100 Paintings Challenge: #007 Smiling Tiger

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.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

#007 Smiling Tiger

I have been unusually busy for the past several days. I no longer try to sell my art, but I do donate some. Here I was asked to design a logo for a wildlife veterinary clinic in India. We met a young vet when he came to Roseburg to train at Wildlife Safari, a large non-profit drive through animal park near here. Now Satya is back in India and working hard to see to it that there is some treatment available for wild animals. He wanted a logo of an injured tiger and for the tiger to be smiling … big challenge!

Dale and I are docents for Wildlife Safari. During the past several days I also drew thumbnails for Wildlife Safari of white-nosed coatis, waterbuck, white-cheeked gibbons, alligator, blue and gold macaw, bobcat, cougar, maned wolf, and Indian crested porcupine. I still need to do a cheetah and a walking stick! Give me a good eraser and good reference material and I’ll tackle most any animal. Since we do a lot of Wildlife Safari’s photography, I had all the reference material …. Except for the walking stick. I’ll get that Monday.

5 comments:

Kathy said...: Wow, Elva, I love this piece! I'm sure the recipients were overjoyed ; ). What an interesting life you and Dale are leading~~; February 13, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Teri said...: Your tiger is just awesome! He has the perfect sweet look on his face. Gosh what an interesting life you lead to be able to incorporate your art into your docent work. Wowee! I hope you show some of your other art on your blog.; February 13, 2010 at 8:38 PM
Kelly said...: ...ahhh...this fellow is just adorable (if tiger's can be adorable!). I love his eyes and the tilt of his head, and he definitely feels like he's smiling and happy to be cared for. Love it!; February 14, 2010 at 10:10 AM
K said...: What a wonderful story behind this drawing. And I must say, I admire you for your ink work!; February 14, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Laure Ferlita said...: Smiling Tiger....hmmm, sounds like a really scary book or movie title! But you're guy is cuddly cute and soft!

Thanks for sharing the background story with this - it makes it so much more than just a sketch.

This may have been your intent, but there seems to be a flatness here (that may be unintentional). Maybe some stronger values around his neck and back shoulder areas?; February 16, 2010 at 12:16 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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