CHALLENGE #10 - July 20, 2011 thru August 22, 2011

holland2 wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 7:23 AM

Welcome to  ALL MEDIA PHOTO CHALLENGE #10

Challenge:   Create artwork based on any or all of these photos. Use any medium and any style. Stick to the photo(s) exactly or just use them as a starting point - feel free to change colors, composition, add or subtract elements or take a complete departure.   In other words, HAVE FUN and keep painting!

Target Posting Date:   - July 20, 2011 – August 22, 2011

BE SURE TO POST YOUR WORK HERE IN THIS THREAD SO OUR CHALLENGES WON'T GET CONFUSED WITH EACH OTHER.

Another posting note:  When you post your painting, be sure to “sign” your post with the name that you wish for participants to use when replying to your post.  We are gaining new participants all the time and it is sometimes difficult to remember who posted what.  An alternative would be to create a “signature line” that will automatically appear on each one of your posts.  (If anyone needs instructions on how to do that, l let me know and I will send instructions to you.)

 (To submit photos for these challenges, please start a "conversation" with me here on this forum and attach your photo or photos.)

Happy Painting!

Challenge Photos:

1.  Monthly Theme:  "Dog Days of Summer" - Create a painting that represents whatever "Dog Days of Summer" means to you; or, paint something that depicts how you are keeping cool, or where you went on vacation, or where you would rather be right now instead of where you are, or make up your own variation of this theme!

2.   CATCHING POLYWOGS - submitted by Turps245 (Jen)   

3.  MOTHER NATURE'S STILL LIFE - photo of Joanne Boleman (with permission)

4.  RHINE RIVER CASTLE - submitted by csebeling (Cindy)

5.  JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL - submitted by Turps 245 (Jen)

 6.  SUNFLOWER - public domain photo

HAPPY PAINTING - hope you enjoy working with these - but most of all - HAVE FUN with them!

asusanrae wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 7:32 AM

Great picks Holly, Thanks for taking the time to post. I challenge you and all the artist in our forum, to pick one and paint it, by Sat. ( yes this Sat., just one) LOL, I'm so busy I don't have time to grocery shop. But the challenge is on! are all of you with me? Have a great day, Susan

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 8:49 AM

Holly,thanks for posting these fantastic reference photos.  It will be fun to see what the terrific artist on this forum will do with them.  It would be difficult to pick one since they are all so interesting.  Thanks also to Jen and Cindy for submitting such neat photos to you.

I am just getting started on my second painting for the Oil Pastel Society Online show.  I'm aiming to get  three done before the deadline which is the end of August.  I had to chuckle when I read Susan's challenge to get one done by Saturday.  I invest a lot of time with each painting.  Since I usually only work in my studio on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. it takes a minimum of two weeks and usually much more than that depending on the size of the painting. 

knaselk wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 9:38 AM

Not a good picture of it, but here's a sketch from my recent San Diego vacation. I wish I were there now!

Lovely photos in this challenge. I'll have to see if I can tackle one soon.

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 10:07 AM

Kevin, this is very nice.  Great color harmony.  Nice composition.  Good greens with nice variety.  The clouds lead the viewer's eye into the painting.  The only small suggestion that I have is that it would be good to have some item break up the straight line that runs through the lower half of the painting where the road meets the grass.  Maybe a fire hydrant or bicycle, etc  There are a lot of other straight lines that you have skillfully broken up with trees and poles.  I'm impressed with your work.

I''m just taking a break from my artwork.  Now, I'll go back and continue to smear my fingers through oil pastels.  It's like playing in lipstick!  Your method of coloring is much cleaner.

Paintings that are not from the Challenge reference photos should be posted in the Chatter forum.  Chatter should also and I've just broken that rule.

csebeling wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 12:11 PM

I hope this is a better ref photo. Thanks Holly. All the pics are great! I especially love the patterns on Jen's seagull.

Turps245 wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 12:23 PM

Holly wonderful references but don't think I will brave the seagul even though I took the picture! I love it but that is too much pattern!!! Thanks for the new castle picture Cindy that is much clearer! I don't know about finishing one by Saturday maybe the armchair mainac will get to it!

Turps245 wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 12:26 PM

Actually Sammy Holly did say any holiday realted paintings and responce to the dog days of Summer so you could Kevin's came under that heading.

Nice one Kevin, I agree about the straight line but you sure get trees!

A Gal Named Sam wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 1:25 PM

Oops, right you are, Jen.  It would help if I read before I commented.  Kevin, your painting is right on for the Challenge.

knaselk wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 1:47 PM

Thanks Jen and Sammy. I just started sketching that while I was waiting for my rental car. I agree, it could benefit from something to break the foreground up. I wish I were better at adding random people/objects to my drawings. 

Jen - are you from the UK by chance? I've noticed your spelling of "colour" and you just said "holiday" instead of vacation :)

Sammy - that is one thing I don't miss. I've had plenty of messy fingers using soft pastels. I always managed to itch my face without realizing it too. Pretty shocking when you catch yourself in the mirror, or worse, a friend finally clues you in.

Turps245 wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 2:08 PM

Sammy No wories it was just by chance that I read through it for a change!

Kevin haven't you noticed my spelling is just plain dreadful!!!?? But yes I was born and raised in the UK but have lived here for 30 odd years. I hadn't realized I had translated vacation to holiday!

Joyce Lydia wrote

on 20 Jul 2011 8:44 PM

Holly nice pictures for the challenge, Susan your challenge is great to get us all moving with the challenge, the week-end isn't over till Sunday night at midnight so come on everyone join in.  I'm sure I get something draw but the colour will take more time....since I seem to re-post over and over the same picture for all you wonderful feed-back. 

Ken nice picture.

asusanrae wrote

on 21 Jul 2011 7:52 AM

Sam,  I appreciate your leadership and wisdom, we need leadership and think your above statement is a reminder to all of us. "Paintings that are not from the Challenge reference photos should be posted in the Chatter forum."  Once it starts happening, then it gets out of control Thank you Sam for your dedication on this forum. Susan

asusanrae wrote

on 21 Jul 2011 7:54 AM

Very lovely and soft, I love this painting. Great job! Susan

Turps245 wrote

on 21 Jul 2011 10:21 PM

Okay, here is my arm chair effort tonight. It's a tricky pose and I don't have it yet and I couldn't get his hand right and he looks too big but it's a start. Didn't really try to do the water. I want to try it in pastels but I need to get the pose right.

Various B pencils on hot press paper. I cropped it from a 9 x 12