Welcome to our Weekly Challenge online gallery.
In response to the restrictions imposed on socialising with each other, Clifton Arts has found new ways to reach out to our community. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 we have, for over a year, been posting weekly artistic challenges inviting all members to create a work interpreting the theme and which will then be posted here for all to appreciate and enjoy.
This page highlights the Weekly Challenges from March - August 2021. For the 54 weeks submissions prior to this, please look at the Weekly Challenge's for Sept - Feb 2021 and Mar-Aug 2020 pages.
All and any suggestions for topics for these challenges are welcome.
Send suggestions and challenge entries to: weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
In response to the restrictions imposed on socialising with each other, Clifton Arts has found new ways to reach out to our community. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 we have, for over a year, been posting weekly artistic challenges inviting all members to create a work interpreting the theme and which will then be posted here for all to appreciate and enjoy.
This page highlights the Weekly Challenges from March - August 2021. For the 54 weeks submissions prior to this, please look at the Weekly Challenge's for Sept - Feb 2021 and Mar-Aug 2020 pages.
All and any suggestions for topics for these challenges are welcome.
Send suggestions and challenge entries to: weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND ITS ART
1 SEPTEMBER 2021
The industrial revolution was quickly portrayed by the artists of the time. JMW Turner's steam train is perhaps the most famous. Others, intrigued by the subject matter were Manet, Pissarro and Cailebotte. Many artists post the height of the industrial revolution also depicted the consequences with rows of houses and factories and smoking chimneys. LS Lowry was one of the most notable.
The challenge is to produce work that is influenced by their style of painting industry or the consequences of industrialisation - or to copy the work.
Please let us know your medium.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday 1st September 2021
1 SEPTEMBER 2021
The industrial revolution was quickly portrayed by the artists of the time. JMW Turner's steam train is perhaps the most famous. Others, intrigued by the subject matter were Manet, Pissarro and Cailebotte. Many artists post the height of the industrial revolution also depicted the consequences with rows of houses and factories and smoking chimneys. LS Lowry was one of the most notable.
The challenge is to produce work that is influenced by their style of painting industry or the consequences of industrialisation - or to copy the work.
Please let us know your medium.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday 1st September 2021
SCENES OF RESCUE
25 AUGUST 2021
This weeks challenge is to portray the rescue of someone or something. It could be the RNLI at work, mountain rescue, a cat up a tree or anything that could loosely be described as linked to rescue.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday the 25th August.
Please let us know your medium.
Send your photographic image to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
25 AUGUST 2021
This weeks challenge is to portray the rescue of someone or something. It could be the RNLI at work, mountain rescue, a cat up a tree or anything that could loosely be described as linked to rescue.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday the 25th August.
Please let us know your medium.
Send your photographic image to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
DANCING THE NIGHT OR DAY AWAY
18 AUGUST 2021
Antonia will be modelling for us on Friday (13th August) and she will be dancing in flowing clothes. If you can make it to the Victoria Methodist Church then you can paint or draw her in action. Failing that, you can portray dancing in any of its many forms from ballet to modern dance.
You may take inspiration from modern images or return to the great masters like Degas
Any medium goes, but please let me know which you have used.
Submit all entries to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk before midday on:
Wednesday 18th August 2021
18 AUGUST 2021
Antonia will be modelling for us on Friday (13th August) and she will be dancing in flowing clothes. If you can make it to the Victoria Methodist Church then you can paint or draw her in action. Failing that, you can portray dancing in any of its many forms from ballet to modern dance.
You may take inspiration from modern images or return to the great masters like Degas
Any medium goes, but please let me know which you have used.
Submit all entries to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk before midday on:
Wednesday 18th August 2021
PORTRAYING AN OLYMPIC EVENT
11TH AUGUST
This isn't just about athletics, swimming and cycling. These days there are less heralded events such as shooting or wall climbing.
The idea is to create a sense of tension.
So choose your event and then compose your picture with one or multiple competitors.
As ever, please let me know your medium.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday the 11th August 2021. Send your photographic image to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
11TH AUGUST
This isn't just about athletics, swimming and cycling. These days there are less heralded events such as shooting or wall climbing.
The idea is to create a sense of tension.
So choose your event and then compose your picture with one or multiple competitors.
As ever, please let me know your medium.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday the 11th August 2021. Send your photographic image to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
GREAT PAINTING, GREAT ARTIST (MIX & MATCH)
4 AUGUST 2021
Lorraine Hoyle has come up with a cracker for this week's challenge. It is called Mix and Match.
Step one: three famous paintings .
The Birth of Venus - Botticelli
The Sunflowers - Van Gogh
Ophelia - Millais
Step two: to be done in the style of three famous artists.
Klimt
Monet
Picasso
Step three: choose one painting and one artist .
As ever please let me know your medium.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday 4th August 2021. Send your photographic image to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
4 AUGUST 2021
Lorraine Hoyle has come up with a cracker for this week's challenge. It is called Mix and Match.
Step one: three famous paintings .
The Birth of Venus - Botticelli
The Sunflowers - Van Gogh
Ophelia - Millais
Step two: to be done in the style of three famous artists.
Klimt
Monet
Picasso
Step three: choose one painting and one artist .
As ever please let me know your medium.
The deadline is noon, Wednesday 4th August 2021. Send your photographic image to weeklychallenge@cliftonarts.co.uk
JUST LIKE ALICE
28th July 2021
This week we are going through the looking glass or looking through a window, doorway, binoculars or into another world of your imagination in the mirror. This is not intended to be a self portrait. The idea is to portray someone looking through something. You might be inspired by Lewis Carroll or simply just portray a figure with a telescope or binoculars or peering through anything. Create a sense of looking. Maybe it will be a view through a small space or archway.
28th July 2021
This week we are going through the looking glass or looking through a window, doorway, binoculars or into another world of your imagination in the mirror. This is not intended to be a self portrait. The idea is to portray someone looking through something. You might be inspired by Lewis Carroll or simply just portray a figure with a telescope or binoculars or peering through anything. Create a sense of looking. Maybe it will be a view through a small space or archway.
A SPECIAL SPOT FOR YOU
21st July 2021
This week's art challenge is that little corner or place that makes you feel relaxed and safe. You can paint or draw somewhere you go to often. It could be in your house, garden, village, street, cafe, pub, that's up to you. But it should be somewhere important to you. Maybe you like to nestle here with a nice cup of tea or coffee, enjoy a book or a chat.
The Danish use the word "Hygge" and the Dutch "Gezellig". In English it is "Cosy", though this is a rather inadequate word to conjure up somewhere where you feel good either alone or in company
21st July 2021
This week's art challenge is that little corner or place that makes you feel relaxed and safe. You can paint or draw somewhere you go to often. It could be in your house, garden, village, street, cafe, pub, that's up to you. But it should be somewhere important to you. Maybe you like to nestle here with a nice cup of tea or coffee, enjoy a book or a chat.
The Danish use the word "Hygge" and the Dutch "Gezellig". In English it is "Cosy", though this is a rather inadequate word to conjure up somewhere where you feel good either alone or in company
A SCENE IN THE BATHROOM
14th July 2021
This week's art challenge is the depiction of someone in the bath or shower or at the wash basin.
The Impressionists were much taken by these images. So it could be in the style of Degas, Renoir, Bonnard or in contrast in a much later period in the style of Lichtenstein or Munch and so on.
You may wish to use a drawing or drawings from the life model sessions you have attended as an inspiration
14th July 2021
This week's art challenge is the depiction of someone in the bath or shower or at the wash basin.
The Impressionists were much taken by these images. So it could be in the style of Degas, Renoir, Bonnard or in contrast in a much later period in the style of Lichtenstein or Munch and so on.
You may wish to use a drawing or drawings from the life model sessions you have attended as an inspiration
CREATING A SENSE OF HEIGHT
7th July 2021
The next seven days include two garden visits. In the face of such a busy schedule this week's challenge has to have the modesty to dovetail behind our programme of events.
The challenge is to produce work either from your visits to Rock House and/or Camers or if you can't make those events then from images drawn from large country homes. To give it a more particular theme please include either tall trees or chimneys in your painting or drawing. Creating a sense of height is the essence.
7th July 2021
The next seven days include two garden visits. In the face of such a busy schedule this week's challenge has to have the modesty to dovetail behind our programme of events.
The challenge is to produce work either from your visits to Rock House and/or Camers or if you can't make those events then from images drawn from large country homes. To give it a more particular theme please include either tall trees or chimneys in your painting or drawing. Creating a sense of height is the essence.
CAPTURING SUNRISE OR SUNSET
30th June 2021
The light at dawn and sunset has a quality of its own. The challenge is to capture this by blending colours and by creating translucency.
Any medium goes but the recommendation is to use the techniques that will be outlined to us in this evening's lecture. Of course, these skills can be applied to any image, but for the purpose of this challenge the scope has been limited. The sunrise or sunset can be in the city or countryside.
30th June 2021
The light at dawn and sunset has a quality of its own. The challenge is to capture this by blending colours and by creating translucency.
Any medium goes but the recommendation is to use the techniques that will be outlined to us in this evening's lecture. Of course, these skills can be applied to any image, but for the purpose of this challenge the scope has been limited. The sunrise or sunset can be in the city or countryside.
TRAVELLING BACK IN TIME
23rd June 2021
This week the idea is to conjure up an image of Bristol (or the city of your youth) back in time. Look to the late 19th century or early twentieth century and imagine the people in very different clothing and the lightly occupied streets by old fashioned transport. There could be women in bustles and men in bowler hats, and babies in perambulators.
Your source will need to be old photos or paintings of the period. Capture the atmosphere of the time. You might be influenced by Manet or Whistler
23rd June 2021
This week the idea is to conjure up an image of Bristol (or the city of your youth) back in time. Look to the late 19th century or early twentieth century and imagine the people in very different clothing and the lightly occupied streets by old fashioned transport. There could be women in bustles and men in bowler hats, and babies in perambulators.
Your source will need to be old photos or paintings of the period. Capture the atmosphere of the time. You might be influenced by Manet or Whistler
DAVID HOCKNEY AS AN INFLUENCE
16th June 2021
David Hockney currently has an exhibition at the Royal Academy. His iPad generated brightly coloured landscape images are loved by many but are not for everyone. Yet over his long career he has a considerable body of work from which we can draw inspiration.
Thus please produce work that either draws on his style or even engages in a copy of one of his pieces and thereby learning from his technique.
The Tate describes him as:
David Hockney, (born 9 July 1937) is an English painter, draftsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer. As an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s, he is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.
16th June 2021
David Hockney currently has an exhibition at the Royal Academy. His iPad generated brightly coloured landscape images are loved by many but are not for everyone. Yet over his long career he has a considerable body of work from which we can draw inspiration.
Thus please produce work that either draws on his style or even engages in a copy of one of his pieces and thereby learning from his technique.
The Tate describes him as:
David Hockney, (born 9 July 1937) is an English painter, draftsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer. As an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s, he is considered one of the most influential British artists of the 20th century.
David Hockney grabbed the imagination of many. I found it particularly fascinating how many of you used painting apps on your computers, just as the man himself does. I shall have to familiarise myself with "Procreate".
Michele Tedder was not one of the computer generators and came up with a long list of materials in her collage. "It’s a Summer 2021 version of A Bigger Splash in collage, the remnants of a now destroyed tropical paradise mural, with recycled wallpaper, wrapping paper, acrylic and emulsion paint and fabric. I enjoyed making it. Hockney continues to be a great inspiration."
Ann Baber finds that "David Hockney is definitely one of my heroes. A) because he is such a colourist and B) because he takes everyday objects and paints them in brilliant colours the exact opposite to how they are in real life and yet every time you know what you are looking at. In the Silk Road he has painted purple, red and orange trees with a red path. One of his My Window paintings show a yellow sky with blue branches. He does orange fields, purple paths and so on. My little painting is an experiment in copying his eccentric style just for the fun of it. Painted in acrylic."
Rosie Jenkins "painted in colourful inks and felt tip markers. A lovely challenge this week - l used a sketch study done on a Saturday painting day a couple of years ago. I have always been fascinated by his huge outdoor work and this my first attempt!"
Lorraine Hoyle was contrary. "Not being a fan of Hockney's work I was going to give this challenge a miss until I found a picture from 1998 called Garrowby Hill.I was reminded of a plain air sketch I did of Kelstom Round hill about a fortnight ago and thought it would adapt nicely to the style of his painting. Mine is in Acrylics and Oil Pastels."
Elsewhere ...
Di Fry "looked up David Hockney’s paintings and was inspired by his winter trees and decided to use an autumn palette and a local woods scene. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out too well but I thought our failures are sometimes interesting! I used, oil and pencil on board. This allowed the paint to dry quickly so as I could use the pencil to outline the trees! Still can’t avoid mixing paint on the board/canvas I blame Huw Richard Evans"
Chris Ironside worked in Watercolour copying the painting of "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy I first saw this in the Tate in 1971 and was living just around the corner at the time."
Andrés López recounts "I believe that every morning David Hockney sends flowers to his friends from his iPad. Here I am sending you a pot of Geraniums, so typical in southern Spain."
Anne Huddleston says "my efforts on the iPad are a homage to David Hockney, though I do not find it a quick and easy way to produce paintings!"
Dorothy Flint modest as ever gave this me in "my very wobbly handed version. It is from a photo I took, and is based on looking at Hockney's Yorkshire sketchbook, which is all i-Pad. If I have time I will try and do a better one, maybe on computer." And she did send me a second painting.
Virginia Toogood was worried she wasn't the only one to choose this piece of art. "I seem to have chosen a popular one! The medium is acrylic …. and i must say I enjoyed painting this so much, I am going to have a go at some more of his work!"
Finally Marian Webb "used Hockney’s early painting ‘A Marriage of Styles’ and painted our model Clare in to join Hockney's characters. A Marriage of Styles is owned by the Tate and I got to know it really well when I was young. His early paintings and drawings held a great appeal for me and still do. I thought It was fine to lean Claire on his tree instead of the pole and it was great to draw her from life onto the canvas. She is a great model."
Michele Tedder was not one of the computer generators and came up with a long list of materials in her collage. "It’s a Summer 2021 version of A Bigger Splash in collage, the remnants of a now destroyed tropical paradise mural, with recycled wallpaper, wrapping paper, acrylic and emulsion paint and fabric. I enjoyed making it. Hockney continues to be a great inspiration."
Ann Baber finds that "David Hockney is definitely one of my heroes. A) because he is such a colourist and B) because he takes everyday objects and paints them in brilliant colours the exact opposite to how they are in real life and yet every time you know what you are looking at. In the Silk Road he has painted purple, red and orange trees with a red path. One of his My Window paintings show a yellow sky with blue branches. He does orange fields, purple paths and so on. My little painting is an experiment in copying his eccentric style just for the fun of it. Painted in acrylic."
Rosie Jenkins "painted in colourful inks and felt tip markers. A lovely challenge this week - l used a sketch study done on a Saturday painting day a couple of years ago. I have always been fascinated by his huge outdoor work and this my first attempt!"
Lorraine Hoyle was contrary. "Not being a fan of Hockney's work I was going to give this challenge a miss until I found a picture from 1998 called Garrowby Hill.I was reminded of a plain air sketch I did of Kelstom Round hill about a fortnight ago and thought it would adapt nicely to the style of his painting. Mine is in Acrylics and Oil Pastels."
Elsewhere ...
Di Fry "looked up David Hockney’s paintings and was inspired by his winter trees and decided to use an autumn palette and a local woods scene. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out too well but I thought our failures are sometimes interesting! I used, oil and pencil on board. This allowed the paint to dry quickly so as I could use the pencil to outline the trees! Still can’t avoid mixing paint on the board/canvas I blame Huw Richard Evans"
Chris Ironside worked in Watercolour copying the painting of "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy I first saw this in the Tate in 1971 and was living just around the corner at the time."
Andrés López recounts "I believe that every morning David Hockney sends flowers to his friends from his iPad. Here I am sending you a pot of Geraniums, so typical in southern Spain."
Anne Huddleston says "my efforts on the iPad are a homage to David Hockney, though I do not find it a quick and easy way to produce paintings!"
Dorothy Flint modest as ever gave this me in "my very wobbly handed version. It is from a photo I took, and is based on looking at Hockney's Yorkshire sketchbook, which is all i-Pad. If I have time I will try and do a better one, maybe on computer." And she did send me a second painting.
Virginia Toogood was worried she wasn't the only one to choose this piece of art. "I seem to have chosen a popular one! The medium is acrylic …. and i must say I enjoyed painting this so much, I am going to have a go at some more of his work!"
Finally Marian Webb "used Hockney’s early painting ‘A Marriage of Styles’ and painted our model Clare in to join Hockney's characters. A Marriage of Styles is owned by the Tate and I got to know it really well when I was young. His early paintings and drawings held a great appeal for me and still do. I thought It was fine to lean Claire on his tree instead of the pole and it was great to draw her from life onto the canvas. She is a great model."
A NUDGE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE BARD
9th June 2021
This week take your direction from William Shakespeare. You could be influenced by the title of one of his plays or sonnets, or by one of the characters or by a key element in the action in one of his works.
One of you suggested Shakespeare. Can I remember with confidence who it was ... no. And this time I am not going to guess. The member who mentioned this idea is one of our regular contributors.
9th June 2021
This week take your direction from William Shakespeare. You could be influenced by the title of one of his plays or sonnets, or by one of the characters or by a key element in the action in one of his works.
One of you suggested Shakespeare. Can I remember with confidence who it was ... no. And this time I am not going to guess. The member who mentioned this idea is one of our regular contributors.
MAN'S HANDS IN OUR LANDSCAPE
PYLONS, TELEGRAPH POLES, WIND TURBINES, ROADS AND RAILWAYS SLASHING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE
26th May 2021
Whether you hate electricity pylons or think they represent the beauty of engineering they often impact our landscape but rarely appear in our paintings.
The challenge is to create a landscape picture that primarily features images of the structures that criss cross our countryside. This can be anything that is man made and not horticultural. So it could portray a wind turbine, pylon, telegraph poles or anything with which man has managed to interrupt our view of the world. Mostly this is part of our utilities infrastructure but if you prefer your focus could be a rusting hulk carelessly left in a field.
PYLONS, TELEGRAPH POLES, WIND TURBINES, ROADS AND RAILWAYS SLASHING ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE
26th May 2021
Whether you hate electricity pylons or think they represent the beauty of engineering they often impact our landscape but rarely appear in our paintings.
The challenge is to create a landscape picture that primarily features images of the structures that criss cross our countryside. This can be anything that is man made and not horticultural. So it could portray a wind turbine, pylon, telegraph poles or anything with which man has managed to interrupt our view of the world. Mostly this is part of our utilities infrastructure but if you prefer your focus could be a rusting hulk carelessly left in a field.
A PORTRAIT OF OLIVIA
26th May 2021
On Saturday Olivia will be sitting for us via Zoom. The plan has been to follow up the demonstration a couple of weeks ago by Mark Fennell with the opportunity to use some of his techniques.
To add another dimension to this we are asking you to create a portrait of Olivia for this week's challenge, though it doesn't have to be of her - it can be of anyone you prefer. The idea is to flex your portrait making muscles.
The recording of the demonstration by Mark Fennell is available in the members section of the website www.cliftonarts.co.uk
He worked with a small palette of colours.
26th May 2021
On Saturday Olivia will be sitting for us via Zoom. The plan has been to follow up the demonstration a couple of weeks ago by Mark Fennell with the opportunity to use some of his techniques.
To add another dimension to this we are asking you to create a portrait of Olivia for this week's challenge, though it doesn't have to be of her - it can be of anyone you prefer. The idea is to flex your portrait making muscles.
The recording of the demonstration by Mark Fennell is available in the members section of the website www.cliftonarts.co.uk
He worked with a small palette of colours.
A STILL LIFE OF LOST THINGS
19th May 2021
Most of us at one time or another will have had need to visit a lost property office. Over time I have lost various umbrellas, scarves, gloves and even shoes on trains. Generally I never get them back again. Nevertheless these place are always full to the brim.
The challenge is to create a still life of the kind of items that you can imagine that are to be seen in a lost property office. It would be even more fun if you were to include items you lost and never saw again. It's up to you.
19th May 2021
Most of us at one time or another will have had need to visit a lost property office. Over time I have lost various umbrellas, scarves, gloves and even shoes on trains. Generally I never get them back again. Nevertheless these place are always full to the brim.
The challenge is to create a still life of the kind of items that you can imagine that are to be seen in a lost property office. It would be even more fun if you were to include items you lost and never saw again. It's up to you.
DEPICTING A VISIT TO A GALLERY
12th May 2021
As normal life stirs and a semblance of normality is in prospect, we can again look forward to visiting galleries. In anticipation of this, your topic this week is related to galleries.
You can paint or draw interior scenes in a gallery with possibly people gazing at paintings and sculptures or maybe more mundanely buying tickets at the entrance or handing in coats and umbrellas at the cloakroom. Or you may wish to depict the exterior architecture of your favourite and/or well known gallery. Anything at all to do with galleries will work.
12th May 2021
As normal life stirs and a semblance of normality is in prospect, we can again look forward to visiting galleries. In anticipation of this, your topic this week is related to galleries.
You can paint or draw interior scenes in a gallery with possibly people gazing at paintings and sculptures or maybe more mundanely buying tickets at the entrance or handing in coats and umbrellas at the cloakroom. Or you may wish to depict the exterior architecture of your favourite and/or well known gallery. Anything at all to do with galleries will work.
THE STYLE OF HUW RICHARDS EVANS - A BLACK CANVAS
5th May 2021
A landscape beginning on black canvas or paper. The influence of Pembrokeshire artists.
Those of you who attended Huw Richards Evans' demonstration last week will have seen he began on a canvass in black. Much of his work was done with large brushes. Thus with that base and those tools he quickly created a striking Pembrokeshire landscape from his head .
5th May 2021
A landscape beginning on black canvas or paper. The influence of Pembrokeshire artists.
Those of you who attended Huw Richards Evans' demonstration last week will have seen he began on a canvass in black. Much of his work was done with large brushes. Thus with that base and those tools he quickly created a striking Pembrokeshire landscape from his head .
DEPICTING THE SENDING, RECEIVING AND EQUIPMENT OF OR RELATED TO LETTERS AND PARCELS
28th April 2021
This can be a still life of letters and parcels or can show posties and delivery people at work
We live in an era where personal letters have almost disappeared, bills still come by post but many are now delivered via email, YET parcels are central to our way of life. This cultural change has accelerated this past year. Thus you may wish your work to include delivery vans, postmen on bicycles, letter boxes, post offices. OR a still life of a pile of letters and parcels. It's up to you.
28th April 2021
This can be a still life of letters and parcels or can show posties and delivery people at work
We live in an era where personal letters have almost disappeared, bills still come by post but many are now delivered via email, YET parcels are central to our way of life. This cultural change has accelerated this past year. Thus you may wish your work to include delivery vans, postmen on bicycles, letter boxes, post offices. OR a still life of a pile of letters and parcels. It's up to you.
LIIMITING THE PALETTE WHILE PAINTING VEGETATION
21st April
We worked in charcoal and the likes last week. This time lets return to vivid colour. The catch is that only five different colours should be used.
A further challenge is that your greens should be created by mixing yellow with black or Payne's grey. No mixing of blue with yellow and definitely no green paint. Vegetation covers all sorts. From landscapes to studies of individual plants and vegetables. That's flowers, fields and other flora. Whether you use, watercolour, gouache, acrylics, inks or oils is up to you.
The five colours are: Black or Payne's grey, Blue (but not mixed with yellow), Yellow, Burnt Sienna or red & White
21st April
We worked in charcoal and the likes last week. This time lets return to vivid colour. The catch is that only five different colours should be used.
A further challenge is that your greens should be created by mixing yellow with black or Payne's grey. No mixing of blue with yellow and definitely no green paint. Vegetation covers all sorts. From landscapes to studies of individual plants and vegetables. That's flowers, fields and other flora. Whether you use, watercolour, gouache, acrylics, inks or oils is up to you.
The five colours are: Black or Payne's grey, Blue (but not mixed with yellow), Yellow, Burnt Sienna or red & White
SKETCHING USING CHARCOAL OR BLACK PASTEL
14th April 2021
The sketch book is a basic tool of artists. This week let's sketch, using landscapes or patching together small details that are elements of the panorama in front of us. The snag is ... that I am asking this to do it with your wrong hand.
By that I mean if you are right handed then work with your left hand and vice versa. If you haven't done this before you may be surprised how freeing this can be. No longer can you worry about getting the fine details accurate. Please use wood charcoal, compressed charcoal, black Conte pastel, graphite or pencil or any combination of these. The wrong hand idea is another member's idea. Sadly I can't remember who to blame.
You are encouraged to use a number of disparate images you might see when out and about and then combine them into one sketch.
THE DRAMA OF THE CLOUDS
7th April 2021
We recently learned more about cloud painting from Tom Hughes - now let's build on that knowledge. This week's challenge is the big sky
You are not being asked to repeat the exercise Tom set us. That would be a bit boring and anyhow we already have a gallery displaying the results from that workshop.
This week you are asked to come up with a painting or drawing that is dominantly but not solely of a sky. In it please include some dramatic clouds. No cloudless blue skies please.
You may remember that amongst many tips Tom suggests first putting the two most contrasting shades/tones on the canvas first, which gives a reference point for everything else. White fluffy clouds probably are not the way to go. Some drama will be good. He only used five different colours.
7th April 2021
We recently learned more about cloud painting from Tom Hughes - now let's build on that knowledge. This week's challenge is the big sky
You are not being asked to repeat the exercise Tom set us. That would be a bit boring and anyhow we already have a gallery displaying the results from that workshop.
This week you are asked to come up with a painting or drawing that is dominantly but not solely of a sky. In it please include some dramatic clouds. No cloudless blue skies please.
You may remember that amongst many tips Tom suggests first putting the two most contrasting shades/tones on the canvas first, which gives a reference point for everything else. White fluffy clouds probably are not the way to go. Some drama will be good. He only used five different colours.
FASHION IN YOUR FORMATIVE DECADE
31st March
This week the challenge is to illustrate clothing or furniture or interiors from the decade in which you were aged 18-22.
For many of us the music and the lyrics we remember most easily for the rest of lives was when young. It was part of the tapestry of our youth. This is just one indicator of how we sucked in information liked a vacuum cleaner. This challenge is not directly related to music but to what was around us at that time. This could be clothing, either what we ourselves would wear or what the fashion setters were wearing.
It could be the furniture we had in our home at that time of our lives. Or the interior of the kitchen or dining room. That could show the colours of the decor or the the G Plan furniture, Scandinavian and Ikea or anything else that was in vogue in that era. Maybe the cooker, toaster and/or the style of the fixtures and fittings.Recreate the decade of your youth with its iconic images. Capture the "look".
(If you spanned two decades when 18-22 then you are lucky because you have more choice.)
31st March
This week the challenge is to illustrate clothing or furniture or interiors from the decade in which you were aged 18-22.
For many of us the music and the lyrics we remember most easily for the rest of lives was when young. It was part of the tapestry of our youth. This is just one indicator of how we sucked in information liked a vacuum cleaner. This challenge is not directly related to music but to what was around us at that time. This could be clothing, either what we ourselves would wear or what the fashion setters were wearing.
It could be the furniture we had in our home at that time of our lives. Or the interior of the kitchen or dining room. That could show the colours of the decor or the the G Plan furniture, Scandinavian and Ikea or anything else that was in vogue in that era. Maybe the cooker, toaster and/or the style of the fixtures and fittings.Recreate the decade of your youth with its iconic images. Capture the "look".
(If you spanned two decades when 18-22 then you are lucky because you have more choice.)
THE SCOTTISH COLOURISTS
24th March 2021
This week the challenge is to produce a submission that is either influenced by or is a copy of work by the Scottish Colourists.
Who or what are the Scottish Colourists? A group of Scottish painters comprising Samuel John Peploe, Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell, George Leslie Hunter and John Duncan Fergusson, who were active in the early twentieth century. They all spent time in France and were influenced by French artists’ bold use of colour and free brushwork.
They were a set of radical artists in their day who enlivened the Scottish art scene with the fresh vibrancy of French Fauvist colours. Although the name suggests they were all living and working together in Scotland, they were not a close knit group with a specific set of aims, and only exhibited together on three occasions while they were all still alive.
They were all born in Scotland in the 1870s to middle class families, and at various different times each visited France to experience the burgeoning avant-garde first hand, returning to Scotland brimming with new ideas. Influences came from Manet, the Impressionists, Cezanne, Matisse and the Fauves, with the Colourists exploring modulations of light, shade and atmospheric effects, often through painting en plein air.
24th March 2021
This week the challenge is to produce a submission that is either influenced by or is a copy of work by the Scottish Colourists.
Who or what are the Scottish Colourists? A group of Scottish painters comprising Samuel John Peploe, Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell, George Leslie Hunter and John Duncan Fergusson, who were active in the early twentieth century. They all spent time in France and were influenced by French artists’ bold use of colour and free brushwork.
They were a set of radical artists in their day who enlivened the Scottish art scene with the fresh vibrancy of French Fauvist colours. Although the name suggests they were all living and working together in Scotland, they were not a close knit group with a specific set of aims, and only exhibited together on three occasions while they were all still alive.
They were all born in Scotland in the 1870s to middle class families, and at various different times each visited France to experience the burgeoning avant-garde first hand, returning to Scotland brimming with new ideas. Influences came from Manet, the Impressionists, Cezanne, Matisse and the Fauves, with the Colourists exploring modulations of light, shade and atmospheric effects, often through painting en plein air.
A STILL LIFE OF CHILDREN'S OR DOGS' TOYS
17th March 2021
Were they any beloved toys in your life that you have never let go? Do you have any children's toys in your house for whatever reason? Maybe for your children or on the ready for visiting grandchildren.
Possibly like me you have lots of toys for your dog or dogs. Charity shops are a boon when finding things to keep your pet happy.
The idea is that one way or another that we create a still life painting or drawing using toys as the sole subject. It doesn't matter if you take just one or a cluster of them. And if you have no toys at all in the house, then source them from your photos or online.
17th March 2021
Were they any beloved toys in your life that you have never let go? Do you have any children's toys in your house for whatever reason? Maybe for your children or on the ready for visiting grandchildren.
Possibly like me you have lots of toys for your dog or dogs. Charity shops are a boon when finding things to keep your pet happy.
The idea is that one way or another that we create a still life painting or drawing using toys as the sole subject. It doesn't matter if you take just one or a cluster of them. And if you have no toys at all in the house, then source them from your photos or online.
WHEN I WAS LAST OUTSIDE THE UK
10th March 2021
Now at last there is a serious prospect that later this year, if we wish, we may be able to travel abroad on holiday. With this in mind I ask you to look back in time to the visit you last made to another country.
Your painting or drawing should seek to capture a sense of place and maybe the culture of where you went. It could be based on a holiday snapshot but might not be. It could be an image that quickly tells you something about that country based on any memory or photograph.
We might find ourselves in a Greek restaurant, amongst ancient Roman remains, or sailing up the Rhine. Maybe it's a grand museum, theatre or cathedral. Take yourself to somewhere that has a great memory for you. All I ask is that it relates to your last trip and not to any visit in your lifetime. Where did you last go?
10th March 2021
Now at last there is a serious prospect that later this year, if we wish, we may be able to travel abroad on holiday. With this in mind I ask you to look back in time to the visit you last made to another country.
Your painting or drawing should seek to capture a sense of place and maybe the culture of where you went. It could be based on a holiday snapshot but might not be. It could be an image that quickly tells you something about that country based on any memory or photograph.
We might find ourselves in a Greek restaurant, amongst ancient Roman remains, or sailing up the Rhine. Maybe it's a grand museum, theatre or cathedral. Take yourself to somewhere that has a great memory for you. All I ask is that it relates to your last trip and not to any visit in your lifetime. Where did you last go?
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
Depicting an important moment in history
3 March 2021
Inspired by my homework on David Rowlands, the military artist who I will be interviewing on Saturday, I thought it would be interesting to set the challenge of choosing an event in history and creating a drawing or picture.
This gives you an enormous range of possibilities. The event you choose can be cultural, political, military, sporting, scientific or quite a few other categories. All I ask is that the event be important for the society in which it happened. I am not thinking of wonderful family events here.
I am not necessarily expecting a battle scene, though if that pleases you then tackle it, but from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine there are so many significant events. There's Joan of Arc's death at the stake, the first man on the moon, Super Saturday at the 2012 Olympics, the falling of the Berlin Wall, the Coronation ... so much
Depicting an important moment in history
3 March 2021
Inspired by my homework on David Rowlands, the military artist who I will be interviewing on Saturday, I thought it would be interesting to set the challenge of choosing an event in history and creating a drawing or picture.
This gives you an enormous range of possibilities. The event you choose can be cultural, political, military, sporting, scientific or quite a few other categories. All I ask is that the event be important for the society in which it happened. I am not thinking of wonderful family events here.
I am not necessarily expecting a battle scene, though if that pleases you then tackle it, but from the extinction of the dinosaurs to the creation of the Covid-19 vaccine there are so many significant events. There's Joan of Arc's death at the stake, the first man on the moon, Super Saturday at the 2012 Olympics, the falling of the Berlin Wall, the Coronation ... so much
