Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Zeljka Jereb Matkovic - Disappointment

Artist: Zeljka Jereb Matkovic
Title: Disappointment
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 8" X 10"

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Nelvia Mcgrath - Broken Heart

Artist: Nelvia Mcgrath
Size: 9"x12"
Media: Acrylic on paper
Blog: http://nelviamcgrathart.blogspot.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Sylvia Young - "Not Coming Home"


Artist: Sylvia Young

Tittle - "Not Coming Home"
Medium: Acrylics
Size:
Blog: sylsarttrials.blogspot.com

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Beti Abel - "Beautiful End"


Titulo: Beautiful End
Artist: Beti Abel
23x30cm
watercolor


Monday, December 5, 2011

Angela Sullivan - "I'm All Out Of Love"


Title: "I'm All Out Of Love"
Artist: Angela Sullivan
Medium: Oil on 5x7 canvas panel
Blog: www.angelasacrylics.blogspot.com


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.blogspot.com/

Nidhi Krishna


Artist : Nidhi Krishna
Size : 9" X 12"
Medium & Support : Watercolor on paper
Artist Blog : http://treasureart.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Renate Arends - "It's Over..."


Title : It’s over...

Artist : Renate Arends (Netherlands)

Medium & support : Watercolor on canvas

Size : 30 x 40 cm.

Blog : http://renatearends.blogspot.com

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/

Mohepi



Millie Nguyen





Still Life Cantaloupe
Acrylics
8" X 8"X 1 1/2" canvas

Karin Naylor


Pat Koscienski - Vase With Cantaloupe


Pat Koscienski
Vase With Cantaloupe
Acrylic
14" x 11"
www.patkoscienski.blogspot.com

Nora MacPhail



Nora MacPhail
12"x12"
Watercolour on cold pressed paper

Friday, November 11, 2011

Jenni Twidle



Artist: Jenni Twidle

Medium & Support: Black Gel Pen on Paper

Sylviane Le Cann

Artist: Sylviane Le Cann
Medium & Support: Oil on canvas

Size: 7,5"x9"
"
Artist Blog: http://sylviane-lec.blogspot.com

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.blogspot.com

Irina Rekhviashvili



Artist: Irina Rekhviashvili
Size: 30x40cm
Medium and Support: Oil pastel on light-grey pastel paper
Artist Blog: www.irinapictures.blogspot.com

Zeljka Jereb Matkovic


Artist: Zeljka Jereb Matkovic
Medium: Watercolor
Size: 7" x10"

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.com/

Nidhi Krishna


Artist : Nidhi Krishna
Size : 8" X 10"
Medium & Support : Watercolor on Watercolor paper

Helen Eaton


  • Artist: Helen Eaton
  • Size: 9"X12"
  • Medium & Support: Oil On Canvas
  • Artist Blog:http://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/
  • Artist Website:http://www.etsy.com/shop/WordWeaverArt

  • 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

    Sylvia Young




    Artist: Sylvia Young
    Artist Blog: sylsarttrials.blogspot.com

    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


  • Artist: Anita Badami
  • Size: 12" X 16"
  • Medium & Support: Acrylic On Canvas
  • Artist Blog: http://anitabadamipaintings.blogspot.com/
  • Joke Klootwijk


    Artist: Joke Klootwijk

    Size: 14 x 14 cm

    Medium& Support: Oil on a white acrylic panel

    Artists Blog: http://www.jokeklootwijk.nl/weblog.

    Artist website: http://www.aquarelleren.nl

    Sunday, October 16, 2011

    Renate Arends



    Title : Still Life With Cantaloupe

    Artist : Renate Arends (Netherlands)

    Medium & support : Watercolor, acryl (background), glue (background) and canvas

    Size : 24 x 32 cm

    Blog : http://renatearends.blogspot.com

    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.

    Glenna Farley

    Glenna Farley
    watercolors on 140 lb paper
    size  12x14

    Nidhi Krishna


    Artist : Nidhi Krishna
    Size : 8" X 10"
    Medium & Support : Watercolor on Arches Watercolor paper
    Artist Blog : http://treasureart.blogspot.com/2011/10/old-door.html

    Sunday, September 25, 2011

    Jenni Twidle - Old Wooden Door


    Artist: Jenni Twidle

    Medium & Support: Pen and Coloured Inks on paper

    Monday, September 19, 2011

    Jenn Jiang


    Artist: Jenn Jiang
    Size: 5.5" x 9"
    Media & Support: Ink on paper
    Blog: http://flyflybluejay.blogspot.com

    Wednesday, September 14, 2011

    Sylvia Young - "For Sale"

    Artist: Sylvia Young
    Title: "For Sale'
    Medium: Water-colour
    Size: 12"x8.5"
    Artist Blog:
    sylsarttrials.blogspot.com




    Monday, September 12, 2011

    Nelvia Mcgrath - Tuscan Door


    Artist: Nelvia Mcgrath
    Size: 9"x12"
    Media: Acrylic on paper

    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.com

    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.blogspot.com/

    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 : Old door

    Artist : Renate Arends (Netherlands)

    Medium & support : Watercolor and canvasboard

    Size : 9,5”x 11,75”

    Blog : http://renatearends.blogspot.com


    Tess Turner - This Old Door


    Artist: Tess Turner
    Size: 12" x 12"
    Medium: Acrylic on canvas
    Artist blog: www.tesscyp.blogspot.com


    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

    Ann Hyde


    Name: Ann Hyde

    Size: 6" x 4"

    Medium: Watercolour

    Artist Blog: http://studiohyde.blogspot.com/


    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:
    • 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.com
    website: www.andysmithartist.com

    Sherry Bevins


    Artist: Sherry Bevins
    Medium: Archival Canvas Panel
    Size: 5" x 7"
    Artist Blog: www.artistsherry.blogspot.com


    Ann Hyde - Peaches & Pot


    Name: Ann Hyde
    Size: 8" x 6"
    Medium: Watercolour
    Artists Blog: http://studiohyde.blogspot.com/

    Nan Johnson - Pitcher with Fruit


    Artist: Nan Johnson
    Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Sheet
    Size: 9" x 12"
    Blog: http://nancies-art.blogspot.com