Post 321: The Marshes of Harkers Island, North Carolina

Painting Name: The Marshes of Harkers Island, North Carolina

A painting progression of the marshes at Harkers Island. Follow the blog to see the finished painting!

SKU: 08CF23ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 16x20 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

The Reference Photos Taken at Harkers Island 

It fascinated me to read up on those dead trees you see in the background. They are called "Ghost Trees" and they occur because of the continuous exposure of the tree's root system to the saltwater.  Here are some of the reference photos I took.

Now, let's get this painting in gear.

What Brought About this Painting?

One morning while visiting my friend at her home on Harkers Island in July 2023, we went for a walk with her neighbor on the side of the island near the bridge. I couldn't help myself, as I fell farther and farther behind their pace. There were just soo many great pictures to take. Reference photos, you know. This will be a combination of a couple of photos I took along the road (above).

Painting in Progress Images…

After doing a base color of light blue yesterday (Thursday, August 24, 2023), this morning I started taking this painting seriously and filled in where I wanted it to go. Let the games begin...

Friday, August 25, 2023 8:50pm I made a lot of progress today, but if you stay tuned, you'll see where I'm going with this.

Sunday, August 27, 2023 11:00 am...almost there...

Sunday, August 27, 2023 12:30pm Think this little painting is done. What do you think?

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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 320: A People's Choice Award, Book Shelf Art and More

A People's Choice Award, Book Shelf Art and More 

I've been a busy little Art-Bee recently - painting up a storm - actually painting up the beach paintings. And then surprisingly, I won second place in the People's Choice Awards at Open Space Arts for the July-August Show. I also am the Blog Admin of not only this blog, by the Prince William Art Society's (PWAS) blog called "Artistry Spin". Here are some of the things I've been Art-Beeing, AKA Art Binging, on.

For Those That Serve Art Show at Open Space Arts

In July and August at the Open Space Arts Gallery in Woodbridge, Virginia, my painting "Washington DC Cherry Blossoms" just won Second Place as voted on by the gallery visitors. What a surprise! There was so many, many wonderful paintings for that show - that just ended Sunday, August 20. 

My painting "Washington DC Cherry Blossoms" 10x20 Acrylic on Canvas

Open Space Arts Gallery 15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, Virginia

The new show is called "Strut Your Stuff" which opens Wednesday, August 23, 2023 and will run until September 17. I have about 12-13 pieces in this show. As always, come by the gallery and enjoy ALL of the art.

Book Shelf Art

As many of you know, I paint a lot of mini paintings. They are typically 3x4 mini canvases on about ANY subject and I sell them with the mini easel. I'm also painting a lot of 4x4 gallery wrapped small canvases that do not have a hanging mechanism (wire or hook) that I am now calling "Book Shelf Art". They are meant to be sitting in a book case or shelf (any nook or cranny), and enjoyed there, not taking up any wall space. Here are some samples of what I am currently working on.,

"Bottoms Up" 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas - a swan doing a dive

"Cygnet Fluff Baby" 4x4 Acrylic on Canvas - a baby swan

"Lighthouse 2 Mini" 3x4  Acrylic on Canvas with Easel

"Decoy 4 Head Turn Mini" 3x4  Acrylic on Canvas with Easel

"Decoy and Duck Mini" 3x4  Acrylic on Canvas with Easel

"Sea The Turtle" 4x12 Acrylic on Canvas (wired for hanging also)

And there are so many more minis in my inventory with more on the way. Book Shelf Art makes great gifts too.

Blog Writing Is Ever Ongoing

The PWAS Artistry Spin Blog is found at https://artistryspin.blogspot.com/ On it we have art tips, art shows, member pictures and all the artsy things we are up to. 

Here on my own blog of course, are found what I am up to - paintings, shows, occasionally thoughts (believe it or not, I occasionally have a thought), and/or places I go.

On either blog, your follow, your comments are always welcome and appreciated. The Blog Admin (me) must approve them before they show of course, to weed out the spammers.

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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 319: Art at the Mill Fall 2023 and Open Space Arts - I got in!

Art at the Mill and Open Space Arts - Where My Art Is

Art at the Mill, here I come - again! Open Space Arts, I got art there! My art was accepted to appear in a couple of spots - whoo-hoooo!

Art at the Mill

What a wonderful way to start the day. The jurying process is done, my emails arrived. I got in - again! It is such an honor to be accepted into this show. For the Spring Art at the Mill, they had about 300 artists and about 1000 pieces of art juried into the show. Read that again, 1000 pieces were accepted into the show!

After a wonderful Spring Show at Art at the Mill earlier this year, 3 of my artworks were accepted to the Fall Show which begins Saturday, September 23 and will be up until October 8, 2023. Read more about this wonderful space for art, artists, and art lovers https://www.clarkehistory.org/art-mill.html

15 Tannery Lane, Millwood, Virginia 22646

Art at the Mill is an amazing art show in a wonderfully awesome location. The Mill is a live, working mill filled with artifacts as well as all kinds of artwork. It is a beautiful drive out in the rolling Virginia hills. What is also cool is that you can actually see all of the artwork that will be at the show online and see if your work sells. That part of the show will be available closer to the start date. The public is welcome to purchase online too, but they have to go to the Mill to pick it up.

Here are the three paintings of mine that were accepted for the Art at the Mill, so Clark County, here I come!

Streams Never Stay the Same 11x14 Acrylic on Canvas

Saltwater Aquarium 16x20 Acrylic on Canvas

No One Can Teach Riding So Well as a Horse 18x24 Acrylic on Canvas

Open Space Arts

15000 #140 Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA 

I'm currently showing at Open Space Arts, near Wegmans. I have three pieces on display there as well. This art show will be up until August 20, 2023. I have submitted artwork to appear at the next show, "Strut Your Stuff" so no news on that as yet. Fingers crossed... Here are my pieces currently on display.

America Backs the Blue, 10x10 Acrylic on Canvas (framed)

Harkers Island, North Carolina 16x20 Acrylic on Canvas

Washington Monument Cherry Blossoms 12x24 Acrylic on Canvas

I've got a road-trip coming up! And the Art Reception at Art at the Mill was good too!

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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 318: Latest Paintings with a North Carolina Influence

Latest Paintings with a North Carolina Influence 

After 2 trips to Harkers Island, North Carolina this spring and summer, the influence of the area is most assuredly reflected in my current art trends. And I have many more ideas in my head to do...who knows...the annual Harkers Island Decoy Festival is coming in December...There's a thought.

Have a favorite so far?

Painting Title: Better with Butter Blue Crab

SKU: 07BA23ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 8x8 Stretched Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

Painting Title: Harkers Island Magic

SKU: 07AZ23AC

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 16x20 Stretched Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

Painting Title: Sandpiper Beach Bums

SKU: 07BB23ACG

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 4x12 Stretched Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

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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 317: Harkers Island Magic

Painting Name: Harkers Island Magic

The magic of Harkers Island, North Carolina at sunset. Harkers Island is a part of the Crystal Coast which is the southern-most part of the Outer Banks. The Harkers Island Visitor Center is located on the eastern end of the island, along with the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center.

SKU: 07AZ23AC

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 16x20 Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

Painting in Progress Images…

Watch the painting as it progresses!

Thursday, July 13, 2023 4:10pm started this painting yesterday and its slow going. I took this picture (below) when I was visiting friends at Harkers Island in May 2023 and its the idea behind this painting.

Photo by Donna Liguria May 2023

Much more to come...

Thursday, July 13, 2023 7:10pm Oh, so much to do yet!

Friday, July 14, 2023 11:23am Colors upon colors - that is a sunset and water, nature really

Friday, July 14, 2023 2:42pm One of the docks under construction

Friday, July 14, 2023 3/42pm Now I'm feeling a little better with the pier in there. More tweaking...

Saturday, July 15, 2023 10:19am The seagrass is growing.

Saturday, July 15 20223 3:12pm Got a Strange Magic, oh oh -oh-oh...

Saturday, July 15, 2023 7:50pm Tweaking away!

Sunday, July 16, 2023 10:11am Birds. Ducks. Flight. Something is ALWAYS flying by on Harkers Island. Sometimes walking, often waddling. Occasionally diving or swimming by that breaks the surface of the water. If you're lucky, maybe you can catch the mermaids lounging on your dock, taking in the sunset. The birds will be flying in next on the painting.

Saturday, July 29, 2023 10:36am I was just at Harkers Island and got back Thursday, July 27 after spending a wonderful time with friends. I took many pictures - reference photos for a lot of ideas for more paintings.

The finished painting, Harkers Island Magic

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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 316: Lightening Bug Summer

Painting Name: Lightening Bug Summer

A remembrance of summer as a kid and knowing summer was truly here when the small lights in the grass started appearing in the evening. Capturing lightening bugs (in a jar!) with their mini glows were a part of every child's summer activities.

Also, note that in my Etsy Shop, I am currently having a sale of 10% off anything $50 or up! June 28- July 10, 2023. Only a few days left! Please visit  https://www.etsy.com/shop/DonnaLiguriaArt

SKU: 07AW23AC

Medium: Acrylic, Paint Maker Pen

Size: 8x10 Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

What Brought About this Painting?

For a few days around the Fourth of July, I drove to Charlottesville, Virginia to visit my aunt and we sat in the backyard as the evening fell. At the first signs of those small glows lifting from the grass, an idea of a painting started on how to capture that fascination, the joy of childhood in seeing lightening bugs starting every summer evening with their small yellow flashlights.

Painting in Progress Images…

Watch the painting as it progresses!

July 5, 2023 Beginnings of Lightening Bug Summer

July 6, 2023 8:31am Still drying but I think this one is done!

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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 315: Harkers Island NC Painting

Painting Name: Harkers Island NC Painting

Blue water, blue skies, coastal breeze, birds calling, wind lifting your hair across your face, a slight smell of salty - fishy water, this all means you might be at a beach somewhere. This is a view of Harkers Island, NC from Beaufort, NC.

SKU: 06AR23AC

Medium: Acrylic

Size: 16x20 Stretched Canvas

Edition Year: 2023

Framed?: No

Painting in Progress Images…

Watch the painting as it progresses!

June 29, 2023 8:16pm progress thus far

Saturday, July 1, 2023 9am Nearly there...

Sunday, July 2, 2023 7:49am A few changes you might spot. I think this baby is a wrap. What do you think?

See my other paintings of Shackleford Island, the ponies and Cape Lookout Lighthouse. I love reading your comments, add them below.

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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!