100 Paintings Challenge: Kelly

Quantity over Quality

Sounds odd doesn't it?! Quantity over quality………

The purpose for quantity over quality is because most of us strive to paint a quality painting each time we touch brush to paper. We sometimes get too caught up in the quality of our paintings and don't finish them for a myriad of reasons including "it's not good enough," "it doesn't look right," and "it looks nothing like I thought it would."

By focusing on quantity, we set aside the search for perfection and begin to paint for the practice of it, to learn what works, what doesn't and to keep going - no matter how good or how poorly a painting is turning out.

Giving/Receiving Encouragement

One of the things that can help us to grow quickly is encouraging comments - it keeps us motivated to continue painting. We are often “too close” to our own work and someone else, with more distance, can easily see areas to be improved.

Giving Encouragment:

• Be positive and upbeat!

• Use constructive criticism if you offer a critique.

• Be specific about what works well and why OR what does not work well and why.

• Re-read your comments BEFORE posting to make sure they say what you want them say!

• Be kind and courteous.

• Consider that you may not know what the artist’s “vision” is for a particular piece of artwork.

Receiving Encouragement:

• Try it on for size - if it fits, great. If not, disregard the comment(s).

• Take the comment in the spirit it was given - to be helpful.

• Do not fire off a comment in anger or hurt.

• Do not retaliate by being hurtful in your comments back to someone who has hurt you.

If you feel someone is being unfair on a repeated basis, contact me directly so that we can discuss it off-line.

PLEASE NOTE: As moderator of this blog, I reserved the right to delete any and all comments and/or posts offensive or harmful to other participants. This includes excessive negativity. I reserve the right to remove a participant from the blog if offensive behaviors persist after a written warning is issued. All decisions will be final and not open for discussion.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Kelly - Paintings 72 -74

Painting 72

9x12 Acrylic Paper, Acrylic

I painted this Carolina Wren about a week ago with a palette knife and lots of thick, rich paint. The paint just finished drying enough to go under the scanner's glass today. I'd never painted with a palette knife before, and I really liked it! The painting has the look of carved leather--the scanner didn't do this one justice...

Painting 73

9x12 Acrylic Paper, Acrylic

This painting has also been sitting for about a week waiting to dry. When applied thick, the Open Acrylics really do act like oils. I didn't use a palette knife on this one...just quick strokes of thick paint with a brush.

Painting 74

9x12 Arches Rough Watercolor Paper, Watercolor

I drew and painted this one over a period of three days sitting in my car as I waited to pick Matty up from school. I'd just crawl over to the passenger seat and pull out a ref photo and watercolor block and start sketching and painting. Water brushes come with their own water supply, so they make it easy.

5 comments:

Teri said...: You and your acrylics are painting wonderful birds!; November 8, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Elizabeth said...: I love seeing these all together and each with their own personality. I especially like the middle painting - the warm colors and the energy, wow! Acrylics suit you as well as warercolor!; November 9, 2010 at 8:45 AM
Laure Ferlita said...: I have to agree with Elizabeth and Teri, you and acrylics seem made for one another! Love the middle piece for the bold strokes and the bottom one for the soft focus.

Keep up the great work!; November 9, 2010 at 8:53 AM
Mermaid's Palette said...: Nice work on all three, but I agree that the middle is the favorite! I think because loose and bold strokes are something I have trouble with!
Sheryl; November 9, 2010 at 1:56 PM
Elva Paulson said...: My favorites are the middle one for its wonderful warm glow, and the bottom one for capturing the declicacy of a wren.; November 11, 2010 at 1:41 AM

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Artistic Development

• This blog is dedicated to artistic improvement. It is a venue for the committed artist to receive ENCOURAGEMENT while taking on the 100 Painting Challenge.

• It is a place to discuss struggles with the challenge.

• It is a place to celebrate milestones, accomplishments and breakthroughs.

• It is a place to offer encouragement to others.

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• It is NOT a place to share negativity or any off-topic subject. This is an art blog.

• It is NOT a place to lurk. The expectation is that each artist will be posting at least 4 paintings a month, one per post.

• A painting may only be posted once.

• The painting should be posted on this blog and not direct participants to another link.

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• Up to two paintings may be posted by each artists for critiques and feedback each month.

About the Challenge

The 100 Paintings In a Year Challenge is intended for artists that are dedicated to the growth and development of their style as well as their artistic voice. The challenge also provides a means for overcoming areas in need of improvement.

The paintings should be a mix of small, medium and large pieces, some sketches, plein aire, and studio work; work from life as well as from photos. The variety is meant to push the artist out of any rut, to provide ample opportunity to create no matter what other time obligations are going on, and to challenge the artist if they do not create in one of these categories. The work can be done in any medium, but it is strongly advised that the artist consider choosing one medium in which to do the Challenge as this will help facilitate faster growth than trying to master multiple mediums.

DO NOT JUDGE the artwork! When a piece is complete, set it aside and move to the next piece of work. Learning to suspend judgement of our work is a major step forward in the development our skills.

Once committed, the expectation is that the artist will fully participate in the blog by posting on a regular basis as well as leaving encouraging comments of others' artwork through comments.

The challenge may be started at any time.

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