100 Paintings Challenge: #002-Comfortable in His Own Skin-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.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

#002-Comfortable in His Own Skin-Kathy

Well, I finally completed a second painting--such as it is ; ). I saw this photo, from a 2007 edition of Selvedge magazine, on a super cute blog and just had to try to recreate it. It's not perfect, but I sure had fun! I see early on that I do fairly well with detail, but need lots of practice with big shapes and loosening up with parts that are not the focus.

NEXT!!!

8 comments:

Teri said...: What an adorable sheep with that jacket on. You got lots of detail in it and his/her face has a wonderful expression.; January 19, 2010 at 9:15 PM
Kathy said...: Thanks Teri!; January 19, 2010 at 9:38 PM
Unknown said...: Very cute!; January 20, 2010 at 12:33 AM
Laure Ferlita said...: Love the title and the sense of humor and play in this piece, Kathy! You've done a fine job! Now, STOP judging!!

"such that it is" and "it's not perfect" are judgmental and self-defeating. Making statements of fact - this was easy or this part was hard - will help to keep the judgement out of it.

Keep going, keep striving to put brush to paper and let the rest of it take care of itself! (And besides, you don't want it to be "perfect!" ;•]); January 20, 2010 at 10:34 AM
Kathy said...: Thanks Laure. I have been taking too long with these, fiddling too much. I'm going to do one today all in one go---no matter how much I have to grit my teeth : )!; January 20, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Kelly said...: Oh my gosh....I have a soft spot for lambs, especially little black lambs. He is just adorable. I love the fun colors and his little sweater with the pom poms.; January 20, 2010 at 5:02 PM
Kathy said...: Thanks Kelly ; ).; January 21, 2010 at 12:24 PM
K said...: Very whimsical and cute!; January 23, 2010 at 6:20 PM

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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