART-NERS and Paint! Manassas

Recently, I took part in the Paint! Manassas contest hosted by P-ART-ners, a non-profit art group in Manassas. All of the artists needed to follow certain instructions to enter but the main part was that the artwork needed to be something in Historic Downtown Manassas. The artwork that was juried in is hanging on the walls at Grounds Central Station - a wondeful coffee shop on Main Street. I had submitted two paintings. Several of the other MAG artists had submitted artwork as well, including Michele Frantz who owns P-ART-ners. 

At 7:25, we went over to the coffeeshop because Michele Frantz was announcing the winners at 7:30...

There are some totally awesome artists on display and it is just mind blowing the work that they do in various mediums.
 


Low and behold - I WON FIRST PLACE!!





Lovejoy on Main Gallery 

Upstairs from the coffee shop, is the grand opening of the Lovejoy Gallery on Main, so up the stairs we go. Just inside the door is my "Strutting My Peacock Stuff" painting, along with other local artists. I recognized a few fellow Prince William Art Society (PWAS) artists names on the walls and also ran into them inside and out.




My "Streams Never Remain the Same"


A lot of glare from the lights by here is my "Garden Walkway"


And finally, my "No One Can Teach Riding So Well As a Horse"


Mark Murphy (center) and Michelle Baker (right)


How'd this photo get in here?

And at Creative Brush Studio Gallery

I didn't have a chance to run up the street to Creative Brush Studio to see the new "Small Works" art show, but I do plan on going to the reception on Sunday from 2-6. It's open to the public so come by and meet the artists. I have one artwork there called "Mahogany Humidor". I'll post those pictures afterwards.

Go by Creative Brush Studio, Lovejoy Gallery and grab a coffee at Grounds Central Station this month with the artwork - you can also do a People's Choice vote at the coffee shop for Paint! Manassas.

And support the arts!

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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!

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Post 278: The Benefits of Volunteering

Getting Involved in Your Local Art Group

The benefits of joining your local art group are numerous and well, truly invaluable. You are joining, communicating and gaining experiences, growth, and making connections with other local fine artists and crafters - from professional to beginners - and sharing your love of art with and learning from them.

Front entrance of Open Space Arts at Stonebridge art gallery in Woodbridge, VA

Benefits of Joining an Art Group

Joining your local art group - which may go by various names, like society, guild, artisans, league, or council - is not just for when you retire, there are artists of every age within most. Some art groups include families while other groups have a minimum age of 18 and older. It most certainly is for artists of any age and dependent upon that groups by laws, so be sure and do the research.

Art groups can be localized, regional or national, and they can be specialized to specific mediums. Examples are American Watercolor Society, Colored Pencil Society of America, Oil Painters of America, National Watercolor Society and more.

Art Benefits Include:

  • Making a name for yourself close to home
  • Learn about upcoming art shows and exhibits, and Calls for Art
  • Be inspired, rejuvenated, and build camaraderie with other artists
  • Take part in art competitions
  • Potential workshops and/or class participation
  • Potential ability to display artwork in the art group's studio, gallery, shows, etc.
  • Attend various art exhibitions, museums - art "field trips"
  • Potential "Featured Artist" or "Artist of the Month" or voted "Best in Show"
  • Networking with people in your local art world
  • Build friendships
  • Show off, share, and teach what you know and do
  • Possibility to enter various art events as a group member with less expense than being a solo artist
  • The art group's promotion and social media, advertising and marketing for art events means exposure for you as well

The Make-up of the Art Group

Art groups are usually non-profit groups with options and fee structures around their membership opportunities - individuals might be students, adults, senior adults over 60, family units and/or sponsorship levels supporting the arts. Art groups charge an annual fee to join and typically take a percentage of sales. Their income goes toward group activities, office supplies, business and banking fees, art entry fees, scholarship funds and many other day-to-day business expenses, learning experiences and/or causes.

Typically, the group has a Board of Directors with a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer as well as Committees with a Committee Chair (leader) including Social Media Chair, an Event, Publicity, Hospitality, and Programs Chair, and potentially more. Each of these positions are volunteer positions. Depending on the art group, there may also be an art space(s) that are "manned" on a volunteer basis as well.

The Board of Directors are usually voted on while that Committees are volunteer positions. Strong, knowledgeable leaders are needed to help the entire group - running the monthly meetings and the Board meetings. The various Directors and Committee Chairs will need to interact with the community in order to develop art opportunities for the art group to display and sell at.
As you can probably guess, volunteers as a "candidate" for the Board or as volunteering on Committees is an absolute MUST for any art group to function, and to function well. 

Sample Duties of Executive Board

The Board positions can typically run for one or two years.

President: Chairs the Executive Board and presides at all meetings of the society. The President shall convene at least 6 Executive Board Meetings each year. Prepares agendas for all general membership meetings and Executive Board meetings: delegates responsibilities and assigns tasks to Executive Board members; monitors status and completion of those tasks, provides signature on legal documents; serves as liaison between public, other organizations, and the Society. Coordinates functions with other offices.

Vice President: Acts as the assistant to the President and fulfills the duties of the President in her/his absence. The Vice President acts as liaison with Committee Chairpersons, and with society members.  

Secretary: Records minutes and attendees of executive Board Meetings, and general membership meetings. In addition, the Secretary takes care of correspondence as requested by the Board. The Secretary should maintain a current copy of the by-laws with any amendments noted and any special rules adopted by the organization.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive all Society funds, deposit them in a Virginia bank and pay all bills out of this account. The Treasurer shall present a brief report at each meeting of the Society Revenues and Expenses. The Treasurer should assist in preparing for the Annual Budget. Among other duties are renewal of the yearly Corporation license, the Liability Insurance and the renewal of dues to Prince William Art Council. Maintains an inventory list and location of all Society property.

Member-at-Large: The Member-at-Large should be elected by the members to represent their interest at the Executive Board level.

Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering your time for any great group or cause is an admirable quality that makes each of us feel good.

  • Meet other artists that you will learn from and engage with. You know artists are a creative bunch, so you will meet some highly motivated, creative people to bounce ideas off of and perhaps borrow ideas from.
  • Volunteering sure looks good on the resume, especially if you are out of work.
  • Working with other art volunteers in these art groups opens up some opportunities that you may not be able to do on your own and potentially be less expense. True, doing a solo art show means that your sales are your own, but after exhibition space fees, a tent, tables, display stands and all the work involved with setup and take down, being in an art group distributes the load and costs. Everyone pitches in to get the job done.
  • Learn more about the business of art.
  • Any artist needs to get out of the studio on occasion and turn the "starving artist" or "lonely artist" myth into a more active and social art life.  
  • Most art groups have their own websites and social media sites which can provide ways to be seen and linked.
  • Getting asked to do a demo may offer benefits as well.
  • It's good for the soul - health benefits too!
  • And much more.

Individuals that decide to join an art group will need to drop the ego at the door. Encouraging each other, learning, growing, and helping inexperienced artists are on the to do list. It is not a competition. You are not joining to be an art critic nor be criticized. Being a prima donna isn't being part of the team and the art group needs to function as a team with everyone pulling duty in one way or another.
 
Each of us need to balance our own time between our families, our art and/or work, and volunteering with the art group(s) that we join.
 
With ALL of that being said, I personally look at it as everyone's duty to "spread the word" about your group, your team's art events and even when possible, a group member's links and accomplishments. It could be anything from sharing brochures at work and inviting friends and family to see the show to sharing events online to social media and your contact lists. 
The Prince William Art Society has been an art group for 50 years BECAUSE artists have stepped up and volunteered to make it happen. Getting involved will help to continue this group and any group you become a member of.
 
For more information, here is a good article:

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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!