I have been so busy working on a portrait commission of a large head, 30" x 30" and it has almost made me loose track of most things that I almost missed Karin Jurick's Different Strokes from Different folks. It is has been one year since Karin started this great blog after the her dog, Jack passed away. Ever since, she got artists all over the world painting and drawing Jack. She has continued to inspire artists all over the world with her weekly/biweekly challenges. I must confess these challenges have made me change the way I see a picture, forever. Most people cringe when artists paint from pictures and I used to, but that was a very very long time ago. I became more convinced that artists can paint from pictures, even more when Karin, who paints from pictures herself started this whole DSFDF thing. She has given us numerous tips from what to look out for, how to compose and even how to take pictures of our paintings/drawings. May the Good Lord bless her. Sometimes my wife wonders why I never want to miss these challenges and I can't explain it! I think I am addicted!
Well, this weeks challenge was of cupcakes and 145 artists all over the world took part. You just need to check out the site to see the different interpretations on this subject matter.
(detail)
To attack this challenge, I wasn't all that inspired by the cupcakes but I was really caught up by those little coloured sweet things that were scattered all around the cupcakes and the surface they were placed on. You can see the reference photo by clicking HERE. So I wondered what I could do with these coloured sweet things. Then I said it would be nice if we all enjoyed our cupcakes outside in the sun in front of a nice cafe with tea and coffee. But when we finished eating our nice cupcakes, we messed up the floor with the little coloured buttons and before the attendants could clean up, the typical London pigeons gave them a helping in hand by RAIDING THE LEFTOVERS!
For this I have used a variety of reds, blues and greens for the flat washes in watercolour and I spiced it up a bit with a 0.5 pen, just to refine the drawing. I wasn't really looking for a perfect drawing but the abstract design and shapes those shadows under the chairs/tables legs played with the overall landscape horizontal format I used for this piece. The paper used was 100% rough arches watercolour paper(300gms)
How fitting for your entry to be the last post with the pigeons cleaning up everyone's cupcake crumbs! What a grand finale to the popular challenge. Always love your entries to Karin's DSFDF, and tell your wife that it's like "missing a party" if you don't participate in one of these challenges!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann! I agree with you all the way! It is like missing a party!
ReplyDeleteAdebanji,
ReplyDeletethis is fantastic! You are really good with watercolors
Wonderful solution to the DSFDF challenge! Great creativity!
ReplyDeleteThanks Olha and Dean!
ReplyDeleteI've never cringed when seeing somebody work from a photograph. Perhaps a bit while I was developing my artistic skills. I know that working from photographs is sometimes the best that can be done. It also allows for mixing images easily w/o cutting up paper etc. When you're assembling as a starting point it brings up its own challenges.
ReplyDeleteI like checking out Karin Jurick's challenges too. Don't have the time to take one though myself at the moment
It's brilliant! Ann's right. Perfect end for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteGREAT job with the challenge, Adebanji, and what a clever take on it too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great interpretation! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had time to take part in Karen's challenges lately but I must. Its good to push your mind and ability all the time, you never know what will come of it.....like pigeons! :)
Point made RnB-I agree!
ReplyDeleteThanks Liz, Edward and Jeanette!
This is marvelous - so creative and a perfect ending to the cupcake challenge!
ReplyDeleteWOW, I just love what you do with these challenges. Yours is definitively one of the best and the perfect one to finish with as all those crumbs are eaten.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and fun piece. Bravo.
I also thought the cupcakes weren't inspiring but wow! look what a bit of thought and imagination can produce. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteLaughed out loud at this one. Fantastically creative and such a wonderful painting. You and your imagination never fail to amaze me!
ReplyDeleteYou're so clever..different interpretation...love your work
ReplyDeleteLove what you did with this challenge! Great variation on the theme. I only started working with photos about 6 years ago. I felt like more of a "real" artist when I was working from the original subject. I need to do more of what you do...drawing from real life. I think either way is okay, just something magical about working from life.
ReplyDeleteLucky birds. I just love this interpretation. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Your work is so inspiring.
ReplyDeleteCreative approach, love it!
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