Paint And Draw Together

Nelvia Mcgrath - "Seeing Green"

2012-03-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Title: Seeing Green

Media: Colored Pencil on Bristol Board

Size: 9"x12"

Blog: http://nelviasworkshopchallenges.blogspot.com/

Sylvia Young - "Kiwis"

2012-03-06T14:32:00.001-08:00

Sylvia Young

Title - "Kiwis" -
Medium - oil
Size: 12x16 inches
sylsarttrials.blogspot.com

Nora MacPhail

2012-03-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Artist: Nora MacPhail

Size: 6"x8"

Medium and Support: Watercolour on paper

Artist's Blog: http://www.noramacphail.blogspot.com

Jeneen Nance

2012-03-02T06:21:00.002-08:00

Artist: Jeneen Nance
Size: 8x10 inches
Medium and Support: acrylic on canvas board
Artist blog: jeneenhnanceart.blogspot.com

Tina Marohn

2012-02-29T15:12:00.001-08:00

Artist: Tina Marohn
Size: 6" X6"
Medium & Support: Oil On Canvas
Artist Blog: http://tmarohn.blogspot.com/
Artist Website: http://www.tinamarohn.com

Renate Arends - "Kiwi"

2012-02-29T15:07:00.000-08:00

Title : Kiwi

Artist : Renate Arends (Netherlands)

Medium & support : Watercolor and paper

Size : 24 x 32 cm.

Blog : http://renatearends.blogspot.com

Horst Hittenberger

2012-02-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

Artist: Horst Hittenberger
Size: 8 X 10
Medium & Support: Oil on Canvas Panel
Artist Blog: horsthittenberger.blogspot.com

Helen Eaton

2012-02-27T18:16:00.001-08:00

Artist: Helen Eaton
Size: 5" X 7"
Medium & Support: Oil On Canvas Board
Artist Blog: http://wordweaverart.blogspot.com/
Artist Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WordWeaverArt

William Cook

2012-02-26T14:08:00.000-08:00

Artist : William Cook

Blog address: www.wcookart.blogspot.com

Medium: Oil

Size: 8x10 inches

Lydie Pieplu - "slices of kiwi"

2012-02-25T21:09:00.001-08:00

Artist : Lydie Pieplu

Title : slices of kiwi

Size : 11x 15 cm

Watercolor on cardboard with some white Posca pen strokes

Artist blog : http://lydie-pieplu.blogspot.com/

Mohepi

2012-02-24T16:54:00.000-08:00

Artist: Mohepi
Size: 24 x 32 cm
Medium & Support: Fabriano watercolor paper
Artist Website: http://monique.pierre.perso.sfr.fr/aquarelles/galerie-aquarelles.html

Joke Klootwijk

2012-02-24T16:49:00.000-08:00

artist: Joke Klootwijk

Size: 18 x 24 cm

Medium & Support: Oil on board

Artist blog: http://www.jokeklootwijk.nl/weblog

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

Sophie Jallet

2012-02-24T16:46:00.001-08:00

artist : sophie jallet
size : 30cm*40cm
medium : acrylic
support : paper 300g/m2

Isabelle Gaillardon

2012-02-22T14:03:00.000-08:00

artiste : Isabelle Gaillardon

taille: 25x20 inches

medium: watercolor

blog: ma découverte artistique

Sherry Thurner - "Kiwifruit"

2012-02-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

Artist: Sherry Thurner

8x10 inches, oil on canvas board

Title: Kiwifruit

Blog: http://sherry-latebloomer.blogspot.com/

Tonya Ludlow

2012-02-21T18:59:00.000-08:00

Artist: Tonya Ludlow

Size: 5 x 7 inches

Medium: acrylic on canvas

Zeljka Jereb Matkovic

2012-02-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

Artist: Zeljka Jereb Matkovic
Medium: Watercolor on paper
Size: 8.5 x 5.5 in

Cheri Homaee - "Kiwi"

2012-02-17T10:11:00.001-08:00

Artist: Cheri Homaee

9 x 12 Acrylic on Canvas

Title: Kiwi

Blog: http://leartstudio.com

Ignacio Avalos - "Sweet Temptation"

2012-02-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

Title: "Sweet Temptation"
Medium: Painted in Arches Paper
Artist: Ignacio Avalos
Artist: http://watercolorsbyNacho.blogspot.com

Angela Sullivan

2012-02-15T16:42:00.000-08:00

Artist: Angela Sullivan

5x7 oil on canvas panel

Title: In The Spotlight

Blog: www.angelasacrylics.blogspot.com

Challenge 27 - Waiting For You

2012-02-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

In the last six weeks, almost every day brought a new treasure for us to view and admire!

A big Thank You to all who shared their lovely paintings and
also to those who shared their comments and feedback.

I truly marvel at the sheer variety and richness of the glorious paintings we see in this challenge. While one artist transforms paint into live subjects with bold and lively brushstrokes, another has a totally innovative and vigorous approach, and yet another artist seeks to tease the viewer with illusions of realism.

And, we see so many different styles - impressionism, realism... as well as blends of styles... in the different paintings. Each painting communicates the artist's emotions and feelings and is truly unique and captivating. As Henri Matisse said - "...What counts is to express the emotions they call forth in you, the feelings they awaken, the relations established between objects..."

I hope that you have enjoyed this challenge as much as I did!

About the composition

How to portray the illusion of light?

Those of us who have enjoyed the visually intoxicating pleasure of visiting any of the famous museums around the world with a respectable collection of old masters European paintings must have had this experience. You are entering an endlessly long room full of beautiful paintings, tastefully arranged all around. Suddenly, somehow, for some unknown reason, against your conscious will, you are turning towards a painting so far away that you can not even recognize the subject, colors or shapes. All you can see is a “ globe of light” coming from the frame, magically illuminating the whole room. Shaking your head in complete disbelief, the only question your spell-bound mind could possibly whisper is “How did they do it?”

As some of you already commented on this post, this challenge is all about creating the “illusion of light” and to this, I will add... “the juicy mouth watering Kiwi texture”.

To create the light in the painting, among many other very important things (which I will park aside for now) - the artist needs to create deep, rich and vibrant shadows. Just look at the photo above. It is probably ~ 90% covered in deep, dark, luminous shadows. These "darks" are the main reason why the Kiwi looks like it's “bathing in the sun”.

From this composition I would encourage you to remember and try to demonstrate two things … maybe three:

1) Distribute the color values (the relative degree of lightness or darkness) across the full range in the painting, from almost black to almost white.

2) However, keep dark areas dominant at more than 80% and the light areas at less than 20%. This will create a very strong contrast and the illusion of light.

3) As an extra bonus entertainment (for those brave enough to try it!), here is the Kiwi texture - with all the sparkles and their (don't forget) shadows.

Please send a photo of your painting latest by Sunday Mar 25th.
The next painting reference will be posted on Mar 26.

Elizabeth Dianne Lanning - "Blue Bowl w/ Tomatoes"

2012-02-12T16:31:00.000-08:00

Artist: Elizabeth Dianne Lanning
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 6X8 inches
Artist website: www.Dianne-VoicePainter.blogspot.com

Ignacio Avalos - "Mighty Red"

2012-02-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

Title: "Mighty Red"
Artist: Ignacio Avalos
Medium: Watercolor on Arches paper
Blog: http://watercolorsbyNacho.blogspot.com

Corey Fou Chong

2012-02-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

Artist: Corey Fou Chong

Size: 5"x8"

Medium: watercolor

Artist blog: http:coreyfouchong.blogspot.com

Sylviane Le Cann

2012-02-11T08:34:00.000-08:00

Artist: Sylviane Le Cann
Medium: Oil on canvas paper
Size: 7"x10"
Blog: http://sylviane-lec.blogspot.com

Lavanya Mkrishnan

2012-02-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

Artist: Lavanya Mkrishnan

Medium: oil
Size: 8x10"
Support: canvas panel

Artist blog:http://lavanyamugundh.blogspot.com/

Shweta Nayak

2012-02-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

Artist: Shweta Nayak

Size :11"X 9"

Medium and Support: Acrylic on canvas

Nelvia McGrath - "Garden Delights"

2012-01-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

Artist: Nelvia McGrath

Title: Garden Delights

Media: Acrylic

Size: 9"x12"

Support: Paper

Blog: nelviasworkshopchallenges.blogspot.com

Sherry Thurner

2012-01-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

Medium: acrylic
Size: 6x6 inches
Support: watercolor paper
Artist blog: http://sherry-latebloomer.blogspot.com/

Jean Nelson

2012-01-26T16:41:00.001-08:00

Jean Nelson
5"x7" acrylic on canvas panel
trailwind216.blogspot.com

Pat Koscienski - "Tomatoes on the Vine"

2012-01-26T14:06:00.001-08:00

Pat Koscienski
"Tomatoes on the Vine"
8" x 10"
Acrylic on canvas
Palette knife
www.patkoscienski.blogspot.com

Mohepi

2012-01-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

Artist: Mohepi
Size: 26 x 36 cm
Medium & Support: Watercolor paper
Artist Website: http://monique.pierre.perso.sfr.fr/aquarelles/galerie-aquarelles.html

Millie Nguyen - "Tomatoes, Big and Small"

2012-01-23T08:52:00.000-08:00

Artist- Millie Nguyen
Title - Tomatoes, Big and Small

Acrylics on 12" X 12" canvas

http://millienguyen6.blogspot.com/

Frances Paxton

2012-01-23T08:48:00.000-08:00

Artist: Frances Paxton
Size: 8" X 10"
Medium & Support: Acrylic On Canvas Board
Artist Blog: http://francespaxton.blogspot.com/

Jenni Twidle

2012-01-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Artist: Jenni Twidle

Medium: Pitt pastel pencils on anthracite Pastelmat

Size: 8" x 12"

Website:

http://craftymusings.blogspot.com/

http://jeanettesjottings.blogspot.com/

Joke Klootwijk

2012-01-18T08:51:00.000-08:00

Artist: Joke Klootwijk

Size: 20 x 30 cm

Soft pastel on blue pastel paper

Artist Blog: www.jokeklootwijk.nl/weblog

Artist Website: www.softpastel.nl

Capucine - "Simply Delicious"

2012-01-18T08:44:00.000-08:00

Artist: Capucine (France)
Medium: watercolor paper 224g
Size: 13 x 9 inches
Artist Blog: http://capucine-o.over-blog.com/

Angela Sullivan - "Listen To Me"

2012-01-17T17:20:00.000-08:00

Title: Listen To Me

Medium: Oil on 5x7 canvas panel

Artist: Angela Sullivan

Blog: www.angelasacrylics.blogspot.com

Jules van der Horst - "Don't Like Tomatoes"

2012-01-16T08:14:00.000-08:00

Title - "Don't Like Tomatoes"
Artist: Jules van der Horst

Medium: acrylic on acrylicpaper

Size: 50x70 cm

Nancie Johnson - "On The Vine"

2012-01-15T20:35:00.000-08:00

Title: "On the Vine"

Artist: Nancie Johnson

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Size: 9" x 12"

Artists Blog: http://nancies-art.blogspot.com/

Nidhi Krishna

2012-01-15T20:29:00.000-08:00

Artist: Nidhi Krishna

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

Mico Soleil

2012-01-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

Artist: Mico Soleil
Medium: Oil painting on canvas
Size: 20x20 cm
Blog address is http://mi.blog2b.net/

Horst Hittenberger

2012-01-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

Artist: Horst Hittenberger
Size: 11 by 14
Medium and Support: oil on canvas
Artist Blog: http://horsthittenberger.blogspot.com/

William Cook

2012-01-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Artist Name: William Cook

Medium: Oil

Size: 5x6

Blog address: www.wcookart.blogspot.com

Debbie Later

2012-01-14T08:13:00.000-08:00

Artist: Debbie Later
Medium and Size: Oil on a 9x12 Canvas board
Artist Blog: http://debbielatersart.blogspot.com/

Tonya Ludlow

2012-01-13T11:57:00.000-08:00

Artist: Tonya Ludlow

Size: 9 x 12

medium: Acrylic on masonite

Jeneen Nance

2012-01-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

Title - "What If Cezanne Painted The Bowl Of Tomatoes"

Title - "Blue Bowl With Tomatoes Finished"

Artist: Jeneen Nance
Size: 11x14
Medium and Support: acrylic on canvas
Artist Blog: jeneenhnanceart.blogspot.com

Renate Arends - "Tomatoes"

2012-01-11T16:20:00.000-08:00

Title : Tomatoes

Artist : Renate Arends (Netherlands)

Medium & support : Watercolor and canvas

Size : 30 x 40 cm

Blog : http://renatearends.blogspot.com

Sylvia Young - "Time For Lunch"

2012-01-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

Artist: Sylvia Young

Title: "Time For Lunch"

Medium & Size: Oils - 16 x 12 ins

Artist Website: sylsarttrials.blogspot.com

Cheri Homaee - "Tomatoes"

2012-01-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

Artist: Cheri Homaee
Size: 20 x 16"
Medium & Support: Acrylic on Canvas
Artist Blog: http://leartstudio.com
Artist Website: http://cherihomaee.com
Title: "Tomatoes"

Helen Eaton

2012-01-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

Artist: Helen Eaton
Size: 9" X 12"
Medium & Support: Oil on Canvas
Artist Blog: http://wordweaverart.blogspot.com
Artist Website: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WordWeaverArt

Alexander Clausen

2012-01-07T18:05:00.000-08:00

Artist: Alexander Clausen

Medium: Pastell pencils & Paper (black)
Size: 8.5 X 12 inches

Website: www.riccimer.blogspot.com

Karla Uphoff - "Bowl of Tomatoes"

2012-01-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

Artist: Karla Uphoff
Title - Bowl of Tomatoes
Size: 8 x 10
Medium & Support: Oil on Hardboard

Challenge 26 - Simply Delicious

2012-01-01T18:24:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone a very very Happy New Year! I hope the holidays proved to be refreshing times for you and you had a chance to be with your near and dear ones. I wish and pray that the coming year brings good health, peace and happiness to everyone.

I am so excited to see that everyone has been passionately viewing and commenting on the paintings in the last PADT challenge. Speaking on behalf of all of us, I would like to once again thank you for this overwhelming contribution and response.

Before we move on to the new challenge, let’s reinforce one invaluable lesson we all learned from the last challenge. Please scroll quickly through all submitted paintings for the last challenge (Challenge - 25 - "Betrayed Dreams”). You will notice one very powerful and marvelous attribute all paintings share. By having a story deeply engraved in your mind prior to starting to paint, all submitted paintings communicated very strong emotions and a highly engaging story portrayed through titles, colors, values, lines, edges & additions.

Yes - each painting’s story is unique and different from my story and every other story – but what’s common is the depth of emotions which each painting evokes. This last challenge proves more than any words could possibly do, that – yes you can paint a story and yes it makes an incredible difference. Having a story in your mind prior to starting to paint shapes all your decisions during the painting process and becomes your best friend and guardian angel through the process of painting. A successful painting is almost guaranteed.

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About the composition

This composition is all about lost and found edges, soft edges and carefully controlled light. If you pay a very close attention to all visible and especially those barely perceivable edges throughout the composition, you will notice that there is no single hard, sharp line describing any shape or any form. Everything melts gently from one to another area engaging the viewer’s mind as he gets subtle hints about what is not clearly visible. This is the main motivation for all our efforts in creating the soft and lost and found edges. Of course, it is up to you as an artist to decide where you want to go and in which direction you would like to push your painting towards – how you want to guide your viewers.

A simple rule applies. If you decide to introduce a few hard edges and leave the rest soft and toned down, these hard edges will scream for attention. The effect can be emphasized by using hard edges to divide a very light area from a very dark area, very colorful (high in vibrancy) from very dull passages, strongly emphasized “visible” regions from hidden (and yet noticeable) “invisible” regions. These are some of the best artist’s tools to introduce drama on the stage. However, be cautious when playing with dramatic contrasts. Develop your personal taste for it. Look around and notice how too many works of art today suffer from a “fruit bowl effect”. The abundance of highly vibrant modern pigments is highly tempting and if over utilized, all areas in the painting would scream for attention. Although visually very cheerful, such pieces of art make the viewer confused and he/she does not know where to look. Everything calls for attention. Just remember when was the last time you attended a social gathering where someone from the crowd cut your breath away with too much of otherwise pleasant and expensive perfume irritating everyone around. Even in extremes, remember balance and taste is the crown of the nobleman.

Real masters of “just right balance” achieved a breathtaking theatric effects by masterfully utilizing the very same simple principles described above, producing some of the most visually arresting and psychologically evocative paintings in the history of art. To name just a few - Leonardo da Vinci’s famous “sfumato”, Rembrandt’s play of light “chiaroscuro”, Vermeer’s soft blending and masterful compositions.

To summarize what is important to learn from painting this challenge:
- Keep almost all your edges soft with various degrees of softness.
- Persuade the viewer to search for continuation of the line, shape or edge partially showing it and then partially hiding it in the darkness or behind some other object. Let the objects emerge from the foggy, misty and undefined background – and yet this background is full of air and space.
- Avoid “fruit bowl effect” – having everything screaming for attention with an equal vibrancy. Slightly colored “grays” and “browns” are still very valuable balance in your painting. They allow your vibrant lights to thoroughly sing.
- Complement the composition with any modification/ addition you might feel will improve it, as your creative urges suggest.

I would like to encourage everyone to give it a try and wish you a lot of new development opportunities down the road. Just try it!

For watercolor and acrylic artists - do not let your edges dry hard. This is a moderately challenging composition, not because there are too many complex objects or textures, but because creating very soft, lost and found edges is somehow against human nature. We always prefer “black or white”, “lie or truth”, “yes or no”. There are too many more strongly defined opposites to list them all. Any shades of gray, slightly undefined vague statements, half-truth or half-planned vacation trip full of unpleasant surprises make us dizzy and irritated.

Please send a photo of your painting the latest by Feb 12. The next painting reference will be posted on Feb 13, 2012.

Zeljka Jereb Matkovic - Disappointment

2011-12-20T17:58:00.000-08:00

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

Nelvia Mcgrath - Broken Heart

2011-12-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

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

Sylvia Young - "Not Coming Home"

2011-12-08T12:06:00.000-08:00

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

Beti Abel - "Beautiful End"

2011-12-06T22:03:00.000-08:00

Titulo: Beautiful End

Artist: Beti Abel

23x30cm

watercolor

www.chancharenga.blogspot.com

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

2011-12-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

Title: "I'm All Out Of Love"

Artist: Angela Sullivan

Medium: Oil on 5x7 canvas panel
Blog: www.angelasacrylics.blogspot.com

Nancie Johnson - "Death Do Us Part"

2011-11-27T19:59:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-27T19:56:00.000-08:00

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

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

2011-11-22T20:33:00.000-08:00

Title : It’s over...

Artist : Renate Arends (Netherlands)

Medium & support : Watercolor on canvas

Size : 30 x 40 cm.

Blog : http://renatearends.blogspot.com

Challenge 25 - Betrayed Dreams

2011-11-13T17:26:00.001-08:00

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 …

… 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.

Lela Stankovic - Temptation

2011-11-12T21:30:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-12T21:00:00.000-08:00

Artist: Mohepi
Size: 26 x 36 cm
Medium & Support: Watercolor paper
Artist Website: http://monique.pierre.perso.sfr.fr/aquarelles/galerie-aquarelles.html

Millie Nguyen

2011-11-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

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

Karin Naylor

2011-11-12T19:43:00.000-08:00

Artist: Karin Naylor
Size: 8 x 10
Medium & Support: Oil On Masonite
Artist Blog: http://naylorlake.blogspot.com/

Pat Koscienski - Vase With Cantaloupe

2011-11-12T05:10:00.000-08:00

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

Nora MacPhail

2011-11-12T05:08:00.001-08:00

Nora MacPhail

12"x12"

Watercolour on cold pressed paper

http://noramacphail.blogspot.com

Jenni Twidle

2011-11-11T06:48:00.000-08:00

Artist: Jenni Twidle

Medium & Support: Black Gel Pen on Paper

Size: 10"x7"

Artist's blogs :

Sylviane Le Cann

2011-11-11T06:44:00.000-08:00

Artist: Sylviane Le Cann
Medium & Support: Oil on canvas
Size: 7,5"x9""
Artist Blog: http://sylviane-lec.blogspot.com

Isabel Pérez Lima

2011-11-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

Artist: Isabel Pérez Lima
Size: 27x35 cm
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Artist blog: http://iplima.blogspot.com/

Jean Nelson

2011-11-05T09:26:00.001-07:00

Size: 10"x8"
Medium & Support: Acrylic on canvas panel
Artist: Jean Nelson
Artist blog: trailwind216.blogspot.com

Helen H Trachy - Cantaloup Blues

2011-11-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

ARTIST: Helen H Trachy
MEDIUM: Acrylic on canvas panel
SIZE : 10 x 12
BLOG: http://peinturesetaventures.blogspot.com

Irina Rekhviashvili

2011-11-01T18:30:00.000-07:00

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

Zeljka Jereb Matkovic

2011-11-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

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

Nancie Johnson - Vase with Cantaloupe

2011-11-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Title: Vase with Cantaloupe
Artist: Nancie Johnson
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 9" x 12"
Artists blog: http://nancies-art.blogspot.com/

Nidhi Krishna

2011-11-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Artist : Nidhi Krishna

Size : 8" X 10"

Medium & Support : Watercolor on Watercolor paper

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

Helen Eaton

2011-11-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

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

Angela Sullivan - Just a Few Will Do

2011-10-27T17:41:00.001-07:00

Artist: Angela Sullivan

Blog: www.angelasacrylics.blogspot.com

Medium: Acrylic

Title: Just a Few Will Do

Size: 8x10 canvas panel

Sylvia Young

2011-10-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

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

Mico Soleil - Vase et Melon

2011-10-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

Artist Blog: http://mi.blog2b.net/
Medium: Watercolor on Fontenay paper
Size: 22 x 30 cm

Anita Badami

2011-10-20T14:54:00.000-07:00

Artist: Anita Badami

Size: 12" X 16"

Medium & Support: Acrylic On Canvas

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

Joke Klootwijk

2011-10-20T14:52:00.000-07:00

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

Renate Arends

2011-10-16T22:14:00.001-07:00

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

Challenge 24 - Still Life With Cantaloupe

2011-10-10T19:17:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

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

Jenni Twidle - Old Wooden Door

2011-09-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Artist: Jenni Twidle

Medium & Support: Pen and Coloured Inks on paper

Size: 8"x6"

Artist's blogs :

Jenn Jiang

2011-09-19T18:34:00.000-07:00

Artist: Jenn Jiang
Size: 5.5" x 9"

Media & Support: Ink on paper
Blog: http://flyflybluejay.blogspot.com

Sylvia Young - "For Sale"

2011-09-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

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

Nelvia Mcgrath - Tuscan Door

2011-09-12T08:28:00.000-07:00

Artist: Nelvia Mcgrath

Size: 9"x12"

Media: Acrylic on paper

http://nelviasworkshopchallenges.blogspot.com

Andy Smith

2011-09-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

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

Horst Hittenberger - Old Door

2011-09-06T19:54:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Artist: Jean Nelson
Size: 6"x6"
Medium & Support: Acrylic on linen paper
Artist Website: Trailwind216.blogspot.com

Renate Arends - Old Door

2011-09-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-09-05T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

Jane Daniels-Hall - Serbian Shed Latch

2011-09-05T19:01:00.001-07:00

Title: Serbian Shed Latch
Artist: Jane Daniels-Hall
Size: 11"x14"
Medium: Watercolor
Support: hardboard

Ann Hyde

2011-09-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Name: Ann Hyde

Size: 6" x 4"

Medium: Watercolour

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

Challenge 23 - Old Door

2011-08-29T20:29:00.001-07:00

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

2011-08-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

artist: Andy Smith
size: 6"x 4"
medium and support: Watercolor on Arches 300lb cp
blog: www.andysmithartist.blogspot.com
website: www.andysmithartist.com