Colleen's Impresssionism Challenge..

This painting, is a portion of the three waterfalls at Laragh Lodge.
Size is 4" x 6" on board. Acrylic.






I really enjoyed painting this, I was so amazed at how it came together.. It is impressionism as I understand it; "built up forms out of discrete flecks and dabs of colour" That is exactly what I did, I just built up the shapes using dabs of colour. I used burnt sienna, ultra blue, gold oxide, raw sienna, and white.

I bought these cute little frames with easels the other day, and it was the frame which depicted the size of this painting. I have it sitting on my desk, and it is ok, close up, I don't mind it, but when I step back I really like it.. I want to paint another bigger version.

Here are the words I wrote when I saw the waterfall picture and decided to paint it.

"WATERFALL - CALMING - PRETTY - FOLIAGE MYSTICAL.... Now watch me stuff it up."

Thank you Colleen for this challenge, it really was fun..

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day NINETEEN (19)

Go to your bathroom..

Choose one thing..

Draw it.

:-))

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day EIGHTEEN (18) PEAR

6*x8" sketchbook - graphite

Where I live .....

Trying to send, any of you on Facebook, this link to some beautiful photographs of Ballycastle. Copy and paste this link:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=93077409404

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day EIGHTEEN (18)

I am peckish, been raiding the dried apricot jar, had to walk past the fruit bowl.


That is what we will draw tomorrow.



A PEAR!!!


Have fun.

Anne you can do this woman, can't you?? :-)

If you don't have a pear go buy one, if they are not in season in Ireland then draw some other fruit that is .:-)))) x

DRAWING CHALLENGE DAY SEVENTEEN (17) JAR

Was a coffee jar, now my marshmallow jar. I should have left the marshmallows in it, and drawn a straight-sided jar lol. Man this was a *itch to draw.
A4 sketchbook Graphite..

After getting up at 4.00am, at the market and setting up at 6.00am, working hard all day selling paintings and art supplies, I come home at 4.00pm and after a quick cuppa - reheated dinner - I settle down to drawing my jar. It is now 12.30am Monday and I heading for bed Yawn!!!

Oh where's Anne btw :D

DRAWING CHALLENGE DAY SEVENTEEN (17)

So today............... let me think, ummmmmmm............ Oh I know!!!!!!!!


Go get an empty glass jar and draw it... Lid off.

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day SIXTEEN (16) Guess what??

Of course if you have show all images activated, you will already know I drew an egg. Years ago I went back to high school as an adult student. Art was one of the subjects I took.
For 12 months all we did was draw eggs. We drew dot eggs, cross hatched eggs, plain eggs white eggs, brown eggs, you name it it was an egg.. I had a portfolio full of eggs. I hated eggs and never drew another one for many many years. I have drawn very few eggs since then actually, so tonight I looked in the fridge, and the eggs jumped out at me. :D

I drew this in the first page of my brand new 50 page sketch book.. A4 - Graphite..

For your amusement ....and my stress ....

Here is my brave and "likes to live dangerously" hubby up the ladder yesterday. That bottom ladder actually would be long enough to reach the top as it is in 3 layers but with the shape of the house and the steps at the front door then it is no use ....that is why he needs to do it this way..... and worse still.... at one point I had to go out and put my foot on the right foot of the bottom ladder as the left ladder foot had nowhere to sit ....it was in mid air!!! ..... unfortunately he is not finished yet and will be climbing later on today ....and he has meniere's syndrome but thankfully has not had an attack since last July thanks probably to the medicine he takes .......stress stress stress .....

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day SIXTEEN (16)

Go to your refrigerator.

Take a look inside.

Pick one thing.

Draw it.

:)

If this fork looks stressed out ......

If my fork looks stressed out ...... then it is ...... because I was stressed out while I was drawing it! That husband of mine was up on a ladder at the top of the house trying to fix a cracked slate or something ..... sounds simple enough but with the shape of our house he needed 2 ladders ..... He had one tied to the other and the top one hooked over the top of the roof. As "extra security" he had a rope tied to the top ladder, then coming down over the other side of the house and tied to a tree ..... why do some men like to live dangerously ....I thought I was going to have a heart attack ....
.....so that's the explanation for the stressed looking fork!! LOL

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day FIFTEEN (15) FORK

I set my dessert fork up on a piece of white printer paper, directed my lamp onto it, to get nice long shadows and drew it.

6X8 inches. Last page of my sketchbook..

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day FIFTEEN (15)

Draw a Fork!

Cone

I had to do this one quickly, before I head out for the night, because I knew JJ would be shouting at me if I didn't...LOL

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day FOURTEEN (14) Cone

Here is my set up, and here is my cone. There are 5 values on my cone and shadow. I just made it.. :) 6"x8" 2B - 4B - 5B graphite pencils.

MAKING your own LIGHT BOX for a STILL LIFE set-up

Ruth Cox, posted an article on Wet Canvas that is simple to make and uses the method I suggested. CLICK HERE

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day FOURTEEN (14)

If you do not have one, make one. A cone.

Get a piece of cardboard, or printer paper if you don't have cardboard, and make a cone.

Place your cone on a flat surface and put a light source on one side of it. If you don't have a table lamp, use a torch. Now draw the cone with shading. I want to see 5 values please.

TIP:

Get a cardboard box, big enough to put your cone in.

Cut he top off, and the front off. Cut a hole in the side. Place your cone inside the box, and your light source outside the hole. Now you have some pretty neat shading and shadows..

Have fun. :-)))

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day THIRTEEN (13) Tissue Box

6"x8" 2B - 4B graphite pencils.

Challenge for the week 24-30 June

Use an impressionistic style to paint any scene, but before you start, write down a few words that describe the mood or special feeling it invoked when you first saw it. You can paint plein air, or from a photograph but only if you were there when the photograph was taken. When you post your painting, please post your original words unchanged.

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day THIRTEEN (13)

Get a box of tissues, open it, and pull one up. Sit the box on the table and draw it.. Shadows and all..

This one is going to be a good lesson in values, put in at least 5 values, and if necessary use your values tool you made. If you didn't make one, now is your chance..;-)

Sponge Tree

I know, I know, I'm late. No excuses for the one who held your feet to the fire...oh, oh oh ouch....

This again started life as something else. I decided to mix real and surreal here. Acrylic on canvas, 18X30?

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day TWELVE (12) Bowl of Muesli

6"x8" 2B and 4B graphite pencil

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day TWELVE (12)

Draw your breakfast bowl with cereal.. :-))))

My first abstract ....

I have no clue about painting abstracts but I did have fun doing this .....my first one ....

Abstract Challenge

18"x18" on double thickness gallery wrap.

Mackb's Challenge

Mackb, My response to your 'abstract' challenge. I made a few attempts. I have named the first"Global Warming'. The next couple are entitled "Migraine" although I don't think the first of these is strictly abstract because the eyes are recognisable physical forms. What say you?

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day ELEVEN (11)

Do you know what this is?? He really is one of my most favourite ornaments. If you can't guess, I will tell you later...
6"x8" 2B & 4B graphite.

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day ELEVEN (11)

Go find your favourite ornament, and draw it! :) Too easy!

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day TEN (10) Guess What?

6"x8" Graphite 2B & 4B

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day NINE (9)

6"x8" 2B & 4B pencils

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day TEN (10)

Today is your lucky day!!!!!

No you don't get a day off, but you do get to choose your own reference. Something inside your house..

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day NINE (9)

So today we will have easy one. Go to your linen closet, get a hand towel out, fold it nicely so the edges are facing you, and draw it. :)

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day EIGHT(8) Wine Glass

Drawn with 2B, 4b and 5B pencils. 6" x 8"

My Flippin' Paintin'

I love my teapot .... especially when it has got some fresh tea in it .....but see trying to paint the flippin thing ......
Of course I sat in my kitchen to paint it and practically everything in my kitchen was showing in the teapot ....even me sitting trying to draw the darn thing .....I was complaining to Sinead and she said I should have set it somewhere else to paint it .....somewhere where there were not so many things to show in it .....so you also have got a self portrait in this one ....can you see me? ..... no I didn't think so .....
I had a lot of difficulty doing this one and in the end I just got fed up and stopped ...... I need to get myself a proper rubber ......
Tea anyone?

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day EIGHT(8)

Draw a wine glass. :-))

Todays paintings (2)

Flip and Flop. Kindly named by Corby of the OC fame.. :-))) 10"x 12" acrylic on canvas.

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day SEVEN (7)

I drew the stainless sugar container on the kitchen bench. Darn eclipses again. 6"x8" I used a 2B and a 4B graphite pencil, and my stumps for blending.

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day SEVEN (7)

Today, is going to be easy. I want you to go and find something very shiny in your kitchen and draw it..

Eye Eye!!

After seeing the eyes already presented here I am reluctant to show mine!! ..... I tried one and didn't like it so then I tried the other one and it isn't much better so I am showing both to you ...LOL
Are you ready for this?! .... and no I don't have one eye bigger than the other nor do I have one eye lower down on my face than the other ..... well not that I've noticed anyway ....

Todays Painting

I got an urge to paint goldfish. I have wanted to for ages actually. I used to paint the a lot once.
12"x16" canvas acrylic.

This time

How now brown cow.....I mean Bruce :D :p :-))))))))

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day SIX (6) EYE

I used a 2B and 4B pencil and my stump to blend. The drawing is 5cm x 7cm 2" x 3 " Life size.

I had a real devil of a job this time with seeing my eye. My eyesight really is bad, worse that I realised actually...

I stood in the bathroom, with the fluro' light over the mirror on, and the overhead heat lamp on. That one is 1000 watt! I was able to see all, except the pattern on my iris. I could see it was light around the pupil, but not the markings, darn it. I am definitely going to ring my eye specialist tomorrow for an appointment, this is positively frustrating.

Anyway, I did have fun doing this one for all that.

ha ha ...... it was too hot in my bathroom!!

I went into my bathroom to draw my shower head but the heat didn't even let me start. The sun has been shining all day and it gets very hot upstairs during the day .... so I had to just go for a pic from the net ...... I can't believe that I am here in Ireland complaining of the heat and you Aussi chicks are complaining of the cold ......
I attempted this one twice but none of them are any good ...... my heart is in waterfalls at the moment ....mind you they aren't much better ......
I tried to do a shadow but it just looks like 2 deformed arms reaching out especially in the first one .....I tried rubbing it out but it just made it worse ...... hopefully my eye will look better tomorrow .......LOL

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day SIX (6)

Look in the mirror and draw your eye!!!

Still Life Really Finished

Thanks Ree for pointing out the highlights weren't bright enough. I have had a tweak, and here it is. I have signed it.

New Challenge

First, I apologize for bieng a bit behind on this one, I have been struggling with my heart of late, but you don't get rid of me that easily. I have been tired and cranky these days, but I won't be with you. Now on to the Challenge.

I know this is going to be a stretch for you ladies, but I promise you, this will be worth it. In what ever medium you normally paint with, I want you to produce an abstract, surreal or otherwise. No just making a mess on your canvas and calling it an abstract. I want us all to put some thought into this.

This can be anything from the kind of concept painting I posted a while back of falling cones to Jackson Pollock type of drip paintings. But each entry must be well thought out and everyone can do this.

The object of doing something like this is to help us jolt ourselves out of our comfort qone. When you are done, you will be reinvigorated and will give you an appreciation for both abstract and your own usual style.

Have fun and entries should be on monday June 22nd.

Drawing- Day 5 Shower head

Drawn in my 6"x8" sketchbook, and man was it cool in my bathroom. I didn't have the heat on, still haven't, and my hands are cold now.

This one was a challenge, as I couldn't use my close-up glasses. I sat on the cane elephant I have in the bathroom, put my feet on the upside down cane laundry basket, sat my sketch book on my stable table tray. If I put my close-up glasses on, I couldn't see the shower head, it was blurry, if I put my regular graduated glasses on I had trouble seeing the sketch book. Still I persevered, and here it is. I kind of enjoyed drawing this actually, as I have been wanting to, for some time. I want to paint it in watercolours some time too..

My paint brush .....

I wish it was a magic paintbrush and that it would do whatever I wanted it to do .....but sadly it isn't ....but what the heck I'm having fun with it anyway ...... LOL.....

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day FIVE (5)

Your drawing challenge today ladies and gentleman, is..........................










Go to your bathroom, and draw your shower rose. You can draw the arm it is attached to as well. If you don't have a shower in your house, draw your bath taps.

STILL LIFE Challenge Finished..

This picture gave me fits. It was hard work painting, it, but I persevered and finished it. I think?

Bruce, you can put up the next challenge now please.. :-))

Drawing Challenge day 4 - Paint Brush

This is my all time favourite paint brush. Can you guess the brand of it, and what medium?

My piece of string......

This is my offering for today ..... it is a piece of string from the back of one of my many unsold paintings...... it actually looks more like a piece of jewelery than string haha ..... maybe I should take up making jewelery with string and picture hanging thingamajigs!!!

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day FOUR (4)

Draw your favourite paint brush, with or without paint on the tip..

I want a full drawing please, all the values, not just a quick little sketch with the bare outlines. :-))))

I am so jealous of Ree's gorgeous Conte pencils she is using for her drawings.

String

Well here is mine. I smiled when I saw Colleen's, she had the same idea as I........
I drew mine at the Market this afternoon, and I am not happy with it. I took a photo of the set up, and I just may draw it again. I was having trouble seeing that paper. The sun was streaming in, and white paper, it was very glarey. I did not draw the detail of the strands of the string as well as I would have liked to. Still I did do it, and it took me half an hour to do..

My very ancient and much used wooden spoon, tea cup and end of a tatty piece of rope (no string in the house). JJ, I can't keep up with this on a daily basis.

Trying to Comment

Hi group! I've emailed JJ because I have commented on your drawings, but for some reason they aren't showing up ????

Just want to let you know that I've tried... but not sure why my comments are disappearing into cyberspace...

Thanks for the warm invite!

Mary Lou

Day Three Drawing Challenge

Today, we draw a piece of string!

My cup

I tried to draw the cup and the shadow on the table. I know there is something wrong with the top of the cup ...... but I still had fun drawing this one .....

Drawing 2 My Coffee/Tea cup.

I drew my cup sitting on the lid of my Toshiba laptop. I need to practice drawing cup handles..

The $10 Spoon

Hi all! Trying to figure out how to post here - thank you for the invite!

I bought a new set of Oneida flatware last year - service for 8. I liked it, and wanted to get more, but my husband nixed it. So I asked for a 4-place setting for Christmas. My daughter-in-law "borrowed" a spoon when she was over one time so she could match the pattern. In the meantime, we'd had a party, and when doing the dishes, I counted the flatware and was missing a spoon! I was pissed, thought someone threw it out w/the trash and plastic spoons. So, I ordered ONE spoon to replace it. It was $6.99, plus shipping, total of $10. Hubby just shook his head, "who counts their spoons?" LOL - then I found out the rest of the story on Christmas day...

I tried drawing it twice, and obviously need a lot of practice. Used a 6B pencil.

I'll try to participate as much as possible... thanks again!

Mary Lou

DRAWING CHALLENGE Day Two (2)

Today we will draw our favourite coffee mug.

Teaspoon ....easy peasy....LOL

Well that was what I thought ......until I started to draw it! I have been so used to drawing from photographs that I found drawing from life very difficult. I also see that I need to get some darker pencils ....after seeing the different values in JJ's drawing.
The sun was shining in on the table when I was trying this one and the dark shadow, from the teaspoon, looked lovely ..... I did this one quickly .....just before I headed out to linedancing ..... does that excuse me for submitting a drawing that leaves a lot to be desired? LOL

Day one Drawing SERVING SPOON

Drawn in my sketchbook

DAILY CHALLENGE Sharpen your pencils.

We are going to draw one thing a day. If we do this, we will have more chance of getting out of our painting slump, those of us who are in one, and we will improve our techniques.

Drawing every day, will enhance our skills. Trust me, you really do need to know how to draw to be able to produce successful paintings. Paintings you can truly be proud of. You start drawing every day, and the "penny is going to drop" the "light bulb is going to go on", your confidence levels will increase 100% +

Tomorrows drawing will be a spoon. Draw a teaspoon, a desert spoon, a soup spoon, a serving spoon, any kind of spoon, just draw a spoon, and post it on the blog. Drawing needs to be no smaller than 6"x8", and as big as you like.

I have a sketch book, 8.5" x 6" I draw/sketch in. In fact I am on my third or 4th one of these, and it is so much fun to look back through the pages ans see what I have sketched. Some of the things I had forgotten about, and it is so neat to revisit them, see how much I have improved.

I look forward to seeing your drawings all of you.

NB

If you don't want to draw a spoon, if there is something else you would rather sketch, please do, and post it. The spoon is for those of you who say to me, "I don't know what to draw" you know who you are hahaha

Right then - sharpen those pencils and lets get drawing!

I am recently back from Tasmania which I really enjoyed. Although I didn't meet any of the blog challenges, I did do some holiday watercolours. Here is one of Binalong Bay, a favourite spot of mine. I have included a reference photo so you can see what I was looking at.