Artist: Zeljka Jereb MatkovicTitle: Disappointment
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 8" X 10"
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Zeljka Jereb Matkovic - Disappointment
Artist: Zeljka Jereb MatkovicTitle: Disappointment
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 8" X 10"
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Nancie Johnson - "Death Do Us Part"
Title: "Death Do Us Part"
Artist: Nancie Johnson
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 9" x 12"
Artists Blog: http://nancies-art.Nidhi Krishna
Artist : Nidhi Krishna
Size : 9" X 12"
Medium & Support : Watercolor on paper
Artist Blog : http://treasureart.blogspot.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Renate Arends - "It's Over..."
Title
Artist
Medium & support : Watercolor on canvas
Size
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Challenge 25 - Betrayed Dreams
The process of creating art truly helps us to see. It’s by being able to see the spirit of the subject that an artist captures something vital and alive in the painting even when he or she is presenting a static still life scene on a canvas.
Over the last few weeks we have enjoyed a bountiful of visual richness in the different paintings for the “Still Life With Cantaloupe” challenge.
Never visually repetitive, the freshness of each painting showed how you had carefully studied your ‘goal’, brought a ‘new’ eye to each of the paintings, and also brought particular intentions to the painting process.
Thank you for giving all of us an opportunity to view your paintings! And of course a big thank you to all of us who found time to post feedback and encourage our fellow artists.
Just a small reminder that constructive critique from you is equally welcome and very helpful to many of us who have recently embarked on this journey in art.
============================================
About the composition:
This composition and its title is all about the symbolism and hidden meanings in art. About emotions and stories.
What did the artist want to say with this composition? What is the message for the viewer? What is the story the artist wanted to share with the viewer? What kind of questions, feelings, emotions or memories the artist aimed to provoke?
Ask yourself all these questions for each of the compositions you are creating, to help you and guide you towards creating a successful well composed painting that speaks to the viewer.
=============================================
As soon as I showed this composition to a friend of mine, a flood of questions started to fly around.
The friend said “I like it” and then, immediately asked “Why is the rose turned upside down? Isn’t that cruel? It will die! ” I imagine someone else may also ask “Why have you chosen a glass and not a vase where rose naturally belongs?”
I love these questions. I wanted them. I carefully planned to provoke the viewer to ask questions. I wanted to evoke emotions…to make him ponder, get engaged, get intrigued, be entranced and yet break the spell and figure out the secret message kept inside the painting
The rose lived in a glamorous crystal glass palace full of fairy tale dreams. It is more than obvious that the rose used to be very happy there.
Don’t you right here imagine yourself in that idyllic crystal palace full of goods and happiness surrounded by fairy tale dreams where everything seems easy and possible? You lived there once upon a time, didn’t you? All of us did.
Then, you realize the rose (your whole world) has been turned upside down. The life juices are running out. The sky is so far away and the ground is just below your nose. Something went awfully wrong. Something inside you is screaming “What has happened? I used to be so happy. I was flying to the stars, and the Sun and clouds were my best friends. This hard landing to the dirty ground soil could not possibly be real. Is this just a bad dream? Is it a nightmare and I just need to wake up and all will be as it used to be? My fairy tale world would magically come back … to me….”
After you absorbed the first freezing reality shock, you started to remember … One day a gentle breeze brought a honey bee on your petals. It’s cute appearance and cheerful games made you gladly open your arms and unselfishly share the beauty of your dream world. You could never imagine that anything could possibly go wrong and your kindness could break the spell. You were enjoying enormously. The honey bee was very happy flitting all over your silky, glorious gown of petals, happily jumping from one to another, taking a bath in the sea of pollen and the intoxicating rose juice - Only one wrong move, and the balance was lost, you toppled and the rose world flipped upside down.
The viewer is secretly asked “Did you ever feel like this in your life? What happened afterwards?”
Without the crystal palace to protect it from the strong winds, storms, freezing cold and rain, the rose was on its knees. Once the envy of all, the glorious gown of petals started to fall apart turning into a carpet of fallen soldiers on the battlefield. The cold winter winds shredded its soft silk gown and the days of glory, hope, dreams were far behind … gone. The reality was heartbreaking.
The crystal dream palace… such a glorious, bountiful cozy home… turned into a glass of disappointment, an invisible bad tasting wine which does not even look like wine … more like water.
Here the viewer is asked “How often did you hunt for a miraculous solution to all your formidable problems? You know what I am talking about – seeking refuge in the empty promises of an intoxicant… trying to wipe away reality… you flee from the truth.”
Perhaps there is wine, not water in the glass. And the rose knows that the wine in the glass will kill it. The sedative pill will not solve the problems. Yet, the rose continues to hold strongly to its edge and tries very hard to get back, almost certainly, to its sure, painful and inevitable death.
Here, the viewer is asked the same questions as the artist at the beginning …
What did the artist want to say with this composition? What is the message for the viewer? What is the story the artist wanted to share with the viewer? What kind of questions, feelings, emotions or memories the artist aimed to provoke?
… The viewer’s imagination will craft the answer the artist has intended ….or maybe not. It might say …
When an innocent honey bee comes to taste the nectars of a dream world you have been happily living in, enjoy the game with the whole heart, and make sure your roots are planted deep enough to withstand the unplanned turbulence… keep the foundation of your dream world firmly tightened to the ground.
=============================================
I hope you enjoyed the story. I hope it helps you understand that a good painting is not just a pretty picture on the wall. It needs to tell its story. It needs to evoke emotions.
When you paint this composition, try to remember this story and try to think what kind of colors, edges, additions or simplifications will help to accomplish what you want…. before the first brush stoke touches your canvas or paper. Afterwards … it is too late.
Don’t forget the rose dream world story …But of course, you may have an entirely different story, and we look forward to it!
Please send a photo of your painting the latest by Dec 31. The next painting reference will be posted on Jan 1, 2012.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Lela Stankovic - Temptation
Artist: Lela Stankovic
Medium: Watercolor on paper
Size: 10.5" x 14"
Artist's blog: http://www.lelacreations.blogspot.com/
Artist's web site: http://www.lelacreations.com/
Size: 10.5" x 14"
Artist's blog: http://www.lelacreations.blogspot.com/
Artist's web site: http://www.lelacreations.com/
Mohepi
- Artist: Mohepi
- Size: 26 x 36 cm
- Medium & Support: Watercolor paper
- Artist Website: http://monique.pierre.perso.
sfr.fr/aquarelles/galerie- aquarelles.html
Karin Naylor
- Artist: Karin Naylor
- Size: 8 x 10
- Medium & Support: Oil On Masonite
- Artist Blog: http://naylorlake.
blogspot.com/
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sylviane Le Cann
Artist: Sylviane Le CannMedium & Support: Oil on canvas
Size: 7,5"x9""
Artist Blog: http://sylviane-lec.blogspot.
Isabel Pérez Lima
Artist: Isabel Pérez Lima
Size: 27x35 cm
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Artist blog: http://iplima.blogspot.com/
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Jean Nelson
Size: 10"x8"
Medium & Support: Acrylic on canvas panel
Artist: Jean Nelson
Artist blog: trailwind216.blogspot.com
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Helen H Trachy - Cantaloup Blues
ARTIST: Helen H Trachy
MEDIUM: Acrylic on canvas panel
SIZE : 10 x 12
BLOG: http://peinturesetaventures.
Irina Rekhviashvili
Artist: Irina Rekhviashvili
Size: 30x40cm
Medium and Support: Oil pastel on light-grey pastel paper
Artist Blog: www.irinapictures.blogspot.com
Nancie Johnson - Vase with Cantaloupe
Title: Vase with Cantaloupe
Artist: Nancie Johnson
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 9" x 12"
Artists blog: http://nancies-art.blogspot.
Nidhi Krishna
Artist : Nidhi Krishna
Size : 8" X 10"
Medium & Support : Watercolor on Watercolor paper
Helen Eaton
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Angela Sullivan - Just a Few Will Do
Artist: Angela Sullivan
Medium: Acrylic
Title: Just a Few Will Do
Size: 8x10 canvas panel
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Mico Soleil - Vase et Melon
Artist Blog: http://mi.blog2b.net/
Medium: Watercolor on Fontenay paper
Size: 22 x 30 cm
Anita Badami
Joke Klootwijk
Artist: Joke Klootwijk
Size: 14 x 14 cm
Medium& Support: Oil on a white acrylic panel
Artists Blog: http://www.jokeklootwijk.nl/
Artist website: http://www.aquarelleren.nl
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Renate Arends
Title
Artist
Medium & support : Watercolor, acryl (background), glue (background) and canvas
Size
Monday, October 10, 2011
Challenge 24 - Still Life With Cantaloupe
We had so much fun this time with the Old Door! Each of us learnt so much by simply observing how our other friends in PADT visualized the same subject in their painting. Each of us has his or her own style and it’s very refreshing to see same subject inspiring different images in different artists.
Reading a comment about what a viewer likes about our painting is very enlightening as well. The image which the viewer sees in our painting – is that what we had intended?
A big thank you to all who took the time to share their paintings and their feedback!
About the composition:
Prior to placing your brush on the canvas, take 15 min and carefully observe, observe and again OBSERVE the composition. What attracts your attention first? Let your eyes and imagination “travel” around and try to unfold the secret story hidden among its numerous reflections, worn out textures and shadows.
Your painting must convincingly tell your story - the one you are just about to visualize in your painting. Your story should strongly engage each viewer who must be able to hear it. If you don’t “see” it, you would not be able to paint it. The painting will be lifeless and speechless.
You want your painting to speak for you, to shout at each passerby, to tell your story and evoke emotions and feelings.
First, you need to get familiar with the shapes and the flow of the light, shadows, reflections, colors and textures in the composition. Identify all important elements, obvious and less obvious.
Make a confident plan about how to approach this composition. Once you get familiar with all elements that the composition has to offer, pick up your brush and emphasize it in your painting.
Important elements to consider
The light: A single source of light is entering the composition from the window at the top left, creating very pronounced shadows and “cast” shadows on the opposite side of the composition. The window is reflected in the form of highlights on the vase and cantaloupe seeds, following each shape and texture.
Shadows: Vase shadows are clearly defined on the opposite side of the light source. In addition to that, the vase casts a very subtle shadow on the background wall and cantaloupe. Each object has its shadow and casts another shadow on all surrounding surfaces and objects.
Reflections: The window is reflected in the vase with its bluish sky light all around the highlights. (The highlight is usually a reflection of the light source). Another very important reflection is the reflection of the cantaloupe on the vase. Emphasize it.
Texture: There is a variety of textures to portray. The vase has very intricate engraving with “valleys” painted in red and blue to emphasize the design. The cloth is an old fashioned - almost wooly textured - colorful tapestry that has seen many years of use and has a lot to tell and share. Worn out and partially torn, adding interest and supporting a bluish sky reflection and blue flower, it has been chosen as a complement to the orange cantaloupe.
Color harmony: Blue tapestry, sky light, flower, background. Green flower leaves, greenish reflections in the vase, yellow green on the cloth and at the bottom of the cantaloupe. Orange is a complement of blue and has its own place in the whole composition all around.
Please send a photo of your painting the latest by Sunday, Nov 13. The next painting reference will be posted on Nov 14th.
Nidhi Krishna
Artist : Nidhi Krishna
Size : 8" X 10"
Medium & Support : Watercolor on Arches Watercolor paper
Artist Blog : http://treasureart.blogspot.Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sylvia Young - "For Sale"
Artist: Sylvia YoungTitle: "For Sale'
Medium: Water-colour
Size: 12"x8.5"
Artist Blog: sylsarttrials.blogspot.com
Monday, September 12, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Andy Smith
Artist: Andy Smith
Size: 4"x 6"
Medium & Support: watercolor on 300lb arches paper
Artist Website: www.andysmithartit.com
Artist Blog: www.andysmithartist.blogspot.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Horst Hittenberger - Old Door
Title : Old door
Artist : Horst Hittenberger
Medium & support : Oil on canvas
Size : 14 by 11
Blog: http://horsthittenberger.Jean Nelson - The Old Door
Artist: Jean Nelson
Size: 6"x6"
Medium & Support: Acrylic on linen paper
Artist Website: Trailwind216.blogspot.com
Monday, September 5, 2011
Renate Arends - Old Door
Title
Artist
Medium & support : Watercolor and canvasboard
Size
Jane Daniels-Hall - Serbian Shed Latch
Title: Serbian Shed Latch
Artist: Jane Daniels-Hall
Size: 11"x14"
Medium: Watercolor
Support: hardboard
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Challenge 23 - Old Door
It 's truly been a privilege viewing the exquisitely beautiful
creations of so many different artists for the challenge 22 -
"Peaches And Pot". Thank you so much for participating!
As artists we constantly want to explore new elements
in our creative journey. And sometimes, it helps immensely
when we have a chance to see examples of how others
would approach the same subject.
One of the artists recently wrote to me saying - "The choice of the
background, space, color harmony - observing how other artists
treat these dimensions for the same subject is like learning
from a teacher who is teaching by examples!".
Another mail I have is from an artist who has
been inspired to take on commissioned works,
encouraged by the feedback on PADT.
Thank you once again for your support! For sharing all the
really marvelous artworks and for your feedback and comments!
About the photo reference
This old door is from a Serbian village that I recently visited.
It was built nearly 60 years back and has witnessed so
many events and stories.
Remember, this is a high resolution photo, so please click on it to
magnify before downloading. Do make sure you get the highest resolution photo from this post.
When you zoom in the photo, there are two elements to watch for:
creations of so many different artists for the challenge 22 -
"Peaches And Pot". Thank you so much for participating!
As artists we constantly want to explore new elements
in our creative journey. And sometimes, it helps immensely
when we have a chance to see examples of how others
would approach the same subject.
One of the artists recently wrote to me saying - "The choice of the
background, space, color harmony - observing how other artists
treat these dimensions for the same subject is like learning
from a teacher who is teaching by examples!".
Another mail I have is from an artist who has
been inspired to take on commissioned works,
encouraged by the feedback on PADT.
Thank you once again for your support! For sharing all the
really marvelous artworks and for your feedback and comments!
About the photo reference
This old door is from a Serbian village that I recently visited.
It was built nearly 60 years back and has witnessed so
many events and stories.
Remember, this is a high resolution photo, so please click on it to
magnify before downloading. Do make sure you get the highest resolution photo from this post.
When you zoom in the photo, there are two elements to watch for:
- The spider webs in the holes.
- The wood grains in the shadows
I look forward to your paintings and drawings!
Please send a photo of your painting/drawing the
latest by Sunday, Oct 9. The next painting reference will be posted on oct 10.
Andy Smith
artist: Andy Smith
size: 6"x 4"
medium and support: Watercolor on Arches 300lb cp
blog: www.andysmithartist.blogspot.
website: www.andysmithartist.com
Sherry Bevins
Artist: Sherry Bevins
Medium: Archival Canvas Panel
Size: 5" x 7"
Artist Blog: www.artistsherry.blogspot.com
Nan Johnson - Pitcher with Fruit
Artist: Nan Johnson
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Sheet
Size: 9" x 12"
Blog: http://nancies-art.
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