CHALLENGE #7

                                  CHALLENGE # 7

This is the first challenge due in the New year Jan. 2012. Our challenges have grown and are shared now on several pages on Facebook. We have a new challenge page :  Facebook: Painting Challenge (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Painting-Challenge/331221790230457 )---page created by Arthur Anderson. We are also still sharing on Facebook: Paintings by Linda: (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Paintings-by-Linda/365237511760 ). We also have been fornuate to expand our following through loyal followers of the challenges, like Rhonda Meyers, Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/#!/(https://www.facebook.com/#!/FineArtbyRhondaMyers) and Renu Kristin Kvalfors https://www.facebook.com/#!/kristin.kvalfors. The events are posted through me, Linda Gilbert.

Painting Challenge  

Information on the above photo: Arthur Anderson: This is an image from my friend and colleague Tom Schopper, an extraordinary "Renaissance Man," who is also a gifted actor and director. This image -- used with Tom'spermission -- was taken at Woodloch Pines Resort located in Hawley, PA (in the Poconos) More of Tom's images can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/tschopper/55509194/ 

This month's challenge was a photo submitted by Arthur Anderson. The photo was taken by Tom Schopper.   


The following paintings have been submitted with various interpretations of this photo.


Linda Gilbert
"The colors of Autumn"
www.PaintingsbyLinda.net



Miriam Hanfield
"Autumn Breeze"
Acrylic on Wood
approx 8x11 wall plaque
by: www.thecraftycanadianhousewife.com

Deborah Rosen
Acrylic

Rhonda Myers
Oil -pallette knife
https://www.facebook.com/#!/FineArtbyRhondaMyers

Arthur Anderson
"Autumnal Colorcerto"
www.Artistanderson.com

Renu Kristin Kvalfors
https://www.facebook.com/#!/kristin.kvalfors



check out the comments on Facebook pages https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paintings-by-Linda/365237511760 check out challenge #7 album on Paintings by Linda and Painting challenge https://www.facebook.com/pages/Painting-Challenge/331221790230457



Go to this site to see album with comments of challenge #7

 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.340846112601358.85953.331221790230457&type=3

AS ALWAYS, WE WISH TO THANK ALL OF THE ARTISTS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THIS CHALLENGE. WE HOPE TO GET MORE AND MORE ARTISTS PATICIPATING EACH MONTH.

PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG.

Exhibit at Manalapan Library Jan. 2012 -UFT CLASS

UFT ACRYLIC PAINTING CLASS EXHIBIT

THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2012, MY CLASS, "ACRYLIC PAINTING" IS EXHIBITING AT THE MANALAPAN LIBRARY (MONMOUTH COUNTY HEADQUARTERS). THE CLASS IS RUN BY THE RETIRED TEACHERS PROGRAM THROUGH THE UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (NYC).

Headquarters (Manalapan Library) 125 Symmes Drive
Manalapan, NJ 07726-3249
Telephone: (732) 431-7220
TTY Hearing Impaired: (732) 845-0064
Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
9am-9pm 9am-9pm 9am-9pm 9am-9pm 9am-5pm 9am-5pm 1pm-5pm*

 I have been teaching the Acrylic Painting class since spring Term of 2010. My students have made wonderful progress in their painting skills. Some of my students never painted before. This exhibit showcases 1-4 paintings per artist. The styles are varied and subject matter is most interesting. I enjoy working with the students, as their enthusiam to better their technique and learn is overwhelming. This gives me tremendous satisfaction.  I have included 4 of my own paintings in this exhibit as well.

Here are a few examples of the paintings that are on exhibit. Go to Facebook to see samples of the complete exhibit:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2994827997950.2154774.1479711411&type=1&l=25133231a3

Checkered Cloth with Flowers
Toby Brickner

You do not have to be a Facebook member to view the album.

Snowy Campus
Linda Gilbert

Majestic Alaskan Mountains
Donna Rittner

In The Woods
Enid Weinstein

 

Sandbox
Debbie Rosen

click on all images, including brochure at the beginning of this blog to see enlargements and details of images.

 

Summer Flowers
Cathy Yeung

La Senora con el Sombrero
Sandra Paris

Perched Parrot
Louise Schultz

 

View from the Post Office
Audrey Leff

Up UP and Away
Ellen Brotman

 

            

 

    

 



                                               CHALLENGE #6

                           
                        this painting by William Harnett was chosen by Rhonda Myers

This challenge deviated a little from our other challenges, in that a painting by William Harnett was chosen to interpret. It is our first still-life. What a wonderful idea! Take the theme of a favorite artist and paint your own view. What amazed me the most, is how we chose to use this painting for our own view.

I was the first entry. I used this paintng with the objects as a source, and changed the colors a bit. As you can see, I added a "sprite" (fairie) hovering over the grapes.  My sprite is grabbing the red grape (also a change from the original), as it's color and glow attract her the most. I have taken many a scene that I have photographed and painted it with my sprite creations. (See my web site www.PaintingsbyLinda.net  and click on Mystical). I used very bold color.


Linda Gilbert
"The Choice"
Acrylic on Canvas   11 x 14
www.PaintingsbyLinda.net



Rhonda Myers, did a wonderful painting. Her colors are soft and delicate. Rhonda added these lovely flowers in the bowl that gave this still -life a whole different feel than what I did. We will have to hear from Rhonda what her intentions were when she painted this beautiful painting.

Rhonda Myers

Just entered on Facebook the wonderful painting by Arthur Anderson. He did not go too far from the original still life. The colors and the warmth of the painting are so pleasing and relaxing to look at. The glow of the light is fabulous. This certainly does look "old world" as Artie expressed on Facebook.

Arthur Anderson

"Still Life Simplified

16 x 20 Acrylic

http://artistanderson.com/

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MORE ENTRIES FOR CHALLENGE #6. IF YOU HAVE A PAINTING THAT YOU DID FROM THIS CHALLENGE, PLEASE SUBMIT IT TO FACEBOOK :PAINTINGS BY LINDA PAGE:

         https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Paintings-by-Linda/365237511760

INCLUDE YOUR NAME,TITLE OF PAINTING,MEDIUM AND SIZE......AND ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE PAINTING. WE WILL POST IT IN THE CHALLENGE #6 ALBUM AND ON THIS BLOG!




                  

CHALLENGE #6

CHALLENGE #5--PAINTING OF THE GRAND  CANYON

challenge #5 photo

For challenge #5, I chose this photo I took 2 years ago, when we traveled to the Canyonlands. Let alone, out of all of the excursions Bob and I took, this one had to be the trip of a life-time-seeing the most magnificent scenery I have ever viewed.  We saw Bryce Canyon, Glen Canyon, Zion Park and numerous other natural wonders. So, I thought this gorgeous canyon photo would be  an interesting challenge. I have received one other painting besides my own for this challenge. Even though others signed up for this painting challenge, no other pieces have come in.

  Linda Gilbert
"The Colors of the Canyons"
16 X 20 Acrylic on Canvas
www.PaintingsbyLinda.net

This is my entry. I used the photo for my source, trying to capture the colors as I remember them, and viewed from the photo. I used my organic technique that I enjoy using for all of my paintings, giving my paintings a soft moving feeling. I also enlarged the Colorado River that was barely visible in the photo running from the left to the mid section of the painting. This was a big challenge again for me. Although I have painted many a painting with rocks, these canyons presented a special challenge.

                                                                       Arthur Anderson

                                                "Morning Shadows, Morning Sun, Grand Canyon"

                                                             24 x 18",      Acrylic on canvas

                                                             www.Artistanderson.com

This is the painting that Arthur Anderson did. This is wonderful. Artie captured the shadows, and gave the painting the feeling of the morning, just as he titled it. I also love the Artist interepreation of the colors. The Grand Canyon changes color depending on the time of day. This painting truly captures that. The execution of the angular style is fascinating also. The rocks are sharply defined, and very dramatic. Until we hear from Artie, what he was expressing in this painting, we will know what he was after in this bold interpretation. In my view, it almost seems a little spooky, kind of Alfred Hitchcock, with the long shadows. GREAT JOB ARTIE.

                                                           

                                                                    

                                              

CHALLENGE #4

                      CHALLENGE #4-WATERFALL

Burch K Coralee

Artist Burch K Coralee (https://www.facebook.com/#!/artbycoralee) submitted this painting of a waterfall for challenge #4.
                                                                                          

This was a most interesting challenge to undertake-different than the previous challenges that have been submitteed. There are textures and details that needed to be dealt with in the painting. the following paintings have been submitted for this challenge.  

Deborah Hoffner Rosen
"Whispering Stream"
9 x 12 Acrylic
Debby is a student in my UFT class. She is a very talented artist. Notice the soft flowing beautifully painted technique. The water is so delicate- reminds me of powder being sprinkled down the rocks. Great job Deborah.

Linda Gilbert
"Various Veils 2"
16 x 20 Acrylic
www.PaintingsbyLinda.net
I titled my paintings "Various Veils 2" because it took me 2 trys to get to this finished painting. I originally did the painting in an 8 x 10 and was very dissatisfied with it. After ovserving my "errors" from painting #1, (which I think my main problem: I worked too small for the details), I enlarged the subject and changed what I wanted to to make it appealing to me. I enhanced the color of the foreground, and I changed the way the water fell -especially in the last fall. For me, changing the subject to my way of thinking works best to please "my ideal" attitude to the way something should look. Please notice, I said "my ideal"---doesn not mean yours~!

Arthur Anderson

   "Touches of Spring."
Acrylic on canvas. 16 x 20"
http://artistanderson.com/
Arthur Anderson did a  really nice- very geometric rendition of the waterfall. Love the angles of the rocks and the water.He carried through the style of the angular movements in the foreground too!  

UFT Acrylic Painting Class

Lately I have been posting the challenges on Facebook, which take place every 2 weeks via my Fan Page: Paintings by Linda https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Paintings-by-Linda/365237511760  

I teach an Acrylic Paintng Class through the UFT (United Federation of Teachers Retiree Programs), and I thought it would be nice to post some of the class at work. Notice in the pictures, two of the students are painting Challenge #2 (The Day Lily), which by the way, scroll down to the article on all of the wonderful results that came in for this challenge.

My students are all excited each week to come to class to develop their painting skills. I love working with them, and have seen so much progress in the various styles that have developed.

We will be exhibiting at the Manalapan Library, Manalapan, New Jersey, in Jan. 2012. we are very excited about this!

Donna Rittner

Donna Rittner
"Majestic Mountains"

Challenge #3

credit goes to photographer Steve Pollock, former Editor in Chief of Popular Photography magazine.
This photo was submitted by Arthur Anderson for Challenge #3.

Of the three challenges so far, this was "the most challenging challenge" for me. I have painted many a bridge scene, including 3 different paintings of the Brooklyn Bridge (see my web site www.PaintingsbyLinda.net), and have painted many reflections in water, but never endeavored a scene at night. Most challenging for me, was to achieve the brightness of the lights. I personally cropped the photo in my mind, and focused in more of the bridge. As I was painting this photo of the 59th Street Bridge (Queensboro Bridge), I kept thinking of the Simon and Gafunfunkle song "The 59th Street Bridge Song-Feeling Groovy", thus coming up with the title. For days after finishing the painting, and while painting, I kept humming the song. I never figured out why the song had it's title, but my title was inspired by the song!

Linda Gilbert
"Reflections of Feeling Groovy"
16 X 20
Acrylic

The next entry to this challenge came from Rhonda Myers. A very talented Artist from Tennessee.She captured the subject, lights and reflections beautifully. Rhonda painted the entire bridge. Her colors are exciting and vibrant.

Rhonda Myers
"Night Reflections"
24 X18
Oil



Arthur Anderson just added this impressionistic painting calling it "Party Under the Bridge." I love the way he captured the depth of the bridge. the colors are exciting and the reflections remind me of confetti being thrown at a celebration. Great job, Artie!

Arthur Anderson
"Party Under the Bridge"
24 X 18
Acrylic

Burch K Coralee just submitted the bridge picture, done is a soft watercolor. Beautifully done!

Burch K Coralee