100 Paintings Challenge: # 58 Please critique!

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.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

# 58 Please critique!

These are the clump of leaves that inspired me on my walk the other day! Its a bush I believe, but most of the leaves have fallen off. I am getting a lot more confident in being able to be take risks with colour and technique. I am using a wet on wet style a lot more now, and being able to mix colours on the paper itself, which is really exciting as one sees the colour mingle creating its own form. I find I now prefer to do the background first and have been painting it in this way, and then doing the main subject.
I would like your comments on this picture, please....Thanks in advance!

4 comments:

Roy said...: Hi Brinda,

I am a novice so dont take much notice of me, but I think the top half of the painting is perfect. In respect of the bottom half I would have expected to see the greens and browns a little darker as this is where the shadows and less light would be. I love the way you have done the leaves.; January 9, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Elva Paulson said...: Hi Brinda, I think the color and shape of the leaves are well done, both in the top and the bottom of the painting ... but there does seem to be a seperation between the top and the bottom. Sometimes we need to use a little artistic liscense and add what the painting needs rather than just painting what we are seeing. .... just a thought. Someone else might disagree with me.; January 9, 2011 at 6:41 PM
Kelly said...: Hi Brinda...I'm not the best at offering advice because I usually love everything I see. When I first saw the painting I loved it as is...I see it all, but after reading Elva and Roy's ideas, they sound spot on.; January 11, 2011 at 12:08 AM
brincrish said...: Thanks so much for the comments. I do totally agree. Will work on the picture a little more and post it for comments!; January 11, 2011 at 5:15 AM

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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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