Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Challenge Abstract



Challenge Abstract

6x8in painted and wiped off.

The painting above represents
controlled  frustration.

Artist Note.
In the spirit of doing the collage 
of all the paintings from the challenge
I tried and totally wasted a couple of hours
trying to learn PicMonkey.
Lesson learned.
I am full of true admiration for all of you
who whipped out a collage

I do know enough about PicMonkey 
now to know I really like what it can do.

I thank Leslie Saeta for doing all the 
work to pull another successful 
challenge together.
It appeared that less than one third 
of the enrolled artists 
showed their work on her blog. 
That is good in a way because would I 
have ever been able to see ALL their work?
It was mind boggling to try and get through
the images of the 300 - 400 daily artists.

At the same time...
the best thing about the challenge was
being introduced to the work of
artists I was not familiar with ,and seeing a 
whole slew of new and fabulous paintings 
from artists
 I already admire.
See the final collages from everyone



43 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Hi Reem - thanks for visiting. I enjoyed your blog and work very much. Your colors and design are strong and appealing. They tell a story!
      I will definitely be back.

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  2. Thanks for your sharing your ART knowledge and LOVE of ART!
    It really show = )

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    1. Thanks Sue. I am full of awe at the amazingly beautiful abstracts you have done.

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  3. Not only did I really enjoy looking at all of your beautiful work, I just loved your commentary. Congratulations on finishing the challenge!

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    1. What a nice thing to say - thank you.
      I burst out laughing about the mix up between wood cuts and batik.
      No wonder I was amazed. Seriously, Chris, your batik work is truly stunning.

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  4. Replies
    1. I agree, Pamaja, vibrant!
      I think your new painting of the three trees and your story is very meaningful - especially to other mothers like ourselves.

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  5. Very beautiful abstract painting with so amazing colours !!!
    Happy Sunday !!!

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    1. Love your new painting. The atmospheric distance and the beauty of the 15th century building had me captivated.
      Happy Monday back to you - well I think it is already Monday there!

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  6. Bet you're pleased that you completed the challenge, sounds like you enjoyed it. The abstract certainly makes a statement, but never heard of PicMonkey before.

    Hope your husband is fully recovered.

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    1. I always have mixed feelings about doing the Challenge - basically am pleased I did it. The danger is painting crappy stuff just to get something done. That adds pressure. Life interferes and my hubby had a hard time for part of this with another siege before it was completely out of his system.
      So I pat myself on the back for finishing the commitment.
      Your finished painting of the Afghanistan man is very powerful, John.

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  7. I really like the happy and vibrant colors in this piece !

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    1. You have two different palettes for your daisy paintings and I like them both for different reasons. As I told mentioned, I had them in my wedding bouquet
      so you know I really love daisies.

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  8. I love this piece! I abandoned PicMonkey and did my collage in Picasa - so much easier!

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    1. Thanks for the complement, Rolina. Coming from a TRUE abstract painter it means a lot.
      Your collage turned out fabulous. Thanks for letting me know I was not the only one having a hard time with PM.

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  9. Beautiful rich colors and wonderful texture!

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    1. Thanks so much Hilda. You were marvelous encouraging so many of us throughout the Challenge. You, my dear, are a bloggers TREASURE!

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  10. Hi Julie! I'm very happy to have followed your blog all through January. I fell in love many times with winter scenes and Day 10 - 11 showing a fabulous bouquet of roses. Magnificent !!! This abstract is also appealing . I guess I've become a fan of yours. :) I finally used tingiZap , after a lot of frustration with PicMonkey.

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    Replies
    1. You are generous and I appreciate it.
      I love what you did with your collage. Thanks for the heads up on tingiZap. Will look at it.

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  11. Replies
    1. Hi there - you found a way!
      I thought of your wonderful ice cave painting when I was trying the different blues for my water in my new series. I was using only Ultramarine blue.
      We were on a limited palette for January.

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  12. Congratulations, Julie! Your abstract is a wonderful way to complete the challenge... You make me laugh when talking about your frustration with picmonkey.
    I enjoyed seeing all your paintings and reding about your process.. Most of all thank you for your so kind comments.
    Looking forward to see your next painting!

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    1. Your collage turned out so nice. Good for you!
      I thought you did a wonderful job with all your work on the challenge, Martine.
      I have a favorite. I think you said it was yours, too.

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  13. This abstract shows your command of color and composition. Lovely.

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    1. How nice of you - thanks Carleen.
      You did a great job with your collage. pat on the back. Looked great. Good placement choices.

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  14. Such a tremendous amount goes into participating in the challenge. Keeping up with following after already daily painting and all the computer time it is a real achievement. Love this abstract Julie

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    1. You are correct, Lorraine - it is a lot of work and at times I wonder why I put myself thru it. This time it was because I had encouraged some friends to do it
      and wanted to support them.
      Love your post. The way you painted the dog's white hair, really impressed me.

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  15. I understand your frustration creating the collage. It took me two tries and I don't know how many hours to finally get something together, but I couldn't fit in all my paintings. Maybe it was because I did assorted numbers of vertical and horizontal paintings. I like yours better...much more creative!

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    1. I was impressed when I saw what a great job you did with the collage.
      I do know some artists paint the smae size all the way through and it would make it easier to collage for sure.
      I am going to practice on PicMonkey and maybe, just maybe will ready for the next one

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  16. Really awesome, the results of the global challenge, by Leslie Saeta.
    It will take time to appreciate the many artists but will be worth doing.

    Lovely abstract painting, by you, with rhythm and color always consistent with your artistic character.
    The collage is for me a world mysterious and interesting. I am curious to try and materials are already in the studio (watercolors to be recovered, so give them a second chance too ...).

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    1. Hi, dear Rita - I loved your beautiful and sensitive landscape from the imagination. You are so skilled with the watercolor you know exactly how to control it. It is a great post.
      Hope you try the technique over oil watercolors. I loved the painting I got out of it.

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  17. The color in this abstract is to uniquely YOU! Congratulations on completing the challenge - what determination and perseverance. I very much doubt if I could ever do something like that - I envy you!

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    1. Is it? Well, how interesting is that to know. I guess my palette preferences come through... neat to know.
      You are astute, it does take perseverance to do the Challenge. I paint every day anyway, but I sure do not keep what I paint. Lots of wipers.
      It is what else I have going on in my life every day that makes me question the wisdom of the commitment. But thats another story!

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  18. this abstract is so dynamic and beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

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    1. A visit from the talented Myra is always a pleasure.
      Your creativity blows my mind.

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  19. This is a great painting! ---Playful! Isn't it frustrating to invest time in learning something...only to be thwarted! Well, I am sure if you want to spend a bit more time at it you'll succeed. There doesn't seem like much you aren't capable of doing!

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    1. Thwarted - love that word, Celeste!
      Lots I cannot do but nice to know you have confidence in me.
      Your new portrait is very beautiful and I would love to see you do one of Heidi

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  20. Oh, Julie....! You told me you weren't going to do a collage, and I guess you were right. So glad you got a wonderful abstract painting out of the experience, though! Thank goodness for life experiences! An artist friend, another 30 in 30er, actually ended up doing my collage for me, so I missed out on the opportunity such frustration would have provided...

    Congratulations on a great Challenge! I am looking forward to catching up on the paintings I missed while I was so busy...

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    1. I congratulate YOU on such a great job letting yourself loose from any constraints during the Challenge.. I loved the results and am looking forward to future work.

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  21. I love this painting and would love to see more.

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    1. thanks Mary. Good to see you back into normal mode after the challenge.
      Congrats on the great collage. I am impressed.

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  22. This painting is gone? A little sad...it's beautiful!

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie