Intro: My first PAT (pick-a-theme swap) ever! I also got to make chunkies for the first time. I have these labelled as Art Tile B on my commissions listings but these have only one side completed. For my tiles, both front and back are completed.
What I created: 4"x4" called chunkies...the themes are decided by the members in the group we sign up for. All of these are done with watercolor paints, black liner, white gel pen, and some shimmer paint by Hobby Ideas. I was part of group 5 (for those that are wondering).
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Intro: this challenge has been going off great so far. I have managed to get an emoji scenery tile done for each day of the first week!
Issues: I had a feeling that the canvas I had originally picked was going to cause me problems...and it did! The pack of artist tiles that I had set aside for this challenge is 300gsm regular print paper and watercolor does not work too great on them. I only created Day 01 on this paper before tossing it aside... I ended up switching back to what I am most used to - cold pressed watercolor paper. Which actually worked wonders! The original tiles were 3.5"x3.5" and I created a frame around the tiles so that I had a 3"x3" surface to paint on. What I created: When I switched over to cold pressed watercolor paper I used scraps that I get when I cut a 9"x12" paper into ATCs. The scraps are great because I can cut them perfectly into 1.5"x1.5" tiles (also called betwinchies as the size in between inchies and twinchies). These would be considered as mini artist tiles as well but I think artists are more familiar with the term betwinchies when looking at those measurements. I stuck to my theme, and plan to for the rest of the month. I used my normal tools of watercolor paints, watercolor pencils, Stadler liners, white gel pen, distress ink, and Prismacolor markers. I almost felt like switching over to acrylic paints but at the last second decided against it as I do not get use multiple mediums when I work with acrylic paint. Final thoughts: for those that are interested - don't forget that this is laid back with no strict guidelines or deadlines! So just jump in and out when you have time! Congratulations on those of us doing this challenge (mainly on Instagram) and for surviving week one!!! Intro: I have created a challenge for myself for the month of April (I wrote a brief post about it back in January).
I have participated in other challenges that have shown just how beneficial it is to be a part of a challenge. Feel free to join me on this and challenge yourself! For my dA friends you can just post your creations there. If you do not have an account then feel free to link here for everyone to see. Especially if you want some feedback then do share links. I am using #smallcanvaschallenge2017 to tag my works for this challenge. For feedback options continue reading... Details: The main purpose of this challenge is to get better at creating details on small canvases (#smallcanvaschallenge2017). And to develop the ability to recognize what details are important in keeping on a small and limited canvas and which details are not relevant. I am personally going to work on creating Artist Tiles for this challenge. The other goal at the end is going to be: how to display or use the small canvases that you have spent a whole month creating? When working with larger canvases that is not an issue as they are simply displayed as is... but because the canvas you are working on is so small there is an advantage that you have of creating a bigger work of art by assembling them. Examples: creating a scrapbook album, collector album, shadowbox, display canvas, cards, etc. It can be anything! Definition of small canvas: What I define as small canvas typically includes ATCs, inchies, small artist tiles, tea bags, paper dolls, etc. Any canvas that is 5"x5" and smaller is considered as a small canvas. For 3D works maximum dimensions on any side is 5 inches (5"x5"x5"). Rules:
Blog Posts: So you might be wondering how I'll be handling posts on this blog and elsewhere for this challenge? I am going to post only once a week with what I have created, so in total there are going to be 4 update posts for this month. At the end I'll also be posting a summary of this challenge that'll have links and details on anyone else who participates (also a journal feature on DeviantArt). Share what you make/feedback: Share your creations by using the hashtag #smallcanvaschallenge2017
Just remember it is a challenge but not a contest - do not add on pressure. This is all about creativity...and art. There should be no stress...only fun! Intro: I ran into some contests that were happening on DeviantArt.com and just couldn't resist entering because the prices were too good to pass by. I do not have any hopes of winning but I think it helps as I have some art now that I can use in trades or swaps or even as gifts.
What I created: I had to make a group icon (final is only 50x100 pixels exact) and not having a computer I could not use my tablet to do digital work. So! I ended up cutting out domino tile sized watercolor paper (1"x2") and using those to make three total designs for the group. The purpose of the group is ATC being made and possibly even traded but focusing on ARPGs in the dA community. All three were made using watercolors, Prismacolor Colored Pencils, Le Pen marker, and white gel pen. I also entered another contest where we had to draw an original character created by the host - a lioness. The lioness was personally a struggle for me. I am not sure if it is the materials... my motivation or some other factors that got in the way but it was a true struggle. I had decided I was going to paint the lioness in watercolors from the start. So I sketched her out on a 4"x6" (postcard sized) watercolor paper cut-out. I started working in simple values using watercolor paints. When I went in to start blending the results were horrifying. To hide the nightmare I decided to use Prismacolor Markers... with the same thoughts I laid down the main values then decided to use Baby Oil to blend them together to get a painterly effect. Another mistake... it looked like a blurred out painting with no ideas as to what the painting subject is. My final attempts on the lioness was to use watercolors again on top to see if I could fix some things. I was not able to get much done as the watercolors kept sliding as if there was wax underneath. In the end I used a black marker (pen) and a white gel pen to create lines. I outlined the main parts to make the whole thing look like lineart then added some shading in using cross hatch and other techniques using just a black pen. I could not fix it any further...and was too frustrated to make a new one so I ended up submitting her as is into the contest. The final image is above this post. Closing thoughts: Both contests end on February 14th so I should know a few days after that on what my status is.. .as I said I have no hope of winning. For anyone interested I have given a brief into to ARPGs below as I am participating in them now. I believe it'll be a good way to continue adding works to the dA gallery. Also it has inspired me to finally start working on my own story. I am now going to be working on a mixture of literature and art.. combined together. I call them "Quick Reads" because the written part is only suppose to focus on perhaps aiding the illustration or making up missing parts. They are suppose to be shorter than traditional novels, perhaps something in between a manga and a children's illustration book. When I post my first one I'll explain the whole idea at that time... What is ARPG: Like me, most of you are wondering what this is and perhaps are going to be interested in taking part too. Does anyone one remember RPGs? Role Playing Games that you can play on any platform (from mobile, to PC, to handheld)... but instead of playing the actual game add art to it. ARPG (Art Role Playing Game) are designed so that you can progress through set stories (or your own storyline) by making art. When there is a quest, you draw your character participating in said quest. Some artists even take it to a different level by writing only. You can draw just a scene summarizing the quest or you can show a progression by doing multiple art works or setting it up like a comic strip. For those of us struggling to find inspiration or themes to draw/paint these ARPGs are a great place to go. Having regular timed events happening also encourages artists to use skills on a regular basis allowing for the development that any artist seeks. Some people participate in these to make money, while others do it for the development of their artistic skills. Stuff to come: I have been getting behind on my 29 Faces challenges (applause) because I have been busy with contests, swaps, and now ARPGs. So a little overview of what is to come for the rest of this month and perhaps even some of March:
Full list: Art Challenges and Projects 2017 Intro: I decided to use the rest of the page that I created my works for the Valentine Twinchies Swap. I ended up making eight more twinchies and three domino tiles.
What I created: The twinchies continue the theme of Valentine's Day and hearts from the swap. I used Valentine themed cookies as inspiration for the hearts that I made. I also created rose flowers on three small sections that were left over (1"x2"). I have been wanting to dedicate art to the Beauty and the Beast story from Disney for a few months now but just could not come up with what to create. Seeing as I had practiced making a rose using a tiny brush already on one of the twinchies I decided to create just that... the rose given by the evil fairy in the story. Because I already had three tiles that I randomly put down gradient colors on I decided to paint the same rose in different colors on the other two. The hearts are a continuous part of the Valentine 2017 Series as I might still continue to make more art with that theme. Note: All of these are currently available for trading/swaps except for the red rose tile. I might end up using a few of these to create a cover page for a journal but in the meantime everything is available. Domino Tiles: A little bit about Domino Tiles... First here is an example of domino tile art found on Etsy. When referring to domino tiles it can mean work created right on top of a normal domino tile or a tile that is domino tile sized. The dimensions should be 1"x2" in order for it to be considered as a domino tile. Some artists even complete a collection and create Domino Books. I'll be writing more about this when I create a Domino Book of my own but for the moment I leave you with just this information. Feel free to Google Domino Books if you want to know more about them. YouTube also has tutorials on making them too. Intro: I discovered an art challenge that happens every year over at ATCsforAll.com. It is the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge created by Leslie Saeta.
Details: I thought I was too late as it was already January 16th but a fellow artist convinced me to go for it still... maybe go for the 15-in-15-days marathon. There are no rules... you just create every day (but because there are no rules you can actually create every other day as well). Mostly it has been drawings, illustrations, and paintings but some artists have gone beyond to create 3D works and digital works as well. I had already started the year off by running into what now I classify as "small canvases" so a theme had started in a way. My official theme for this challenge is just that: exploring small canvases. I hope to discover new tricks in working with media that I already use by being restricted to the size of the canvas. This is a big deal for me as I tend to go for small details and thus require a bigger canvas to work on. I want to improve my skills enough so that I can create at least 60% of the same amount of details on a 2.5"x3.5" canvas that are on a 18"x24" canvas. With this... I am not limiting myself to just ATCs...I am going to work on inchies, twinchies, in-betweenchies (?)...and artist tiles. Social Status: I have started posting all of my work on DeviantArt now just so that I can have a protected gallery to refer to whenever needed. Protected because of the watermark that is available for any uploads to the website. Other than that... I thought about uploading my creations on Pinterest as well but that website is just too hectic for sharing art. I do try to share the posts that I create on here to Facebook and also on Twitter but there is no real purpose for those except for any followers and friends to know that I am alive still (lol). Final thoughts: I have already added reminders to my calendar for other challenges that I want to participate in... #29faces challenge in February and again in September. There is #inktober in October along with #drawlloweeen... but I am leaning more towards #inktober as I need to practice creating in ink. And yes I have already marked this #30-in-30-days challenge for next year on my calendar as I do want to go for a full month's of creations. I have also been thinking about creating some personal challenges that are spread out during different times of the year (not conflicting with these other challenges). Perhaps ATC related or just any small canvas related challenges... any thoughts or interests? |
Author: RejiI used to be a digital artist but switched back to traditional art as I feel more connected with the art I create this way. Currently, I create art whenever I can for art trades and commissions. I have worked with clay (earth clay to modern forms like Polymer, Sculpey, even Air Dry clay) along with watercolors, acrylics, oil paints, pastels, charcoal, pen and pencil drawings, India ink, Chinese Colors, wires, felt fabric, yarn, weaving, basket making, and the list goes on and on. I am currently working on exploring nail art, make-up, dress making, scrapbooking, and small canvas art. Archives
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