I knew I wanted to try for detail on this one so I painted on Strathmore's 140# cold press Series 400.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
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Cathy Orfall
A L U M N I
The following individuals have completed the 100 Paintings Challenge. Please join me in congratulating them!
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For anyone interested in sharing with others about the current challenge you are taking on, please use the badge above to display on your blog! By posting it as a picture, you can link it back to the challenge blog as well.
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.
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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Blog Archive
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2011
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December
(21)
- Three to Fall #13
- Watercolor Still Life - Dora Sislian Themelis
- Kelly - Painting 100 :-D
- Christmas Trees #11 and #12
- Kristin, 56 &57 Ptarmigan Parts
- Early Sunrise #10
- Dragonfly # 9
- Lorrie #64 - Toodle-oo Bird
- Sunshine #8
- Winter Watercolor #42 Dora Sislian Themelis
- The Milky Way #7
- Great Egret #6
- Still Life Watercolor #41 Dora Sislian Themelis
- Wanderin' Weeta's Mute Swan #5
- Four to Go: Robin's Nest and Falling Leaves #4
- Lorrie #62 and #63 - Moonlight Tree & Dawn Tree
- The Last Apple #3
- Kristin #54 & 55, flowers on duralene
- Ready to Hunt: Great Horned Owl #2
- Great Egret #1
- Look Who Came Back!!
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December
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5 comments:
This is a gorgeous critter, Elva! What a fun subject. The wings are right-om to convey their translucency and weightlessness. Elva, how large is the painting? Just getting an idea of the size needed for this amount of detail.
Hi Lorrie: From nose to tail tip the darner on paper is 6 to 7 inches long. I painted it as a birthday card for our fellow dragonfly hunter so I don't have it here anymore -- 90 years young!
Paper makes a big difference when you want detail. Can't get it on Arches cold press and even Arches hot press is a little too absorbant.
When I painted professionally I aimed for lots of detail .... used Cresent's Hot press Illustration board 115. But washes are a challenge on this. I could get a lovely soft wash, but then I couldn't touch it. Arches is much more forgiving for washes.
Thanks for these notes about paper, Elva. It's a whole other variable and I'm just beginning to understand what is/is not possible. I've just started to delve into hot press and love the softness of the washes--for some subjects, that is. I've used mostly cold-press until now of various brands and weights. I have some very good paper that I like a lot (Arches cold-press blocks in various sizes) but am reluctant to use those often because of the expense! I play around and experiment a lot while painting so feel like I had better use less expensive paper... but have really come to agree with what I've heard from others: that with poorer quality paper some techniques just don't work well, or the colors get muddy sooner. So I'm trying to find my balance between using valuable paper versus cheaper paper for spontaneous (e.g., sometimes "unsuccessful") paintings versus "seriously planned" paintings.
I have a hard time 'just experimenting' on good paper, but realize I need to some of the time. Making a card for someone (and hoping it turns out) is a nice way to become familiar with good paper. ... and watching sales online. It makes a big difference when and where you buy paper.
I've found Strathmore's series 400 140# cold press paper is pretty decent paper to experiment on without going to the bank (assuming I bought it at the right time).
...cool, cool, cool. Brings back memories of summer heat.
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