CHALLENGE 24 - October, 2012 - HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY!!

jatravis wrote

on 2 Oct 2012 11:42 AM

Jen - So much detail in your old house picture - such a good vision of hard-working parents with the kids playing (I think 2 are eating apples?) & the dogs chewing on sticks - so much activity & well laid out. A wonderful picture!

Holly - Your old house picture has a more relaxed atmosphere on a nice sunny day - I wish I was sitting by that tree right now!  Really nice...

Sandi - I really like your vision in your old house picture & can feel this family's anticipation to get to their new home.  What a great job you did with the foliage!  All those variations of green adds so much life with the reflections adding movement - love the colors - wonderful...

Berkenstock wrote

on 2 Oct 2012 11:55 AM

Wow very nice color.  I love the rays of the evening sun on the road.Great job.

holland2 wrote

on 2 Oct 2012 1:20 PM

Joyce - I DO remember your sending some photos - if I remember they were floral scenes - - right?  I think that was during the time when I was so stressed out with my breathing problems, my sick leave from work, getting all my retirement paperwork completed and turned in and going to see my doctor  - - sometimes more than once a week!  If you can find them, maybe we can use them in another challenge - - I'm so sorry they got caught up in my whirlwind!

I know Jen, Sandi, Fred, Susan (asusanrae) and me were all on the other forum when the anniversary time came around - Joyce were you with us then, too?  Do you all remember any of the others that may have still been with us them?  James, weren't you with us then, too?

Kristina - I am so glad you are going to get to play with us again!  Welcome back!

Sammy - This Old House was one of the photos that Susan A. sent to me.  All the others are public domain photos.  I really like that last rose and the purple flower in the glass bowl or wine glass or what ever it is.  I did get sort of carried away with purple flowers, didn't I? 

Sandi - Phillip and Abigail - I don't remember what the little boy's same was either.  But I do remember you did several painting featuring them and had a nice little story going.  It is fun to see them all again!  Now, since we are all posting our "then" paintings, we need to all get busy and do a "now" one to post with them.

sandichot wrote

on 2 Oct 2012 1:39 PM

Holly- Was it Phillip and Abigail? So the little boy was named Peter. Ah! now things are getting to fall into place. I did the previous one when Phillip first met Abigail in a flower shop in London. After they got married, they decided to move the family to America. Jen told me that it could have been her life story.

Joyce Lydia wrote

on 3 Oct 2012 9:02 AM

Holly, it doesn't matter that you did or didn't use any pictures that I sent I was just asking if they were not what you were looking for and no I don't remember what I send you they just came from pictures we took over the years.  I do remember 1 was a building in Austria from my husband’s hometown. 

As for the anniversary time yes I was here the first challenge was of a flower from Susan.  Susan ask me to join after she and I did this wine glass with fruit in it, which was the very first time I did a drawing.  That is how new I was to all this, now I have a room full of paintings and art stuff coming out my ears.  Some of the friends that joined us as I remember were Holly, Susan, Jen, Fred, Margo, Sandi, Bob from SF and Sammy or did Sammy join in on the 2nd Challenge?  I'm sure I have missed a few and I am sorry about that, (maybe there was a Suzanne too).  I don't remember if James was there at the beginning or if he came a little later.  This site as grown and the artwork that comes from the challenges are wonderful I have learned so much from each of you.  

kmbjbb wrote

on 3 Oct 2012 4:57 PM

Well - I attempted the old house. I got it basically drawn out on paper and I started with some base color, but trashed it. I was so dissatisfied with my "Kindergarten" look to it that I broke out in tears. I think my problem is that I cannot visually take something I see and change it to something else. It has to be a comprehension issue of mine, so I will try again, or I will go to a different picture to do.

holland2 wrote

on 3 Oct 2012 6:45 PM

Kristina - We all had to start from scratch somewhere and at some time - - Jen is right - don't despair - - I had trouble with it too.  Really, when I think about it, all 3 of these challenges may be difficult for all of us since they are "composite" type of thing - - meaning you take your reference and add stuff from another reference or from your imagination.  I don't do well without a reference either.  Why don't you just try to use just the photo that's there without trying to add stuff to it - - any of them - When you get used to copying your reference then you may want to start adding things.  But please remember - - we are all dear friends here and want to help and encourage you.  Art is supposed to be fun!  So get busy and have fun - - and we'll try to help you sort it out.  Chin up - you can do it.

kmbjbb wrote

on 3 Oct 2012 8:40 PM

Will give it another attempt soon. Maybe tomorrow. I will busy it seems for the weekend. Deaf Coffee Chat Friday night, drive 2 1/2 hours for a funeral Saturday and then to GameStop on Sunday for son's games that were pre-ordered.

For those who are not on my friends list on Facebook, my best friend, who was the maid of honor at my wedding, Faith, passed away today. She had been battling a lot of issues. She had been diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis and it became Rheumatoid Arthritis, her Rheumatologist was not keeping an eye on her blood work when he had to do another bit of medicine changes, and she developed Hepatitis C and then Cirrhosis of the liver. It hit her really bad and then about 8 months ago, she developed pulmonary hypertension and they had to keep draining fluid from her abdomen. Sometimes as much as 75 pounds worth. She had a setback about 1 1/2 weeks ago and last weekend, she was moved to Hospice. She was 51.

jatravis wrote

on 3 Oct 2012 8:54 PM

Kristina - OUCH!  I remember feeling the same as you! (And I still do at times, but I don't cry anymore) - please be patient & kind with yourself - The ability to develop & put your ideas on paper comes with practice - lots & lots of practice & I am so glad  you are here to hone your abilities!

bernof wrote

on 5 Oct 2012 1:15 PM

Hi all I decided to do the old barn again with a different twist  I brought Fred's bears back to do the restoration done on 1/4 sheet 140# arches cp paper

Fred

kmbjbb wrote

on 5 Oct 2012 3:58 PM

Love those bears and they are not only well traveled, they are hard workers!! 

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 5 Oct 2012 4:02 PM

Now that's a warm painting.  I love that the bear family is restoring the old house on a crisp, sunny fall day.  It looks like they are about done which is good since winter is approaching.  It's good to see the bears.  And it's good to see those beautiful mountains and sky.  You have so much fun, Fred, with your wonderful imagination and paints.

Joyce Lydia wrote

on 5 Oct 2012 6:42 PM

wow these pictures are great and you all are doing a great job with them  we have bears, family houses.  Here is my very first time doing water spots, I still need to improve and will try this again maybe even with a pine leaf like in the challenge.  I have also done the bright flower but it is drying and I will show it in a few days.  This is done using watercolours.  Not sure if I did the spots right or wrong but they seem to have turned out.

Berkenstock wrote

on 5 Oct 2012 6:46 PM

Fred I knew that the old shack would bring the bears back.  I was starting to miss them.  They will have a nice place to hibernate this winter.  Good work sir.