100 Paintings Challenge: Shell Apple Pebble

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.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Shell Apple Pebble - #3

Shell Apple Pebble (c)2011 Dora Sislian Themelis
8x10 Watercolor Arches 140lb cold press paper

Frustrated over spending too much time on this latest watercolor painting caused me to leave it aside for the time being. Anyone with any thoughts, please comment. I had plenty of time to leisurely paint on the day I started this piece, but it quickly went downhill, in my opinion.

Having spent plenty of time examining the beach items and leaves, I decided to add the apple for color and a different shape to play with. I did not stick to 20 minutes of painting time and leave it at that. No. I went over time and over board, later finding the need to lift out color where I needed highlights.

Telling myself it's the process not the outcome makes me feel a little better, but not by a whole lot. Next painting I do needs to stop before I do too much and want to poke out my eye!

8 comments:

Mermaid's Palette said...: Nice- Dora! I like your apple, but I do know about painting too much and it is frustrating!
Sheryl; February 14, 2011 at 1:17 PM
Lorrie Klosterman said...: Hi Dora, the apple is a nice element for this composition I think, for its color, as you were wanting, and softer surface texture and also the mystery of the story (in our imagination) behind this particular trio of items... perhaps an apple got loose from somebody's Valentine picnic upshore and ended up in the wave wash ;-); February 14, 2011 at 2:33 PM
Dora Sislian Themelis said...: Sheryl, I don't know what it is lately, but I can't seem to spend too much time painting or I mess it up. Better to stick with a time limit!; February 14, 2011 at 4:31 PM
Dora Sislian Themelis said...: Lorrie, that's what I was going for, color and shape against those different objects. I wanted it to be a bit more painterly or loose. By using a time limit I can usually get that free feeling. I like your imagination!; February 14, 2011 at 4:34 PM
Kelly said...: I actually like the apple! It looks soft and glowing to me. The shell is beautiful. I pick up a mother-of-pearl look to it.; February 15, 2011 at 8:54 AM
Dora Sislian Themelis said...: Really Kelly? I was going to touch it up but never got to it today. I may just leave it and move on. I do like the shell too. Thanks!; February 15, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Claire M said...: I too like both the apple and the shell.; February 17, 2011 at 12:55 AM
Dora Sislian Themelis said...: Thank you Claire! Seems there's consensus, I'll leave it and move on!; February 17, 2011 at 12:17 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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