100 Paintings Challenge: 'Airport Girl' and Introduction

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.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

'Airport Girl' and Introduction - Teri

I am always amazed when serendipity hits my life. While spending Christmas in Wisconsin (I am a snowbird in Arizona) I happened to read Krista's Blog and noticed the "100 Paintings Challenge" so I came right over to look.

Then I saw the announcement on Laure's Blog and I knew I had to do this - pure serendipity!

We got back to AZ today and one of the first things I did was sign up!

I thought it would be fun to start with my 'Airport Girl' that I did while waiting for the plane. It really tells where I am. I love to do an illustrated daily journal but I am finding that all the painting I do is fast, too fast sometimes and fairly small. When I painted 'Airport Girl', I thought of what I had read and decided to do a better sketch. I think I got her 'waiting' posture okay and I did paint her on the spot but I want to

IMPROVE!

Laure suggested 'Improve' must be my word for the year. And so it shall be.

I intend to improve by taking more time when painting and painting larger.

One thing I am going to work on is landscapes. I find them very difficult and tend to avoid them. I also know that I will be inspired to try new things during this year.

Thank you Laure for being so innovative in helping us struggling artists!!

5 comments:

Laure Ferlita said...: Welcome, Teri! Glad to have you along!

What I like about your sketch is that right away I know it's somewhere cold or she's going to somewhere cold by the way you've captured the coat and hat. I also like the way you've focused the bright colors on her and none on the background.

I agree with you on her "waiting" posture. She looks bored, like maybe she's not really interested in her book or she's about to fall asleep.

Good job on this!; December 30, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Teri said...: Thanks Laure, it feels good to be here and committing to this challenge.; December 30, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Kelly said...: Hi, Teri! I always like visiting your blog, and think it's cool you travel with your sketchpad and journal all the time. I'm so glad I'll be doing the challenge with you, Claire and Krista. I wonder how many more people will join up.

I also picked up immediately that the girl in your painting was waiting....and bored....you definitely captured that feel.; December 30, 2009 at 11:13 PM
K said...: Hi Teri, lovely sketch. Glad you jumped right in. Yep, you've got her posture down great. I sense her slouching further down the chair. I like your goal to "improve", and looking forward to seeing those changes in your sketches.; December 31, 2009 at 8:17 AM
Teri said...: Thanks Kelly and Krista. Feels good to have this challenge for 2010.; December 31, 2009 at 6:20 PM

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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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