100 Paintings Challenge: #001-Peaches & Cream-Kathy

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.

Like several of you, the flame of passion for painting was fanned for me with Laure's fantastic Paris trip--now just about everything that passes through my vision is imagined as a painting! Even random thoughts passing through my brain sometimes cross over to the other side and become sketches. I loved being part of the group and felt a bit of withdrawal when we finished. I am so excited to be a part of this challenge and look forward to growing, simply by determined effort and practice--and watching my fellow artists grow, too.

In this group, I am looking to really find my "voice" in painting. I love the watercolor medium, but I am also doing some things in acrylic. The two hold different challenges for me and I'd like to explore both here. This first painting is just a small piece on a page I tore from my Arches Carnet de Voyage watercolor notebook. I thoroughly enjoyed painting this and can't wait to get on my next one! Thank you, Laure, for administrating this blog, and also for the warm encouragement you have given me from our very first contact.

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.

8 comments:

Teri said...: This is really a lovely painting and composition.. I like the darker colored peach basket as an accent to the lighter pitcher and peaches.; January 10, 2010 at 12:15 PM
K said...: Kathy, so nice to see your art again! I am loving the muted grayed background with the splash of orange color thrown in!; January 10, 2010 at 6:44 PM
Gabrielle said...: I really like how the subdued background brings out the pitcher. Great color on the fruit.; January 10, 2010 at 8:18 PM
Timaree said...: Very pretty piece. I love the components of your still life.; January 10, 2010 at 10:08 PM
Kathy said...: Thanks everyone : ).; January 11, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Laure Ferlita said...: Love the complements of blue and orange in this - that basket absolutely sings! You've done a nice job on the modeling of the fruit and the dark interior of the basket. You're off to a great start, Kathy!!

Suggestions for the NEXT one - add in some of your blues and oranges into the background and the sides of the vase as reflected color.

Next!; January 11, 2010 at 8:54 PM
Claire M said...: I really like the composition of this piece. It would be really attractive framed and on the wall.; January 11, 2010 at 11:40 PM
Kelly said...: ...so beautiful. I love the contrast between the blue and the orange, and the deep shadow in the container. The fruit is beautiful...; January 12, 2010 at 12:36 AM

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Saturday, January 9, 2010

#001-Peaches & Cream-Kathy

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