100 Paintings Challenge: The Courage to Begin

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, January 29, 2011

The Courage to Begin

Please join me in welcoming Dora Themelis, our new "challenger! Dora has a background rich in art and a variety of mediums. She has worked with oils, pastels, pen and ink and in recent times, watercolors.

Like all of us, Dora wants to build "good habits" into her daily round that include a consistent, daily effort at creating art. The challenge is a wonderful tool to help create those habits as there is an accountability that helps us stay on track.

Dora is also seeking to understand what it is that excites her to create, what subjects and mediums. She wrote a statement in one of her emails, "Waking in the morning to think I could have the a chance to paint again keeps my creativity alive." To which I wholeheartedly reply, "Yes, it must certainly does!"

Please visit Dora's blog by clicking on her name over in the lefthand side bar.
Again, Dora, welcome!

5 comments:

Teri said...: Yeah Dora!!! So happy to see you finally made the plunge. You will do great. It is such a feeling of accomplishment.; January 29, 2011 at 10:01 PM
Dora Sislian Themelis said...: Thanks to you Teri, and your Twenty Minute Challenge, without which I would not have known there was this great opportunity. I'm excited to face the possibilities presented by the idea of 100 paintings and I'm taking a nice, deep breath!; January 30, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Kelly said...: Hi Dora! Welcome to the challenge. This is my second time around. I learned so much through the first 100 I had to do it again! Can't wait to see your paintings.; January 30, 2011 at 1:16 PM
brincrish said...: Welcome Dora! This is a really GREAT challenge! You will love participating and it really help you achieve what you want!; January 31, 2011 at 9:13 AM
Dora Sislian Themelis said...: Kelly, Brinda, thank you for your encouragement!; January 31, 2011 at 9:36 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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