Colorado Gold

Jenni Twidle

Sylvia Young

Roger Akesson

Charlotte Tanner

Barbara Benik

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Colorado is famous for its autumn foliage; aspen trees in the high country change to golds, oranges and reds. It seems this year things are a bit ahead of schedule. I managed to grab some photos this week with the trees at their prime, not more than 30 minutes west of Denver proper.

Colorado Gold

It's a beautiful time of year, and the temperatures are practically balmy in the mountains.  Who knows how long that will last, for in Colorado we say that if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute.  It's always changing!

 I hope this photo inspires you in your art work.  Happy painting!

Remember to follow the "Rules of the Road" on the right and send me your images as an attachment to your email.  The October challenge will be posted about Sunday,October 21, 2012.  Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.  

An Abundance of Berries

Judy

Helen Eaton

Sylvia Young

Jean Nelson

This month's inspiration photos (there are two) were taken from one of those accidental still lifes that caught my attention.  At the market, I could not resist these organic fruits - strawberries and blackberries.  After washing them thoroughly (even though they were labeled ORGANIC), I set them out onto paper towels to dry.  I thought the sunlight on them made an interesting dynamic, so I snapped a few photos.  Paint all of the berries, or just do a portrait of one...

Ready to Eat

Ready to Eat, Too

I did adjust the lighting some in "Ready to Eat" so that I could see more detail in the shadows.  As you can see, the light paper towel picks up the blues and reds of the berries that also create purple-to-red-purple hues.

By the way, those blackberries were the sweetest, most delicious I have ever tasted!  Yum.

Remember to follow the "Rules of the Road" on the right and send me your images as an attachment to your email.  The June challenge will be posted on Sunday June 10, 2012.  Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.   Happy Painting!

March 2012: Still Life With Dark Field

Jean Nelson

Sylvia Young

I taught a still life workshop in February, and the group created three arrangements to work from.  After a series of thumbnail sketches, each artist settled on one to develop further into a finished piece of art.

Still Life on Dark Drape

Good luck to you all with this painting challenge!  Remember to follow the "Rules of the Road" on the right and send me your images as an attachment to your email.  The April challenge will be posted on April 1, 2012.  Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.   Happy Painting!

February 2012: Tiger By The Tail

Rebecca Wang

Sylviane Le Cann

Nora Macphail

Sylvia Young
 

Beti Abel

Jenni Twidle

Pat Koscienski

Loretta Sampson

 Charlotte Tanner

The Denver Zoo welcomed quadruplet Amur (Siberian) tiger cubs on May 31, 2010 (The Year of the Tiger).  I had hoped to get some shots of the little furballs while they were still tiny, but time flies and they now are 20 months old.  Still, they are so beautiful, and I was able to get this full-on shot of one of them a couple of weeks ago.

Tiger by the Tail

Good luck to you all with this painting challenge!  Remember to follow the "Rules of the Road" on the right and send me your images as an attachment to your email.  The March challenge will be posted on March 4, 2012.  Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.   Happy Painting!

A Time Out

If you tuned in yesterday to see the next challenge, you found that I haven't posted it yet.  Needing a bit more time with family and some new projects that have developed, I'll be putting something together at a later date.  I plan to return with a new challenge image within the next few weeks.  You can still email me images of your completed pieces that I will continue to post on the blog.

I can't believe that two years have passed since I began the Studio Atelier painting challenge blog.  I hope you have found inspiration in the photos I've posted so far.  I have enjoyed seeing the many different artistic views you have submitted for each of the challenges.

May you all have a happy and properous New Year filled with lots of painting time!  Cheers!

December 2011: Paint A Collection

Jean Nelson

Sylvia Young

 

 Murillo S. Romeiro

 Loretta Sampson

We are in the middle of holiday decorating, and these nutcrackers are waiting their turn to be put on display.  Paint them all or just a few; it's up to you.  Or, perhaps you have your own collection of something you want to paint.

Nutcrackers

Remember to follow the "Rules of the Road" on the right and send me your images as an attachment to your email.  The January challenge will be posted on January 1, 2012.  Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.   Happy Painting!

November 2011: Autumn Still Life

Submittal Deadline: Sunday, December 4, 2011

11:59 pm MST

A 4-week challenge

Sherry Bevins

Bernard Victor

Nancie Johnson

Sylvia Young

Renate Arends

Jean Nelson

It was fun for me to see what your animals look like!  Keep on painting your pets, and I will continue to post them here if you send them in.

Cold and snow brings us back to the indoor studio, and it now is time to paint a still life. 

Here is an earthenware pitcher with ponderosa pinecones positioned in several views onto a woven tapestry.

Pitcher and Pinecones

If the monochromatic color theme doesn't work for you, feel free to modify it as you like; I kept the pitcher empty as there is a lot of pattern or texture going on with both the fabric and the pine cones. You might want to add a bouquet to the pitcher for additional height.

You will have four (4) weeks to work on this challenge.  Remember to follow the "Rules of the Road" on the right and send me your images as an attachment to your email by December 4, 2011, when you also will be able to see what I have in store for you for the December challenge. Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.

October 2011: Paint Your Pet

Submittal Deadline Extended: Indefinitely
Keep on Painting! 

Pet Portraits will continue to be posted if you send them in.
We love our feathered/furry/scale-y/etc friends!

Rebecca Wang

Jenni Twidle

Murilo S. Romeiro

Sherry Bevins

Dianne Lanning

Charlotte Tanner

Beti Abel

Nancie Johnson

Sylvia Young

Loretta Sampson

Renate Arends

Karla Uphoff

Barb Benik

Great job on the Rocky Mountain National Park assignment!

I am going to change up your painting challenge this month and invite you to paint your pet.  I'm including a photo of my dog that you can use in case you don't have a pet yourself.  Sometimes the shapes in a black animal are difficult to see, so feel free to substitute another pet if you wish.

Black Dog in Snow

There is no deadline for you to submit to this challenge, so keep painting your pets.  We all love our animal friends! Thanks to everyone who participates, and good luck.