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Saturday, November 7, 2009

"Time Travelers" - 9"x12"


This is the latest "Different Strokes" challenge, and is hands down one of the most difficult things I have ever painted. Incredible foreshortening challenge, I had to tell myself over and over "these are not 'people', they are simply shapes. Not a head, an arm, a leg, a foot - simply shapes." As long as I could keep my focus there, I was able to get the proportions right, but as soon as I decided I was painting a nose or a chin, it felt like I was being thrown out to sea with nothing to hang on to.

What a valuable reminder this painting was that we are never painting "things", we are painting value, shape, colour, edges, and in the end - if we succeed, we have created the impression of a thing.

It was a tremendous challenge, SO valuable for working on drawing skills, the challenge is up until November 18th and I highly recommend any artist taking it on, it will truly stretch you! You can find it here: http://differentstrokesfromdifferentfolks.blogspot.com/ 
Don't forget to have fun with it!

14 comments:

  1. You have mastered the challenge well done!

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  2. You did a fabulous job on the challenge! I haven't started mine yet - it does look difficult.

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  3. Great entry, Liz! You really captured the values and shapes of the figures along with all the floor patterns and light shadows thrown into the mix. Top rate entry!

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  4. One would never know that you had any issues with this challenge...it's wonderful!

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  5. Really terrific work, Liz! I agree with you...the hardest one yet but you nailed it.

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  6. Excellent job with the challenge, Liz.

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  7. What an outstanding painting, difficult to believe you struggled here. I love your shift in values...so glad there's a little more time on this one, I have not begun, definitely intimidated but looking forward to the challenge.

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  8. Wonderful Painting Well done.
    I Love you choices of colors.

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  9. Exceptional! You have such a nice sense of light, and rich, warm, sun-filled colors.

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  10. What a great entry for DSFDF and I just love your lunch piece above

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  11. This is excellent! It really caught my eye and stood out as one of the best!

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  12. That piece of warm light in front of the nearest figure makes it for me! Great take!

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  13. Wow, you DSFDF artists are all so keen and interested in what everyone is doing with the challenges, it's awesome! Thank you all for your great comments, I have really enjoyed visiting all your sites in return and checking the different approaches. Adebanji, that warm spot of light was consciously intended to create the center of interest for this piece, glad you noticed and were impacted by it.

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