Different Strokes Challenge – July 2019

[RoadLessTaken, Sheila in Philadelphia]

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.

cheers
Merri

I have three sketches going. I had started this just doing the actual window. The window itself is old and beautiful and architectural but then I decided I want ed to add the view….. which I sketched out and was going to just paint on a 6 by 6 inch acrylic paper BUT, it’s too small to do many details so I went back to the 11 by 14 (maybe) and started to block in the outside view without messing too much with the window details I had already added BUT then, there is what remains between my POV and the window. So the image would be what I see, what I am seeing through, and what I believe is on the other side of those “obstacles”. (I would prefer to do this in 3 D if I had that ability but I don’t!

I’m realizing how many layers this is going to take! I wish I had more room and my calico cat would let me play with brushes without her help! Now I know why I rarely finish the big projects!

Sheila….. hoping I didn’t strangle that cat….. I do love her….

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]

I have three sketches going. I had started this just doing the actual window. The window itself is old and beautiful and architectural but then I decided I want ed to add the view….. which I sketched out and was going to just paint on a 6 by 6 inch acrylic paper BUT, it’s too small to do many details so I went back to the 11 by 14 (maybe) and started to block in the outside view without messing too much with the window details I had already added BUT then, there is what remains between my POV and the window. So the image would be what I see, what I am seeing through, and what I believe is on the other side of those “obstacles”. (I would prefer to do this in 3 D if I had that ability but I don’t!

I’m realizing how many layers this is going to take! I wish I had more room and my calico cat would let me play with brushes without her help! Now I know why I rarely finish the big projects!

Sheila….. hoping I didn’t strangle that cat….. I do love her….

Sounds like you are going great guns. The bit in between your POV and the window, ( your window sill sounds really interesting and beautiful), is your problem area.? This is why I said Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, perhaps make up what you know to be there.?

Please don’t strangle that cat …

I have worked on my view for 3 days now… and its coming along. I hope you and everyone (hopefully) are enjoying the challenge.

( I am very slow at painting so I was told. I was a bit taken aback with that, but I have not increased in speed. )

Cheers
Merri

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]

Yeah Merri,
I’ve decided to leave out some of the view. It looks good in real life but if I put it all on a canvas it would be too much.

The interesting part is the window itself. It’s a bunch of separate panes to the top with arches but all original hand blown lead glass. I can’t make it appear that way in my painting but I keep getting caught up in trying to. Over the years it’s been painted (house painters) who have not been detail oriented and who have left big drips of paint here and there. Over the years I’d tried to clean it up but the panes are not well held into the frames so I don’t need them falling out.

Same cat is looking to be strangled again! Probably because she is the baby of the house and the one least aware of my ability to kill or snuggle cats!

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

[LavenderFrost Moderator, Acrylics]

I think I’m a slow painter too. Sometimes I’ll be painting for an hour to two and it seems like I barely did anything.

Pets… they win us over with they’re cuteness, and stay alive for the same reason. lol

C&C always welcome. Michelle

mkmcreations.com
Every painting is a new adventure.

[clode]

what subject Promising…there is matter to think about just finding the time .. I will try .. super topic!

http://aquableu32.fr/wp[/url]

[Merriweather]

what subject Promising…there is matter to think about just finding the time .. I will try .. super topic!

Hi clode, welcome to the challenge. It would be lovely if you manage to join in.
BTW – I love your avatar. Did you paint it?

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

[ColinS, Moderator, Victoria British Columbia]

Got started yesterday. Curious to see how this turns out. I took pictures out many of the windows, and settled on one that surprised me.

"None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm." - Henry David Thoreau

Moderator Acrylics Forum~~~Reference Image Library

[Merriweather]

Sheila

The interesting part is the window itself. It’s a bunch of separate panes to the top with arches but all original hand blown lead glass. I can’t make it appear that way in my painting but I keep getting caught up in trying to. Over the years it’s been painted (house painters) who have not been detail oriented and who have left big drips of paint here and there. Over the years I’d tried to clean it up but the panes are not well held into the frames so I don’t need them falling out.

That window sounds super interesting . Sad about the drips left from dodgy painters… Looking forward to seeing your painting.

LavenderFrost –

I think I’m a slow painter too. Sometimes I’ll be painting for an hour to two and it seems like I barely did anything.

Me too. time goes by, and I look at my work and think, I have barely done anything..

ColinS

Got started yesterday. Curious to see how this turns out. I took pictures out many of the windows, and settled on one that surprised m

Sounds interesting, looking forward to ‘looking out of your window’ reveal.

I never bothered with a ref photo. this is a first. A wonky first if I am honest. !!

Cheers
Merri

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

[Old_hobbyest]

I’m trying to figure out how to paint the window screen between me and the backyard!?!

[tuscanny Moderator oil pastels]

I have screens on all my windows too, so I moved out to another derelict building with no screens:lol:

Christel

[Charlies Mum Administrator (Maureen)]

I won’t get mine done for tomorrow but then, we do still have a further ten days from then!!:lol:

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]

OMG it’s tomorrow! This is definitely the latest I’ve pushed it! I got caught up playing with inks which are so much less of a hassle than pulling out paints and water and brushes and…… well it’s hot and I’m whiny.

Each month I start out expecting only the best and yet, when I get closer to the date I find myself saying, “That’ll do”.

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

[tuscanny Moderator oil pastels]

A4. A combination of 2 photos as the building used to be a milking shed long ago.

Christel

[LisaInOregon]

What a great cow face. I know that look… “I’m waiting! I know you’re there!”
It’s lovely.

I’m just back and maybe having time to paint… but it’s too late to start for this month, alas. An interesting challenge.

C&C welcome, the more incisive the better...

[RoadLessTaken, Sheila in Philadelphia]

As I mentioned before, I left out the cars that pass on the street between my window and that brick wall. And a car, dozens of cars parked on either side of the one way street.

The wall in beige is a huge loft building with dozens of windows on every side. The garden we see is actually the gardens ( 10′ by 15″ of each house down either side.) I am very fortunate to face the gardens instead of a wall or an alley gate. There are 7 small gardens on either side with a wall splitting them down the middle. The houses all have back terraces and bay windows but not if I look look only straight on.

The window itself has twice as many panes and 7 arches at the top but it was just too much to paint and made everything seem so busy so I took artistic license. And curtains or not there is always a cat peeking out, at least one but often all three.

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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