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
Traveling to or being stranded on an uninhabited island
This week the challenge was "your desert island". You had the option of painting an uninhabited island, from up above or from sea level.
This week the challenge was "your desert island". You had the option of painting an uninhabited island, from up above or from sea level.
Live music old style
This week the challenge was bandstands. They are still to be found in some of our parks and once were the place to go and hear live music in the open air. They are part of our Victorian and Edwardian past.
This week the challenge was bandstands. They are still to be found in some of our parks and once were the place to go and hear live music in the open air. They are part of our Victorian and Edwardian past.
A Foggy day
Through the mist or appearing from the fog can be buildings, countryside, people or animals. Whatever took your fancy. The idea was to create a sense of poor visibility and its mystery. Sometimes you can see the tops of skyscrapers above clouds or fog. Sometimes a river can disappear whilst we can still see the hills behind.
Through the mist or appearing from the fog can be buildings, countryside, people or animals. Whatever took your fancy. The idea was to create a sense of poor visibility and its mystery. Sometimes you can see the tops of skyscrapers above clouds or fog. Sometimes a river can disappear whilst we can still see the hills behind.
The influence of Albrecht Durer
This weeks challenge was based on the journeys Durer took to the Alps, Italy and the Netherlands. You could have copied or been influenced by his work. OR you could have just use the subject matter contained in his works.
This weeks challenge was based on the journeys Durer took to the Alps, Italy and the Netherlands. You could have copied or been influenced by his work. OR you could have just use the subject matter contained in his works.
CHRISTMAS BRIC-A-BRAC
This challenge, which bridged the whole Christmas period, was to draw or paint our wreaths on the front door, the Christmas tree dripping with lights and tinsel, or windows adorned with stars and the cards on the mantlepiece.
This challenge, which bridged the whole Christmas period, was to draw or paint our wreaths on the front door, the Christmas tree dripping with lights and tinsel, or windows adorned with stars and the cards on the mantlepiece.
THE BARE BEAUTY OF TREES
The storms have removed all the leaves from the trees. There they now stand in all their complexity. Painting and drawing all the unadorned branches presents a special challenge, but the starkness can create a striking silhouette.
The storms have removed all the leaves from the trees. There they now stand in all their complexity. Painting and drawing all the unadorned branches presents a special challenge, but the starkness can create a striking silhouette.
DEMOLITION/TUMBLING DOWN BUILDINGS
This week was about buildings in serious disrepair or in the process of demolition. You could have chosen a structure that through neglect is in a very bad state. Alternatively you could have shown workers actually demolishing a building. You were asked to create a sense that the buildings are tumbling down and/or in decay.
This week was about buildings in serious disrepair or in the process of demolition. You could have chosen a structure that through neglect is in a very bad state. Alternatively you could have shown workers actually demolishing a building. You were asked to create a sense that the buildings are tumbling down and/or in decay.
INSIDE A PLANE, BOAT, BUS OR TRAIN
We have done planes, trains and buses before, but this time you were asked to restrict yourselves to what goes on inside. This could be someone paying the bus driver, showing a ticket to the guard on the train, in your cabin on a cruise liner or putting the hand luggage in the overhead locker on a plane. Those were some possibilities, but anything that created a sense of travelling and fellow passengers could have be depicted. It is the 'inside' bit that matters here.
We have done planes, trains and buses before, but this time you were asked to restrict yourselves to what goes on inside. This could be someone paying the bus driver, showing a ticket to the guard on the train, in your cabin on a cruise liner or putting the hand luggage in the overhead locker on a plane. Those were some possibilities, but anything that created a sense of travelling and fellow passengers could have be depicted. It is the 'inside' bit that matters here.
HAIR IN ART
Normally when we draw or paint a person, we are heavily focused on the eyes, nose and lips. This week's challenge was to shift the focus onto the hair. The great artists have often featured hair very strongly as in Botticelli's Venus, or the Pre- Raphaelites and many, many others. You could have chosen to depict the back of the head or even ringlets or lockets of hair, or a a balding man and his lack of hair. It was a chance to work with unusual angles.
Normally when we draw or paint a person, we are heavily focused on the eyes, nose and lips. This week's challenge was to shift the focus onto the hair. The great artists have often featured hair very strongly as in Botticelli's Venus, or the Pre- Raphaelites and many, many others. You could have chosen to depict the back of the head or even ringlets or lockets of hair, or a a balding man and his lack of hair. It was a chance to work with unusual angles.
Let's go back to the Impressionists
The most popular challenge since we started this weekly challenge was either copying or being influenced by the great impressionists - so we have done it again and asked you to choose a different artist if you did this last time.
The most popular challenge since we started this weekly challenge was either copying or being influenced by the great impressionists - so we have done it again and asked you to choose a different artist if you did this last time.
This weeks challenge was about "Climate Justice".
You were asked to choose an animal that has disappeared from the earth in your lifetime or any species that has been profoundly threatened or eliminated by climate change. It could be bees, other insects or all manner of mammals, and many wild plants.
You were asked to choose an animal that has disappeared from the earth in your lifetime or any species that has been profoundly threatened or eliminated by climate change. It could be bees, other insects or all manner of mammals, and many wild plants.
This weeks challenge was about compost and decay
Crumbling branches, yellowing grass and compost heaps
You were invited to take a walk into your allotment or garden to find a thriving compost heap, late flowers and fruits, fading grass and crumbling branches and leaves, with a focus on decay in detail and what happens as organic matter starts to break down.
Crumbling branches, yellowing grass and compost heaps
You were invited to take a walk into your allotment or garden to find a thriving compost heap, late flowers and fruits, fading grass and crumbling branches and leaves, with a focus on decay in detail and what happens as organic matter starts to break down.
Animal head portraits
This week's workshop is about portraits in oils - but this challenge is of a (non-human) animal. Please create your portraits using only the head and maybe shoulders of the animal of your choice. This could be of your dog, cat or some other pet. Or it could be a lion, tiger or zebra. But let's get close and personal with them.
This week's workshop is about portraits in oils - but this challenge is of a (non-human) animal. Please create your portraits using only the head and maybe shoulders of the animal of your choice. This could be of your dog, cat or some other pet. Or it could be a lion, tiger or zebra. But let's get close and personal with them.
The challenge this week is a collage
Tearing things up
This week put down your paint brushes and pick up your glue. Try your hand at collage maybe for the first time in quite a while. Collage describes both the technique and the resulting work of art in which pieces of paper, photographs, fabric and other ephemera are arranged and stuck down onto a supporting surface.
Tearing things up
This week put down your paint brushes and pick up your glue. Try your hand at collage maybe for the first time in quite a while. Collage describes both the technique and the resulting work of art in which pieces of paper, photographs, fabric and other ephemera are arranged and stuck down onto a supporting surface.
Great Cartoons by British Artists
This week is about the great cartoonists and you are asked to copy or be influenced by an artist of your choice. This has nothing to do with a caption. The only interest here is the artistic skills needed to create this genre of work. In other words this is about style and technique. Over time, some of the great names include William Hogarth, James Gillray, Sir John Tenniel, David Low, Giles, Osbert Lancaster, Ralph Steadman and Gerald Scarfe. You will have your own favourite.
This challenge is inspired by the William Hogarth exhibition due to open at Take Britain on 3rd November 2021.
This week is about the great cartoonists and you are asked to copy or be influenced by an artist of your choice. This has nothing to do with a caption. The only interest here is the artistic skills needed to create this genre of work. In other words this is about style and technique. Over time, some of the great names include William Hogarth, James Gillray, Sir John Tenniel, David Low, Giles, Osbert Lancaster, Ralph Steadman and Gerald Scarfe. You will have your own favourite.
This challenge is inspired by the William Hogarth exhibition due to open at Take Britain on 3rd November 2021.
This weeks challenge is chickens and clucking hens
Hen huts can feature large in your pictures this week if you wish. Or there could be images of newly born chickens. The hens could be sleeping or picking away amongst the weeds and grass.
Hen huts can feature large in your pictures this week if you wish. Or there could be images of newly born chickens. The hens could be sleeping or picking away amongst the weeds and grass.
Berries on the tree and bush
This week is a chance for a still life of berries. One possibility is to collect blackberries and place them in a bowl with other berries, or head off into the garden or fields and depict berries on a branch.
This week is a chance for a still life of berries. One possibility is to collect blackberries and place them in a bowl with other berries, or head off into the garden or fields and depict berries on a branch.
Into the shadows
This weeks challenge is about managing the shadow in art - set by Gay Johns. You can interpret the challenge as you wish, avoiding a literal shadow but just playing with mood. Or you can take on the difficulty of picking up with is in the dark when you are in the light.
This weeks challenge is about managing the shadow in art - set by Gay Johns. You can interpret the challenge as you wish, avoiding a literal shadow but just playing with mood. Or you can take on the difficulty of picking up with is in the dark when you are in the light.
Lighthouses and buses
This weeks challenge was inspired by Barry Hawkins, who worked for many years as a lighthouse keeper and, very differently, on the buses in Bristol. Pictures were to feature a lighthouse or a bus/buses - or possibly both.
This weeks challenge was inspired by Barry Hawkins, who worked for many years as a lighthouse keeper and, very differently, on the buses in Bristol. Pictures were to feature a lighthouse or a bus/buses - or possibly both.
Countryside Landmarks
This was a challenge to paint or draw a landscape with a dominant landmark at its heart. An example might be Glastonbury Tor or in stark contrast, Oldbury Nuclear Power Station. It's a chance to feature well known castles, hills and/or mountains.
This was a challenge to paint or draw a landscape with a dominant landmark at its heart. An example might be Glastonbury Tor or in stark contrast, Oldbury Nuclear Power Station. It's a chance to feature well known castles, hills and/or mountains.
