And the Winners Are.... This challenge was for a subscriptio
n to Birds and Blooms magazine, a little painting 
from me , and a po
und of birdseed. My group of artist/buddy/judges will meet this weekend (April 4) and tackle the tough job of selecting and I will post them right here on April 5. (p.s. I'll change the birdseed to M & Ms for the bird feeder.)First Place...Dean Haven's Bluebird. Second ...Faith Te's Bluebird. And Third...Angela Sullivan's Wood Thrush
SPRING is busting out all over Central Texas and the hills are alive with sweet sights and aromas. The flowers and greenery are magnificent. So.... it's only natural that this month's challenge should be Flowers..."FLOWER POWER". I narrowed the field of possibilities from 6000 to 6, and those reference photos are posted below. Paint one or all and submit them to me by May 1. But first, my corny little poem
This Bud's For You
The icy blasts of winter.
Have made their last retreat,
The snows are almost melted,
And the air is clean and sweet.
A hundred shades of green,
Dapple awakening countrysides,
And a warm breeze comes to hug us,
After crisp, cool Springtime nights.
And soon the show begins,
To soothe a world so tense,
A carnival of color,
A wonderland of scents.
The Flowers take the center stage,
When buds and blooms burst forth,
A gift of miracles sent to us,
Courtesy of God and Planet Earth.
Texas Bluebonnet
Flowering Almond
Canna Lily
Magnolia Grandiflora - Southern Magnolia
Columbine
Pink Lotus
The icy blasts of winter.
Have made their last retreat,
The snows are almost melted,
And the air is clean and sweet.
A hundred shades of green,
Dapple awakening countrysides,
And a warm breeze comes to hug us,
After crisp, cool Springtime nights.
And soon the show begins,
To soothe a world so tense,
A carnival of color,
A wonderland of scents.
The Flowers take the center stage,
When buds and blooms burst forth,
A gift of miracles sent to us,
Courtesy of God and Planet Earth.
Texas Bluebonnet
Flowering Almond
Canna Lily
Magnolia Grandiflora - Southern Magnolia
Columbine
Pink LotusA special note about blog challenges
It seems like today's world gobbles up time like a beagle on a porkchop. So why take time for an art challenge? A challenge can take your art efforts to places you might not have chosen yourself. This can lead to a "self-discovery" of hidden talents and directions you may not have known about.
Two, challenges allow you to compare your skills and progress with others. You should never become vain or bitter in your art career, because there will always be greater and lesser talent than yours. Learn from those ahead of you, and help others behind you if they seek it.
Three, a challenge can develop relationship and camaraderie...and a good forum for learning. Feel free to visit other contributors blogs...and LEAVE COMMENTS. A comment is like a little business card that says "I came and I care". A great example of a close group that sprang from Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks challenge is "The Flying Moleskins"...click HERE to find out more.
Fourth, If a challenge presents fairly popular subject material and good reference photos, you can wind up with a finished product that you may be able to sell, or proudly keep or give as a gift.
Fifth, a challenge (this one especially) requires you to use a portion of the reference photo in your art, but welcomes your imagination to embellish in your own style, For instance, in this flower challenge, you can take one of the flowers and place in a sculptured vase....turn an excercise into a masterpiece.
There are probably a dozen more reasons to participate in at least one or two challenges a month, but the bottom line is HAVE FUN. So do just that...and "keep strokin". Any questions drop me an E-M
........................ James
It seems like today's world gobbles up time like a beagle on a porkchop. So why take time for an art challenge? A challenge can take your art efforts to places you might not have chosen yourself. This can lead to a "self-discovery" of hidden talents and directions you may not have known about.
Two, challenges allow you to compare your skills and progress with others. You should never become vain or bitter in your art career, because there will always be greater and lesser talent than yours. Learn from those ahead of you, and help others behind you if they seek it.
Three, a challenge can develop relationship and camaraderie...and a good forum for learning. Feel free to visit other contributors blogs...and LEAVE COMMENTS. A comment is like a little business card that says "I came and I care". A great example of a close group that sprang from Karin Jurick's Different Strokes From Different Folks challenge is "The Flying Moleskins"...click HERE to find out more.
Fourth, If a challenge presents fairly popular subject material and good reference photos, you can wind up with a finished product that you may be able to sell, or proudly keep or give as a gift.
Fifth, a challenge (this one especially) requires you to use a portion of the reference photo in your art, but welcomes your imagination to embellish in your own style, For instance, in this flower challenge, you can take one of the flowers and place in a sculptured vase....turn an excercise into a masterpiece.
There are probably a dozen more reasons to participate in at least one or two challenges a month, but the bottom line is HAVE FUN. So do just that...and "keep strokin". Any questions drop me an E-M
........................ James
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