100 Paintings Challenge: Dora Sislian Themelis

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.

Showing posts with label Dora Sislian Themelis. Show all posts

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Watercolor Landscape #31 Dora Sislian Themelis

Blowing off resistance isn't easy but, I pushed through and worked on this latest watercolor painting while out in my garden.

#31 Seed Heads ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
14x20 Watercolor, Arches cold press

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Quick Watercolor Landscape #30 Dora Sislian Themelis

A quick twenty minute watercolor landscape painting to keep me in the loop. It's been a tough summer of low motivation and inspiration. Maybe things will change now?

# 30 At the Park ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
5x7 Watercolor, Canson paper

Friday, August 24, 2012

Watercolor #29 Dora Sislian Themelis

#29 Small Marigold ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor, Arches cold press

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Watercolor Landscape #28- Dora Sislian Themelis

While I try to find motivation and direction I've been leafing through travel books of scenery. This is #28 watercolor work.

Rooftop Scene ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper

Monday, July 30, 2012

Watercolor Landscape #27 - Dora Sislian Themelis

Pushing through some resistance lately, but coming away with this latest watercolor landscape while I decide where to go next.

#27 Three Pink Daisies ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Watercolor Paintings #25-26 Dora Sislian Themelis

The weather here has been wonderful for working on my watercolor paintings in the garden, as well as the great inspiration from the colors of the flowers there. The first work was on scene, the second from my photos in the garden.

#25 Afternoon Garden ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches paper

#26 Pink Daisies ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches paper

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Watercolor Landscapes - Dora Sislian Themelis

Checking in to the challenge with #23 and #24 watercolor paintings, both landscapes of different areas in Greece. The vegetables and sunflower photos are done and I was looking for a new direction by taking a "stay-cation" of sorts!

Kalymnos ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
12x9 Watercolor, Arches paper

Friday, June 29, 2012

Watercolor Landscapes - Dora Sislian Themelis

Two new watercolor paintings finished today! The first I penciled my composition then I painted it, taking my time and doing a couple of sessions to complete.

The second was sketched quickly in paint and then I added color and detail. I may have spent a little over twenty minutes on it. Done in one sitting, but it's small and do-able.

#21 Inlet Church ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor, Arches paper

#22 Garden ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor Arches paper

Friday, June 22, 2012

New Still Life #20 - Dora Sislian Themelis

Here I am! A lot going on here, but I am presenting #20 watercolor painting. This is the largest size watercolor I have ever painted and tried my best to get it together quickly to try to catch up.

#20 June Sunflowers ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
18x24 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Two More Paintings - Dora Sislian Themelis

#18 Pillow on Chair ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
Artrage digital oil painting on iPad with Sensu stylus brush

#19 Sunburst ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
14x20 Watercolor on Arches 140lb cold press paper

My time at the easel has been limited by different events happening lately, but with the new iPad app called Artrage I've been keeping myself in the process, however virtual it might be. And in the meanwhile the latter painting was waiting to be finished.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Still Life Watercolor #17 Dora Sislian Themelis

Believe it or not, another still life watercolor painting has been finished making this one #17. The next work is already planned and waiting to go.

#17 Three Peaches ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor Arches cold press 140lb

Monday, May 7, 2012

Still Life Watercolor #16 - Dora Sislian Themlis

Another watercolor still life of the veggie haul. I keep finding interesting patches of shapes and colors in those photos.

#16 Big Tomato©2012 Dora Sislian Themleis
9x12 Watercolor, Arches cold press 140lb

Monday, April 30, 2012

Abstract Digital Painting-#15 Dora Sislian Themelis

#15 Artrage Abstract ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
Digital Oil Painting on iPad using fingers

Having a little fun while taking a different direction in painting for the moment using a new application on my iPad called Artrage. I needed a jolt of something new and this program allows an artist to change it up without the mess. It seems a brush type stylus has been developed and I think I'll need to try that out when it is available. Even so, using a finger on the screen to work out ideas and colors worked well.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Still Life Watercolor #13-14 Dora Sislian Themelis

Two more still life watercolor paintings done. Another is already in the works!

#13 Bouquet ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor, Arches cold press

#14 Carrot ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
9x12 Watercolor, Arches cold press

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Still Life Watercolor #12 - Dora Sislian Themelis

Out of the loop a bit by a family vacation and the Easter preparations so I reverted to using twenty minutes of painting time to get back in the process. I visited some of my favorite shells, again, hence the title of this small work.

#12 Shells Again ©2012 Dora Sislian Themelis
7x10 Watercolor, Arches cold press paper 140lb

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Still Life Watercolor #11 Dora Sislian Themelis

I am still working with the vegetable share photos and this is the latest work. My family and I have just returned from vacation so I am off schedule. Hopefully, next week will prove more productive!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Watercolor Still Life #10 - Dora Sislian Themelis

Here is #10 in my watercolor still life journey through produce!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Still Life Watercolors #8-9-Dora Sislian Themelis

Two more watercolor paintings of sections from my vegetable photographs are up today!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Still Life Watercolors #5 ,#6, #7 - Dora Sislian Themelis

Two more watercolor paintings here, done in about an hour's time for each work. I've been using my photos of the vegetable share, cropping them and working from a quarter section. It's amazing how much of the subject you can get from one photo.

3/13/12 Note: I forgot I painted another work and mixed up my count. The correct #4 work has been added here today.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Still Life Watercolor #4 - Dora Sislian Themelis

This latest watercolor still life painting #4 is Yellow Tomato. Continuing in this series of works from photos of my vegetable share items from last season, I hope to maintain my momentum and keep steadily working.

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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