Sunday, January 28, 2024

Post 340: Commissioned Painting of Vicki's Pond

Painting Name: Vicki's Pond

Because of Etsy, because of koi ponds and perhaps also because of keywords, Vicki found me on Etsy because she liked my artwork, especially of koi ponds. She commissioned a painting from me to paint her pond - even though she resides several states over from me. Pretty awesome, right?


SKU: 01D24ACGC
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 16x20 Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2024
Framed?: No
Commissioned? Yes

What Brought About this Painting?

Vicki put in a pond in her backyard in the later part of 2023 and wants a painting of her pond based on the Spring time - so she can view her pond in the best, most colorful season of the year - all year long. 

Here is a photograph of her pond and she has let me know what she's planted that will be coming up in the Spring - I hope to make this painting as pretty as I believe her Spring time will be there and in the years to come. 

Woohoo, so let's go!

Painting in Progress Images…

Watch the painting as it progresses!

Friday, January 26, 2024 10am. Paintings start with several layers of gesso that prepare the stretched canvas with a smoother finish for receiving the paint. The canvas is white and so is the gesso I am using, so there is not a lot to look at for the moment. I'll put usually 3-4 layers of gesso and those need to dry (and sometimes be sanded) before the sketching on the canvas can begin. Then its off to the races!

Sometimes it takes a couple of days to have something on canvas decent enough to show, but the gesso has begun!

Tuesday, January 30, 2024 8:34am. I have the sketching of the pond done and am now doing the underpainting in a Burnt Umber. So the canvas is a lot of brown at the moment. Underpainting is NOT pretty so be aware of that in this picture below. I'll probably build in a couple of layers of the paint to really fill in a base of paint to work with. Bare with me, it will start looking like something in a bit. 

When I paint, I usually start from the farthest thing away in the painting and move forward from there. I build layers, LOTS of layers. For instance, in a landscape with the sun showing, I would start with the sun, then the sky plus clouds, mountains, then more forward. Doesn't mean that you may or may not see all of that but if trees are in the foreground, the sun, sky and clouds may be partially seen so they must be back there. 

Same here for this painting. Although the fence is not a focal point, it is in the background so I have to have some of it - or hints of it, be seen. Back to painting and let's see where the next update goes.


Tuesday, January 30, 2024 5:11pm. Paint a layer, let it dry, paint a layer, walk away. Layers upon layers, building up color, and coverage. LONG way to go...

Wednesday, January 31, 2024 12:42pm. Adding more color, defining the rocks. 

Thursday, February 1, 2024 8:38am. Good morning - what do you know, the sun is shining here in Northern Virginia! And its The Chosen Season 4 Episodes 1-3(?) day in the theaters! Can't wait to see it over the next few weeks.

I think my friend Vicki, over a few states finally got a wee bit of sun yesterday and she got some very nice photos for me. Knowing which direction the sun is coming from at different times a day makes the world of difference for the artist. So this is where I am this morning, back in the pond...
Thursday, February 1, 2024 11:41am. Got this far this morning. Time to take a break. 

Thursday, February 1, 2024 5:02pm. The 3 P's. Progress, Progress, Progress. I'm getting hungry. 
Friday, February 2, 2024 7:43am. Groundhog's Day and he saw his shadow so Spring is supposedly coming early - if you follow the furry weather forecast. You can click on a photo for a larger view. 

Painting rocks this morning, lots of rocks as they surround the pond. Here are 2 links to past paintings with LOTS of rocks...And I hope to start really adding some pops of color.



Friday, February 2, 2024 11:40am. Maybe the Groundhog was right today - Spring is coming early! PROGRESS and of course, more layers.
Even flowers are layers - spots of the darkest color first, then several layers of increasingly lighter colors.

Friday, February 2, 2024 1:42pm. Stuff is starting to bloom all over.

Saturday, February 3, 2024 6:08am. Let's see what kind of progress can happen today! Bit of glare at the top of the canvas from the lights above it. In person, so much more intense color - and detail. That's what I do. 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 2:42pm I was out of town a couple of days - back home now. Let's see where the painting is now...

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 8:02am This picture includes light coming through the blinds this morning...Some new things starting to appear around the pond.

Wednesday, February 7, 2024 4:07pm The really cool thing about a deep canvas is painting the edges - all around. Never know what you might find there too. I've done this with a couple of paintings, where there was more to the story of the painting if you look around the edge.


Friday, February 9, 2024 6:25pm Finishing up the painting at this point, adding some small tweaks and ensuring the edges are smoothed out. Looking for anything unfinished - which I see one thing right in the middle to do...

As I've posted on other paintings, sometimes its a good idea to just stop and look at the work and see what it needs. Make sure the lighting is right, the shadows, the water reflections. I've called that the "tweaking phase".


And believe it or not, its a good idea to turn the painting upside-down and see how it feels. A different light, in another room, lets you see it differently. A painter knows when its done.

Monday, February 12, 2024 12:30pm. For the last few days, the tweak-a-thon has been ongoing - finalizing the edges of the painting, shadows and more. 


The painting contains, although some are quite small:
3 Monarch Butterflies
2 Dragonflies
2 Frogs
1 Turtle
1 Hummingbird
1 Cardinal
1 Ladybug
Viewable Goldfish and Koi Fish - 13

Additionally around the pond are the Heron and the Lighthouse and on one side of the painting is the floating white swan. Here are a few photos of the painting hanging on a wall - although the light today is horrible. Total gray-out outside.




Photos are pre-varnishing and wiring but I think its 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://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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

Friday, January 26, 2024

Post 339: Pony Day at Shackleford Banks NC

Painting Name: Pony Day at Shackleford Banks NC

One day while visiting friends at Harkers Island, we took their boat out across the water to Shackleford Banks and I was delighted to get lots of pictures from the water (in view of the Cape Lookout Lighthouse) of many ponies. They walk along on the sand and dunes and often wade out into the water. 


SKU: 01B24ACG
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 20x20 Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2024
Framed?: No

What Brought About this Painting?

My rendition of Shackleford Banks, North Carolina. and some of the ponies along the shore - and another often seen pleasure, some dolphins wandering the waterways.

Recently, I saw a couple of meme's with my friend that were labeled with the State Welcome Sign, "Welcome to North Carolaska" - because it was so cold up and down the East Coast. Funny. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather and visiting my friend again - more boating and photographs leading to more paintings!

Anyway, this one will probably not go on Etsy because of its size - but do check out my Etsy shop when you get a chance. I may get prints made for this eventually. https://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com

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://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Post 338: Virginia and DC Local Paintings by Donna Liguria

Collection of Local Paintings by Donna Liguria - VA, DC 

Painting my favorite local spots and where I have lived and visited has been a walk down memory lane at times. I've painted Monticello in Charlottesville; Virginia Beach, the Governor's Mansion in Richmond up to Gunston Hall in Lorton and Mount Vernon in Alexandria. From Rosemont in Berryville and Great Falls in McLean, and the ArtFactory and Train Station in Manassas, then on to see the sites in Washington DC, my paint brushes have captured some favorite places. Then living in Blue Ridge Shores in Louisa, Virginia brings forth its own memories of growing up there.

Local Art

Here is a look at most of my Virginia and Washington DC paintings. Some were sold and/or commissioned and prints are available, while some sold at various art shows or on my Etsy shop. There is usually a story behind each one.


"Blue Heron at Blue Ridge Shores" (SOLD)- 15x30 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, Virginia. I did several versions of this painting, with version 3 being a Commission.


Local art includes the local teams too! I've done a few variations of this mini 3x4 Capitals Hockey paintings on stretched canvas with mini easel, including Ovi

"Cherry Blossoms, An Annual DC Event" (SOLD) - 12x16 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Washington DC. Commissioned painting. Prints are available on Etsy

"Great Falls National Park in McLean, Virginia" (SOLD) - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; McLean, Virginia. Prints are available on Etsy

"Washington DC Cherry Blossom Explosion" (SOLD) - 11x14 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas; Washington DC

"White House Having a White Christmas" (SOLD) - 12x16 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Washington DC. This was a Commissioned painting but Prints are available on Etsy

"Main Beach at Blue Ridge Shores" (SOLD) - 16x20 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas. This painting is where I grew up in Louisa, Virginia. Prints are available on Etsy. See blog post  Blue Ridge Shores as it Once Was for some more 3x4 minis. See also the post, Growing Up Blue Ridge Shores

"A Day at Blue Ridge Shores" - 24x24 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, Virginia. There was an old stairway coming down a steep hill on one side of the lake that was falling apart from age and I wanted to capture that rickety walk down to the pier with a blue heron flying by. 

"Marina at Belmont Bay, Occoquan, Virginia" - 16x20 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas. The painting and prints are available on Etsy

"Governor's Mansion, Richmond Historic VA Home Series" - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Richmond, Virginia. The painting and prints are available on Etsy

"Gunston Hall Historic VA Home Series" - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Lorton, Virginia. The painting and prints are available on Etsy


"Sunrise at Historic Manassas ArtFactory" - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Manassas, Virginia. The painting and prints are available on Etsy

"Monticello Charlottesville Historic VA Home Series" - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Charlottesville, Virginia. The wonderful home of Thomas Jefferson that sits above what I call the big little town of Charlottesville, Virginia. The painting and prints are available on Etsy

"Mount Vernon Historic VA Home Series" - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Alexandria, Virginia. The home of our nation's first president, George Washington. The painting and prints are available on Etsy

A mini 3x4 painting of the gazebo in Occoquan, Virginia

A mini 3x4 painting of the museum in Occoquan, Virginia

"Rosemont Historic VA Home Series" (Not Available) - 11x14 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Berryville, Virginia. Make note of the tray on the wall with champagne glasses, a bucket of ice and a champagne bottle. Prints are available on Etsy

"Spring in Occoquan, Virginia" - 12x12 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas

"The Fish Aren't Biting at the Lake" - 16x20 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Blue Ridge Shores, Louisa, Virginia. Note the fish at the bottom left next to the pier...they are looking at the guy in the boat - perhaps giggling.

"Sunrise at Historic Manassas Train Station" - 16x20 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Manassas, Virginia. This painting won first place in the 2022 P-Art-Ners Paint! Manassas contest. The painting and prints are available on Etsy See also Paint! Manassas

"Washington Monument Amongst the Cherry Blossoms" - 12x24 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Washington DC

"Virginia Beach" - 11x14 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas

I just posted a collection of paintings based on Harkers Island, North Carolina including Shackleford Banks, the ponies, Cape Lookout Lighthouse and more. Be sure and check out that series too. See https://donnascavepainting.blogspot.com/2024/01/post-337-harkers-island-cape-lookout.html 

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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://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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

Friday, January 19, 2024

Post 337: Harkers Island, Cape Lookout, Shackleford Banks, Marshes and the Ponies of North Carolina

Paintings of Harkers Island, Cape Lookout, Shackleford Banks, Marshes and the Ponies of North Carolina

In 2023 and already in 2024, my canvases have recreated some views and inspiration of the coasts of North Carolina. Here is a collection of paintings with the 'inspired by' of the several visits to my friend's new home in Harkers Island, North Carolina.

Big Blue Skies, Blue Water, Sand and More

Snapping pictures all day, that is what I did and do while visiting my best friend. Pictures of ponies on Shackleford Banks and in Beaufort, North Carolina. Pictures of ghost trees and marshes, Cape Lookout and across the water. The wildlife, the birds flying, the fish jumping, the occasional dolphin...I love it all. The iPhone or my other camera a FULL of inspiration. Upon getting home, the pictures get turned into paintings. 

Here is some of my inspired by the North Carolina Coast artwork.


"Lighthouse and Shackleford NC Pony" - 9x12 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas. A lone Shackleford Banks pony looks across the water to Cape Lookout. Prints are available on Etsy


"Mom, I Don't Want to Take a Bath" - 9x12 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Ponies


"Harkers Island NC" - 16x20 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; the view from Beaufort, NC with Harkers Island across the water to the right. Notice the new bridge?


"Ponies of Shackleford Island" - 12x16 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; also known as Shackleford Banks


"Wading Shackleford Pony" (SOLD) - 9x12 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas. Prints are available


"Harkers Island Magic" - 16x20 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas 


"Sandpiper Beach Bums" (SOLD) - 4x12 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas


"Beaufort, NC Marsh" - 8x8 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas


"Bottoms Up" - 4x4 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; is a swan doing a dive, butt up.


"Cygnet Fluff Baby" - 4x4 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; is a baby swan. I call these 4x4 paintings "bookcase art" because they make great small paintings that can sit on a table or shelf.


"Sea the Turtle" - 4x12 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas


"The Marshes of Harkers Island, North Carolina" - 16x20 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas; with the ghost trees in the background. The view was toward the new bridge. The painting and Prints are available on Etsy


My Mini 3x4 stretched canvas in Acrylics mini paintings of the 7 (maybe) most popular NC Lighthouse Series - 
1. "Ocracoke Lighthouse
2. "Old Baldy Lighthouse" 
3. "Cape Lookout Lighthouse" (SOLD)
4. "Bodie Island Lighthouse" 
5. "Currituck Beach Lighthouse"
6. "Oak Island Lighthouse"
7. "Cape Hatteras Lighthouse"


"Last Light Lighthouse" - 24x24 Acrylic on Gallery Wrapped Stretched Canvas is a side view of Cape Lookout with Shackleford Banks across the water and Harkers Island and a sunset off to the right.

I had some other "beach" mini paintings of beach inspiration and Harkers Island inspired. The annual Decoy Festival in early December brought on some mini duck decoy paintings.


Many of these are on Etsy and some do have prints available. I do have a lot of pictures to still review but I hope to get back to visit my friend - as soon as I can and the weather is warmer!

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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://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Post 336: Dixie for Christmas

Painting Name: Dixie

I painted Dixie in September/October 2023. As she is a Christmas present, this blog post on the painting can't be released until after Jesus' birthday for the (I hope) surprise it is supposed to be.


SKU: 09CU23ACG
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 12x12 Stretched Canvas
Edition Year: 2023
Framed?: No
Commissioned? Yes

What Brought About this Painting?

My aunt contacted me to do this painting as a gift for her granddaughter of her beloved "Dixie", who had unfortunately passed last year. 


Dixie in Progress




And the final picture is of my second cousin with her painting on Christmas day. I hope it brings a smile everyday of the memory of a loved family member.

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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://donnaliguriaart.etsy.com to shop my available Artwork.


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