100 Paintings Challenge: October 2012

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.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Elva #94 and 95

Snow blows off a cornice high above me. Blowing snow in Yellowstone ends up forming huge snowbanks.

Painted in my Stillman &Birn Beta series sketchbook.

A sandhill crane feeds in long grasses ... also inspired by our trip to Yellowstone.

Painted on Arches Hot Press paper. ... good paper for careful detail

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Elva #92 and 93

I think canvasbacks have an elegant look, and when the late sun catches their head it almost glows ..... just trying to capture that feeling. Painted on Strathmore Aquarius II watercolor paper ... a paper I like very much.

Sun and Shadows ..... I liked how the backlit trees were throwing shadows on the golden grasses of fall. Just a quick study to try to capture the feeling.

Painted on Lanaquarelle 140# cold press.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

#87-103 Terry - finally!

This is from a Detroit Tigers game we went to but got very rained out! Nonetheless, since they are now in the World Series, I wanted to include it. Go Tigers! All of these are in a 5.5x5.5 notebook that I can carry in my purse with water brushes and my Altoids palette. Great fun - anywhere!

This was from an evening enjoying Il Volo - such a wonderful time with their angelic voices!

From lunch with the friend who introduced me to painting years ago. She lives far away now but we got to spend the afternoon painting and catching up.

We recently spent 2 weeks visiting Charleston, S.C. and stayed at Folly Beach - a very special island 15 minutes from Charleston. We were right on the Atlantic ocean and daily watched surfers and fisherman. Most of the rest were from our nearly daily walks around Charleston. Wonderful!

Thank you for your patience in my lengthy blogs today. I was in the mood and really wanted to get caught up and be sure to get up to 100 paintings. It's been a joy! I'll keep posting blogs now but don't feel the pressure that I did to keep my word. All of your work is so inspiring - thanks for sharing it!

#77-86 Terry

This was the Imaginary Trip to Italy. The class was just prior to our actual trip to Italy and a wonderful preparation!

#72-76 Terry

These were from my Imaginary Trip to Paris with Laure Ferlita - fun! We're headed back to Paris again next Sept. so I'm eager to do some paintings there again - for real!

#70 -71 Terry

Both are 5x7

#64-69 Terry

5x7

These were mostly 1/4 sheet unless specified.

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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