Different Strokes Challenge – July 2019

[LavenderFrost Moderator, Acrylics]

That’s nice Merri!

C&C always welcome. Michelle

mkmcreations.com
Every painting is a new adventure.

[dave woody]

‘focus on design’……please tell me what that means.

[RoadLessTaken, Sheila in Philadelphia]

Hi All, I am happy to oblige. Taken this shot tonight from outside looking at the wall.
The house is old with the old fashioned sash windows.
I knocked out both, did the ‘cartoon’ and spent some time… mostly Sat nights in the shed putting this together. ( Not in that order, cartoon first, then make, then replace ) I am talking about more than 20 yrs ago. I chose the magpie to represent the 4 that have lived in the front garden for years.
Yes, I know lead light is not fashionable anymore… but it fits this house.

This[B] is not [/B]my topic nor scene for the challenge.
cheers Merri

Merri, these are the height of fashion here in Philadelphia most especially in these huge old homes with windows facing the neighbors’ windows 2 feet away. I had never seen this before and was so impressed. Here, I imagine people find artisans to do the work for them. There are so many styles and varieties in size.

When I was living in Maine I went to an auction which was the town’s main way of getting money. I managed to get a copy of a Frank Lloyd Wright that was done for museum gift shops. No one else knew what it was so I paid 0ne dollar. But I was going to do this for my challenge and tell everyone I lived next door to Frank Lloyd Wright!

Sheila

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.
-Helen Keller
The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
-Henry David Thoreau

[Merriweather]

’focus on design’……please tell me what that means.

Hi Dave woody,

This is the page that I was researching around design. I don’t know what anyone here has outside their home, shed, van, office… windows etc
https://creativemarket.com/blog/10-basic-elements-of-design

I had in mind, the pic needs 3 planes. Foreground – which is why I put about inserting a frame, and if you like and have something interesting on the sill.

Middle, focus on objects there, and tie them together with lines and colours that work together – ( which is why I said, make it up if you need to, actually I wrote, ‘ never let the truth get in the way of a good story’ – so you have carte blanc … I never expected anyone to reveal exactly what they have because I don’t care to embarrass anyone…. you might have stunning architecture, or just another house, or bins, or shops, or birds and animals, signs, people. Try and tie it all together with some negative shapes.

Background, mute and distance – let your colours, strokes do the talking

I strongly suspect I have made this a bit difficult, especially as I never imagined people like Sheila might not have available windows. I do apologise Sheila, very much as I never intended to cause grief .

The other scenario is, if you have roof windows, throw some birds, chimneys in, and lastly the sky.

Lastly, Woody, I was also a little bit inspired with this artist who has done that series of ‘postcards from’ – he is on wet canvas but I don’t recall his name. sharing a little bit about the area of where we all live. If this design part is worrying, please do what you feel comfortable. I never intended grief for anyone.

Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill

[Merriweather]

Merri, these are the height of fashion here in Philadelphia most especially in these huge old homes with windows facing the neighbors’ windows 2 feet away. I had never seen this before and was so impressed. Here, I imagine people find artisans to do the work for them. There are so many styles and varieties in size.

When I was living in Maine I went to an auction which was the town’s main way of getting money. I managed to get a copy of a Frank Lloyd Wright that was done for museum gift shops. No one else knew what it was so I paid 0ne dollar. But I was going to do this for my challenge and tell everyone I lived next door to Frank Lloyd Wright!

Sheila

Sheila, I had no idea that lead light was still in fashion. In Aus, it certainly is not as our recent house designs lately are extremely modern clear cut and minimalistic. I looked up Frank Lloyd Wright, and wow, nice architecture.. Go right ahead with your idea.

Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill

[Merriweather]

Thanks for liking my leadlight loo window.
I guess it is art of sorts, so it fits in this wet canvas site.
I tried leadlight because at the time, it was popular, and the glass available was so colourful and inspiring.
The soldering and cementing part is pretty dirty. One needs to not be precious around getting your hands dirty.

Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill

[RoadLessTaken, Sheila in Philadelphia]

Sheila, I had no idea that lead light was still in fashion. In Aus, it certainly is not as our recent house designs lately are extremely modern clear cut and minimalistic. I looked up Frank Lloyd Wright, and wow, nice architecture.. Go right ahead with your idea.

Merri, I have no idea if it is in fashion or not but I like it and I’d definitely do it if I had the need!

As for the challenge- it is exactly that, a challenge! There are always ways to get around obstacles. There are many different ways to interpret every part of the challenge and I’m doing just that- being challenged!

Sheila

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.
-Helen Keller
The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
-Henry David Thoreau

[Merriweather]

Merri, I have no idea if it is in fashion or not but I like it and I’d definitely do it if I had the need!

As for the challenge- it is exactly that, a challenge! There are always ways to get around obstacles. There are many different ways to interpret every part of the challenge and I’m doing just that- being challenged!

Sheila

Sheila, thank you, you are such a practical person. I was worried when you wrote you really didn’t have a direct view. I shall look forward to what eventuates.

ps I am also being challenged, and I was the initiator.

Re the loo window… I guess if I say – the land we have here was subdivided into plots in England in the 1800’s. They devised these massive plots, and for many years I would come home late in the evening, and worry if there was some ‘ bad’ person watching me whilst hiding in the back yard… being its all trees, and no fences, it was a worry for me. So I devised a small measure of privacy.
cheers
Merri

Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill

[Charlies Mum Administrator (Maureen)]

Merri, I think the artist you are thinking about is baptist, here https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/member.php?u=194068

Cheers, Maureen

Forum projects: Plant Parade projects in the Florals/Botanicals forum , WDE in the All Media Art Events , Different Strokes in Acrylics forum .

[Merriweather]

Merri, I think the artist you are thinking about is baptist, here [url]https://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/member.php?u=194068[/url]

Yes Maureen, my goodness you are a wonderful mind reader. I watched and adored his De Panne series. I love it.

Actually what would you call that style? – Illustrative?

Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill

[Charlies Mum Administrator (Maureen)]

I think so….. humerous illustration!

Cheers, Maureen

Forum projects: Plant Parade projects in the Florals/Botanicals forum , WDE in the All Media Art Events , Different Strokes in Acrylics forum .

[RoadLessTaken, Sheila in Philadelphia]

Sheila, thank you, you are such a practical person. I was worried when you wrote you really didn’t have a direct view. I shall look forward to what eventuates.

cheers
Merri

Merri, I’m having a very interesting experience by way of this challenge! I mentioned I had initially painted the window and thought I’d add in the outside parts piece by piece. Then I started again on acrylic paper doing the outside, or what I thought was outside but, from having the curtains drawn for years (literally!) I’d forgotten what a beautiful view I have compared to what many see in this city! I first drew from memory but each time I’d go out the front door, not even looking to confirm my drawing I’m amazed by what is there to draw before even adding paint or any color at all. The acrylic paper is only 6 by 6″ and I’m thinking I may want to do this larger later…… I was going to see, “When I have time” but time is always so slippery!

I so wish this topic had come up while I was living in Maine. Back then I was into soft pastel but I had SO many window (13)! One huge one looked directly toward a huge mountain with no blemishes in the view. A few windows looked out to my elderly neighbor. And the window over the kitchen sink looked toward another neighbor and his wife. Everyday at 6am the wife would leave to drive to Bangor to care for her grandchild. Her husband would sit out on his lawn by a huge hedge of lilacs. And while sitting outside in his robe he’d be glaring at my window while he “pleasured himself”! I called police and they wanted evidence. My window on the second floor looked in the same direction and I took a photo! I still have that image in my collection of digital photos and can laugh at the thought of painting THAT image for this challenge! I may be cheeky but not quite as much as that! (The police said as long as he remained on his own property he was legal. I sold the house to a couple with 2 children and that neighbor was arrested because there were children involved!)

Windows are wonderful things, they give us a view of the world, a view of ourselves, a view into others’ worlds, lives, and hearts. I’m enjoying this but I’m not sure when I’ll actually get to the painting phase!

Sheila aka RoadLessTaken

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.
-Helen Keller
The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
-Henry David Thoreau

[Merriweather]

Merri, I’m having a very interesting experience by way of this challenge! I mentioned I had initially painted the window and thought I’d add in the outside parts piece by piece. Then I started again on acrylic paper doing the outside, or what I thought was outside but, from having the curtains drawn for years (literally!) I’d forgotten what a beautiful view I have compared to what many see in this city! I first drew from memory but each time I’d go out the front door, not even looking to confirm my drawing I’m amazed by what is there to draw before even adding paint or any color at all. The acrylic paper is only 6 by 6″ and I’m thinking I may want to do this larger later…… I was going to see, “When I have time” but time is always so slippery!

I so wish this topic had come up while I was living in Maine. Back then I was into soft pastel but I had SO many window (13)! One huge one looked directly toward a huge mountain with no blemishes in the view. A few windows looked out to my elderly neighbor. And the window over the kitchen sink looked toward another neighbor and his wife. Everyday at 6am the wife would leave to drive to Bangor to care for her grandchild. Her husband would sit out on his lawn by a huge hedge of lilacs. And while sitting outside in his robe he’d be glaring at my window while he “pleasured himself”! I called police and they wanted evidence. My window on the second floor looked in the same direction and I took a photo! I still have that image in my collection of digital photos and can laugh at the thought of painting THAT image for this challenge! I may be cheeky but not quite as much as that! (The police said as long as he remained on his own property he was legal. I sold the house to a couple with 2 children and that neighbor was arrested because there were children involved!)

[QUOTE]Windows are wonderful things, they give us a view of the world, a view of ourselves, a view into others’ worlds, lives, and hearts. I’m enjoying this but I’m not sure when I’ll actually get to the painting phase!

Sheila aka RoadLessTaken[/QUOTE]

Sheila, I don’t know your preferred mode , back first, or front first, but it sounds like you really do have a nice view.
Personally, I tend to sketch first, and perhaps again….. I do this for every painting, whether its for acrylic, water colour etc. I try ( try is the operative word) to get a feel for what I am going to paint, and while I am in that process, I start to think around colours, how I would imagine it to look etc.

Re your ex neighbour, my oh my, Kudos to you for your patience.!! I would have opened the window and likely said something quite cutting.:evil: Thank goodness you moved.

Windows are wonderful things, they give us a view of the world, a view of ourselves, a view into others’ worlds, lives, and hearts. I’m enjoying this but I’m not sure when I’ll actually get to the painting phase!

Yes, I agree, that is beautifully written… I hope you get round to the painting phase, but there is time aplenty.

cheers
Merri

Painting is a complete distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Winston Churchill

[LavenderFrost Moderator, Acrylics]

Oh my goodness Sheila. Maybe the mountain view would be a better choice for a painting lol. Did you show the wife the photo?

C&C always welcome. Michelle

mkmcreations.com
Every painting is a new adventure.

[RoadLessTaken, Sheila in Philadelphia]

Oh my goodness Sheila. Maybe the mountain view would be a better choice for a painting lol. Did you show the wife the photo?

OMG Michelle! I can talk and write a good one but I’m not quite as sophisticated at confrontation! I’ve gotten better after living in Philly for a decade but I was horrified having my neighbor doing that in my view! He and I had had a few other issues as he came over late one evening when he was drunk and tried to push his way into my home. My dog was quite young at that time but he tried to protect me and got kicked by that neighbor. Same neighbor had all kinds of secret encounters around that small town with old ladies and young girls. I could never get anyone else to discuss these things with the police and I was “from away”. (Anyone not born in Maine)

I do offer a Philadelphian’s opinion around here but I need to learn to keep my mouth closed as tensions are heating up. There are more shootings and acts of violence in the last few years than I had witnessed in my last 50 years. And I now have a small dog!

Sheila

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart.
-Helen Keller
The question is not what you look at, but what you see.
-Henry David Thoreau

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