Sketch

Yet another quick sketch.

sketch, water soluble graphite, 4 x 6 inch

I haven't even had any time to do more of the 100 Artwork Challenge,  which I am rather sad about.  My have more time tomorrow?

Still Life No. 8 plus 100Artworks challenge

I had decided that this would be the last of the Still Life collage paintings, mainly because I feel it's good to try different techniques and different subjects.  That's, after all  what this blog is all about,  exploring design and techniques!  the trouble is, I am still really enjoying them, and I have loads of ideas for more.  The dilemma is should I carry on, or should I force myself to step out of the box onto the scary slippery slope of change?

Still Life No. 8, acrylic mixed media, 8 x 10 inch

I have also decided that uploading single images from the 100 Artworks Challenge is just too time consuming, so here are the first 9 in the experimental acrylic landscape series.

100 Artworks Challenge, acrylic landscapes, 1 to 9

I really can't believe that another month has gone by so quickly.  I have only missed one day since January 1st, so have 89 posts and about 100 photos uploaded.  I give myself a pat on the back, because some days it has just been so difficult to do, but I can see already that I am less hesitant to take chances, less worried about the outcomes (there's always tomorrow's artwork), and I feel I know my materials so much better than I did pre-Christmas 2014.

Here's to the next three months - they will be a real challenge as I am away three times in the next three months, so I will need to plan a lot.

Still Life No. 7, plus two more 100artworks

Another small Still Life, as I am trying to catch up with the Jane Davies online workshop 'Sketchbook Practise'.

Still Life No. 7, acrylic, 6 x 6 inch

And here are No.'s 7 & 8 of the 100 Artworks challenge

100 Artworks Challenge No. 7, acrylic, 5½ inch square

100 Artworks Challenge, acrylic, 5½ inch square, palette knife

Still Life No. 6 plus two more 100artworks

I didn't have too much time today, so worked on a small Still Life.  It's good to change scale sometimes as it makes you think again about composition, and the scale of mark making.

Still Life No. 6, acrylic, 6 x 6 inch

I also managed to do a couple more of the 100 Artworks challenge in the Landscape Series.

100 Artworks, No. 5, acrylic 5½ inch square

100 Artworks No.6, acrylic, 5½ inch square

Still Life collage No.5 and No.3 & 4 of the 100 Artworks Challenge

Yet another still life collage, I haven't got tired of doing these yet, and am still loving them.  I have 3 or 4 prepared boards still to use, so expect more of them.

Still Life collage, acrylic, 10 x 14 inch

And here are two more for the 100 Artworks Challenge

100 Artworks Challenge, No.3, acrylic mixed media 5½ inch square

100 Artworks Challenge No. 4 acrylic mixed media 5½ inch square

I am so enjoying doing these small acrylics, giving me a chance to experiment with no pressure.  they only take between 15 and 30 minutes, so if it doesn't work I haven't lost much time, and the materials are pennies.

Thanks to Kellee Wynne for coming up with the challenge.  On her blog today she talks about taking it a step further, making it 10 x 100 Artworks, and I think it's a great idea.  I want to do still life for my next 100!

Still Life Collage No.4

I am so enjoying working with these still life collages.  Each one is an exploration of composition, colour and tone. 

Still Life No. 4, acrylic mixed media, 6 x 7 inch

And here is my second painting in the 100 Artworks Challenge, organised by Kellee Wynne, see yesterday for link.

100 Artworks No.2, acrylic 5½ inch square

I've also worked on about a dozen mark making pages for the sketchbook Practise online workshop with Jane Davies, but will post them over on that blog as they aren't very exciting.

Had a good day today, but I'm tired out.

Still Life Collage No.3

I am much happier with this one, I think the balance of light and dark, warm and cool, has worked.  The objects are also balanced small and large, angular and curved.

Still Life No.3, acrylic mixed media, 9 x 10 inch

Later today I will be adding another artwork.  I have joined the '100 Artworks Challenge' started by Kellee Wynne

You can read all about it here:The 100 Artworks Challenge by Kellee Wynne  The idea is to create 100 pieces of artwork within these loose guidelines:

• One size (small works or large if you dare!)
• One substrate (paper, canvas, etc)
• One subject (landscape, still life, imaginary, abstract, etc)
• One set of materials (printmaking, acrylic, mixed media, etc.)
• Work every week, but without a deadline
• Share your work

To explore one thing and improving that by repetition. I have decided to go with 'Landscapes'  I think at the moment I am going with very loose landscapes, but I will see where it takes me.

I am starting on heavy 'all media' paper by Seawhites, cut to 5½ inch (14cm)  square.  I want to explore other formats later so this will change to include landscape and portrait rectangles, including extreme formats in these.

I have made myself a 'list' of ideas to explore such as complementary colours, analogous colours, neutrals, high and low key colours.  I am also going to experiment with the backgrounds, including gesso, absorbent medium, light molding paste, and collage.

I will also try to experiment with mark making, including the tools, round brush, flat brush, palette knife, fingers, credit card, stamps, scratching tools etc.

Lastly I want to look at compositional formats such as cruciform, diagonal, S curve, low horizon, high horizon etc.  So no pressure!

And if that isn't enough, I also start Jane Davies 'Sketchbook Practise online workshop today, which will last for the next six weeks, and I know that I will be producing loads of work for that.  So I may not get much sleep over the next couple of months.

Here is the first of my 100 Artworks Challenge

100Artworks No.1, acrylic, 5½ inch square