100 Paintings Challenge: November 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.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Elva #100!!!

Blackbuck fawn on Aquabee paper

Canada Goose on Aquarius II paper

Great Egret on Aquabee

I did it! For the second time I've finished The Challenge. I'm so glad it did it. Picking up a paint brush has become part of my life -- in a very different way than for my first 30 years of painting. I started out always doing 'finished work.' I seldom gave myself the freedom to experiment. Laure Ferlita (creator of the 100 Paintings Challenge) opened my eyes to a whole new way of approaching art ... jump in, do it, be comfortable making mistakes, learn from the mistakes ... and have fun along the way. It has been so liberating.

In the past, if I had an idea and didn't know how to handle it, I seldom tried. I stayed in the safe zone. Now it is fun to give it a try ... some work, some don't.

This time around in the challenge I make a point of using different papers. I wasn't as conscientious about that as I would have liked. I still have papers on the shelf to try. But I did convince myself that paper is an important part of the process. That doesn't mean one has to have a dozen types on the shelf, but it does mean some results are very dependent on the type of paper used.

I paint a lot in sketchbooks since I paint a lot in the field. I used to be satisfied with the paper in hardbound 8 1/2 x 11 blank books ... but the paper just isn't as good as it was 30 years ago. I've tried several brands. So recently I've switched to lugging around two books .... my trusty hard bound 8 1/2 x 11 journal for words and sketches ... just a little paint; plus either a Stillman and Birn Beta spiral bound book or a Bee Papers Aquabee Super Deluxe spiral bound book. The paper is very similar except you The Stillman and Birn is heavier, lies flatter so you can easily use both sides, and I can rewet it more times. But it is also quite a bit more expensive. I have Teri Casper (100 Painting Challenge alumnus) to thank for introducing me to the Stillman and Birn.

I wish Strathmore would put their Aquarius II paper into a sketchbook. It is one of my favorites. Takes both ink and watercolor well, is lightweight and yet lies flat. I'm seriously considering making my own watercolor pad or sketchbook with it. Loose sheets of paper always seem to end up on the floor of the car, but if it make my own watercolor pad, the paper would have some protection.

I hate to see the Challenge coming to an end. I thank you, Laure, for opening my eyes.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Elva's #98 and 99

I call this the 'Sexy Lady Moon.' It is as if she wears a beret that almost covers one eye. Saturday night I lay in my sleeping bag and watched the moon, and tried to burn the scene into my mind. We were camping at Lava Beds National Monument. Then, in the morning, I sat on a rock and drew the branch and distant trees from almost the same spot. Added paint while I made coffee.

Another pelican painting inspired from the day I got to sketch pelicans on the coast and then photograph them. Here a young Herrmann's gull is trying to steal the pelican's fish. ... painted in my Stillman and Birn sketch book.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Elva # 96 and 97

A brown pelican swoops up, taking aim before it dives after a fish. Watercolor in my Stillman and Birn Beta sketchbook.

This fire scene is inspired by a memory and a very old journal sketch. I painted on Arches hot press 140#. Watercolor.

For more about this wildfire and a more recent one, go to my blog: www.elvafieldnotes.blogspot.com

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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