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 September - February 2022. For the all the previous weeks submissions , please look at the Weekly Challenge's for Mar - Aug 2021, 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 September - February 2022. For the all the previous weeks submissions , please look at the Weekly Challenge's for Mar - Aug 2021, 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 Edinburgh Festival and the beautiful city
You had a few options. You could have depicted something of the festival - the characters in the streets or audiences gathering in the makeshift theatres. You could have depicted a view of the city or copied or done a painting influenced by a great Scottish artist such as Henry Raeburn or Samuel Peploe.
You had a few options. You could have depicted something of the festival - the characters in the streets or audiences gathering in the makeshift theatres. You could have depicted a view of the city or copied or done a painting influenced by a great Scottish artist such as Henry Raeburn or Samuel Peploe.
It's the holiday season
The image we were looking for is of somewhere on holiday you will never forget. A dazzling seascape or cityscape that brings back memories. It could also have been the scene of a place you are about to visit.
The image we were looking for is of somewhere on holiday you will never forget. A dazzling seascape or cityscape that brings back memories. It could also have been the scene of a place you are about to visit.
Being young and getting older
A juxtaposition of activities in youth and when older
The challenge within one painting or drawing was to convey an activity or activities that are tackled differently when young, as opposed to when we become less energetic or develop other interests as we become older.
the choice of activity was entirely up to you.
A juxtaposition of activities in youth and when older
The challenge within one painting or drawing was to convey an activity or activities that are tackled differently when young, as opposed to when we become less energetic or develop other interests as we become older.
the choice of activity was entirely up to you.
Keeping Cool
The challenge was to depict people staying cool. They could have been in a hammock under a tree or in a deck chair in the shade. You could have painted or drawn a drink with lots of ice cubes in it or a visit to an outdoor swimming pool. There was lots of flexibility.
The challenge was to depict people staying cool. They could have been in a hammock under a tree or in a deck chair in the shade. You could have painted or drawn a drink with lots of ice cubes in it or a visit to an outdoor swimming pool. There was lots of flexibility.
Down on the farm
This was about creating a farm scene. Maybe the cows being milked or on their way to be milked. Hens and/or ducks being fed, or the yard with a tractor. Anything that created a scene in the centre of the farm itself.
This was about creating a farm scene. Maybe the cows being milked or on their way to be milked. Hens and/or ducks being fed, or the yard with a tractor. Anything that created a scene in the centre of the farm itself.
Painted faces
Clowns by virtue of their makeup have extreme expressions. Perhaps the best known image of a clown is a sad looking one. If you don't like clowns, you could have painted drag queens or pantomime dames Whichever face you chose you had to deal with a heavily painted one.
Clowns by virtue of their makeup have extreme expressions. Perhaps the best known image of a clown is a sad looking one. If you don't like clowns, you could have painted drag queens or pantomime dames Whichever face you chose you had to deal with a heavily painted one.
Colourful confectionery
Licorice Allsorts are dazzlingly colourful and highly varied in shape. The challenge was to create a still life using these sweets and capturing their texture. Or you could look have looked elsewhere at other favourite sweets.
Licorice Allsorts are dazzlingly colourful and highly varied in shape. The challenge was to create a still life using these sweets and capturing their texture. Or you could look have looked elsewhere at other favourite sweets.
British Wildflowers in Summer
Your images could have been of individual flowers or clusters of them in their natural setting.
Your images could have been of individual flowers or clusters of them in their natural setting.
Life in the 1950s
The Queen ascended to the crown in the 1950s and the challenge was to produce imagery from that era. You could have revealed the day to day life in the 1950s or the fashion, maybe the Coronation in 1953. Then there could have been the art and architecture particular to that period. Due to the holiday and other factors, this was a fortnight challenge.
The Queen ascended to the crown in the 1950s and the challenge was to produce imagery from that era. You could have revealed the day to day life in the 1950s or the fashion, maybe the Coronation in 1953. Then there could have been the art and architecture particular to that period. Due to the holiday and other factors, this was a fortnight challenge.
The art and culture of Ukraine
This week's challenge was to either copy or do a painting in the style of a Ukrainian artist. For example: Mykola Kut, Anatoliy Kryvolap, Maria Prymachenko, Ivan Marc or Vasyl Krychevsky. You could also have covered any aspect of Ukrainian culture, such as buildings and scenes in Kiev, Lviv or other grand Ukrainian cities.
This week's challenge was to either copy or do a painting in the style of a Ukrainian artist. For example: Mykola Kut, Anatoliy Kryvolap, Maria Prymachenko, Ivan Marc or Vasyl Krychevsky. You could also have covered any aspect of Ukrainian culture, such as buildings and scenes in Kiev, Lviv or other grand Ukrainian cities.
Windmills and watermills
This week was about the place that windmills and watermills had in our society in years past.
This week was about the place that windmills and watermills had in our society in years past.
Music's inspiration from what is out there - far away from us
The challenge was to come up with a drawing or painting taken from a piece of music about space.
The challenge was to come up with a drawing or painting taken from a piece of music about space.
A portrait is a painting with the mouth all wrong
This week was about the lips and the mouth. Getting the lips right is so hard. So this week we focused on this part of the anatomy. You could have done a series of sketches of different mouths, or a self-portrait of your own lips. You could have depicted mouths in action.
This week was about the lips and the mouth. Getting the lips right is so hard. So this week we focused on this part of the anatomy. You could have done a series of sketches of different mouths, or a self-portrait of your own lips. You could have depicted mouths in action.
Commercial shipping and the dockside
This challenge was about the merchant navy, docks and container ports. The aim was to portray great ships at sea or in port. This can be from a distance or focus on a particular activity on board or in port. This was not about pretty yachts sailing across the bay, but the serious business of commerce. You could have chosen your era or have taken a look at Avonmouth container port.
This challenge was about the merchant navy, docks and container ports. The aim was to portray great ships at sea or in port. This can be from a distance or focus on a particular activity on board or in port. This was not about pretty yachts sailing across the bay, but the serious business of commerce. You could have chosen your era or have taken a look at Avonmouth container port.
Stationary and what you might find on a desk
The challenge was to assemble a still life from the things on your desk, or if you don't have a desk, what you might imagine you find there.
The challenge was to assemble a still life from the things on your desk, or if you don't have a desk, what you might imagine you find there.
Using landscape sketches as the basis of an abstract painting
You were asked to do some quick sketches of a landscape using brightly coloured paints. Then on a board or canvass to stick strips of paper torn from your sketches, using a PVA non water based glue, sticking them onto the surface quite randomly. Then using the texture created and the colours you used to sketch to recreate a vague but creative abstract image.
You were asked to do some quick sketches of a landscape using brightly coloured paints. Then on a board or canvass to stick strips of paper torn from your sketches, using a PVA non water based glue, sticking them onto the surface quite randomly. Then using the texture created and the colours you used to sketch to recreate a vague but creative abstract image.
Costumes from the 18th and 19th Century
This week you were asked to focus on period costumes. An inspiration could have been drawn from some of the many costume dramas on television. Let the Regency and Victorian eras be your source material.
This week you were asked to focus on period costumes. An inspiration could have been drawn from some of the many costume dramas on television. Let the Regency and Victorian eras be your source material.
The Influence of Walter Sickert
This week the challenge was to produce work that is influenced by Walter Sickert , or it could be a copy of one of his paintings. If Sickert is not to your taste, then you may have chosen Whistler or Degas.
This week the challenge was to produce work that is influenced by Walter Sickert , or it could be a copy of one of his paintings. If Sickert is not to your taste, then you may have chosen Whistler or Degas.
Spring has sprung - daffodils are everywhere!
The challenge was to paint and draw daffodils that you find by the roadside or on roundabouts. You may have chosen to come close in and feature one or two daffodils or show clusters of them growing by the hedgerows lining our roads and lanes.
The challenge was to paint and draw daffodils that you find by the roadside or on roundabouts. You may have chosen to come close in and feature one or two daffodils or show clusters of them growing by the hedgerows lining our roads and lanes.
A Bristol Dock
The challenge was to submit sketches, drawings or paintings based on what you see around Bathurst Basin (as many of our activities last week were based around there). You could also have worked off photos of the Basin (two photos have been included in a recent mailing to you). Failing that, you were asked to choose any dock in Bristol that took your fancy.
The challenge was to submit sketches, drawings or paintings based on what you see around Bathurst Basin (as many of our activities last week were based around there). You could also have worked off photos of the Basin (two photos have been included in a recent mailing to you). Failing that, you were asked to choose any dock in Bristol that took your fancy.
Silhouette cut-outs
Bottles, jugs and fruit shapes
The idea was to choose simple subjects such as the above, and draw them onto card with something like felt tips, into flat, simple shapes and then cut them out, arranging a composition using the shapes and overlapping some. Then, putting loose washes onto the paper, and when dry, laying your stencils down and drawing round them, selecting a pattern of shapes. Having created those shapes, you could have taken your painting in any direction it suggests.
Bottles, jugs and fruit shapes
The idea was to choose simple subjects such as the above, and draw them onto card with something like felt tips, into flat, simple shapes and then cut them out, arranging a composition using the shapes and overlapping some. Then, putting loose washes onto the paper, and when dry, laying your stencils down and drawing round them, selecting a pattern of shapes. Having created those shapes, you could have taken your painting in any direction it suggests.
The courage of Ukrainians and world support
The challenge was to draw inspiration from the human courage, resolve and kindness the war in Ukraine has provoked. You may have chosen to focus on the Ukrainian people themselves or the efforts made by people in the West to offer help. The challenge was not about producing political propaganda but about the human condition.
The challenge was to draw inspiration from the human courage, resolve and kindness the war in Ukraine has provoked. You may have chosen to focus on the Ukrainian people themselves or the efforts made by people in the West to offer help. The challenge was not about producing political propaganda but about the human condition.
Our emotions as we daydream
This challenge was about depicting your emotions as you daydream. You could have shown a person as they daydream, or on the other hand conjure up your dream place. You were asked to just be dreamy as you tackled this!
This challenge was about depicting your emotions as you daydream. You could have shown a person as they daydream, or on the other hand conjure up your dream place. You were asked to just be dreamy as you tackled this!
