October winners ...

Thank you for all your amazing entries based around our inspiration from Grace Cossington Smith with The Window 1956.

CRITERIA - Please use FRAMES

Our main prize winner this year will be selected by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience or your country of residence. If there are more than 8 entries in the month a second prize (donated each month by one of our team) will be drawn.

Main Prize

and our winner is ...

LULA

Second Prize

(drawn if more than 8 entries)

Donated by Dale Tiernan

and our winner is ...

KAREN GUY

Could the winners please contact me on artasticchallengeblog@gmail.com with their postal address.  Please remember it is the winners responsibility to claim their prize and provide their details.  You have until the announcement of the winners for next month to do so. 

Please don't forget to enter this month's ARTastic challenge. All the details are in the left sidebar. Remember you have until the end of the month to submit your entry.

Welcome to November ...

We are now making it even easier to enter our challenges - use our inlinkz gallery on the left or click onto our new Facebook public group (ARTastic challenges) and put your entry directly into our monthly album under photos.

This month our inspiration comes to you from Kristin Hardiman with "Stream out of the barriers".

CRITERIA -  Black and White

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

A little about Kristin Hardiman ...

Kristin Hardiman is one of Australia’s leading portrait, equine and seascape artists.

Kristin holds a Diploma Fine Arts and Education from the Alexander Mackie College of Advanced Education (now The University of NSW Art and Design) and has been working as a professional artist and teacher for nearly 30 years and is an Exhibiting Member of the Portrait Artists Australia.

Kristin’s work is varied and not limited by media that includes oils, gouache, watercolours, lead and coloured pencil, charcoal, pen and ink. She has taught full and part time with the Department of Education for over 15 years and tutors in her home studio, Sydney Art School and conducts specialist workshops.

And now some inspiration from our team ...

(in no particular order)

Karen McLaughlin - (Australia)

Tanya Heritage - (Australia)

I had so many photos I could use with racehorses in them but this is my favourite. Our boy strapping our horse at Moonee Valley.

Dale Tiernan -  (Australia)

Sharon Bishop - (Australia)

Annemarie Caister - (New Zealand)

This is me as a child!! I loved horses, especially foals. The photo was taken by my Late Father who was a horse racing photographer for 50 years.

Karen Brierley - (Australia)

I took my inspiration from the horse theme. I printed my photograph in b/w, and used all black & white papers and embellishments. Tip: Check out the 'B' side of double-sided papers. Many patterned paper collections or paper pads include at least one black & white design.

Jane Howden - (Australia)

I have gone with the "racing" theme and used a photo of my son competing at a local swimming carnival from a few years ago.  I kept this page very simple as I wanted the photo and the words to speak for themselves.

Our main prize winner this year will be selected by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience or your country of residence. If there are more than 8 entries in the month a second prize (donated each month by one of our team) will be drawn.

Main Prize

Second Prize
(drawn if more than 8 entries)

Donated by Karen McLaughlin

Over to you ......

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT or click onto our new Facebook public group (ARTastic challenges) and put your entry directly into our monthly album under photos by 11.55pm on the last day of the month - please remember we are an Australian based challenge so please check your day and time. You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges. Please include our inspirational picture and challenge details on your blog post as well as providing a link back to us at ARTastic. You may enter more than once in any month as long as each submission is with a different creation. International entries are very welcome.

Please call past on the 15th for our announcement of our October winners.

October highlights ...

There is still time to play along with us this month. We'd really love to see your layout based on our inspiration from Grace Cossington Smith with The Window 1956.

CRITERIA - Please use FRAMES

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

We have enjoyed all of your amazing entries but here are just a couple which have caught our eye over the past few weeks ...

LULA

MAUREEN

We'd love to see your work too so please come and join in with us.

September winners ...

Thank you everyone for your wonderful entries based around our inspiration from John Murray with Hear No Evil.

CRITERIA - Use humour in some way

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

Our main prize winner this year will be selected by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience or your country of residence. If there are more than 8 entries in the month a second prize (donated each month by one of our team) will be drawn.

Main Prize

and our winner is ...

CATHY

Second Prize

(drawn if more than 8 entries)

Donated by Sharon Bishop

and our winner is ...

MAUREEN

Could the winners please contact me on artasticchallengeblog@gmail.com with their postal address.  Please remember it is the winners responsibility to claim their prize and provide their details.  You have until the announcement of the winners for next month to do so. 

Please don't forget to enter this month's ARTastic challenge. All the details are in the left sidebar. Remember you have until the end of the month to submit your entry.

Welcome to October ...

We are now making it even easier to enter our challenges - use our inlinkz gallery on the left or click onto our new Facebook public group (ARTastic challenges) and put your entry directly into our monthly album under photos.

This month our inspiration comes to you from Grace Cossington Smith with The Window 1956.

CRITERIA - Please use FRAMES

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

A little about Grace Cossington Smith ...

Grace Cossington Smith OBE (1892-1984) was an artist who was at the forefront of the Australian modernist movement. Born and educated in Sydney, she studied drawing with Dattilo Rubbo at the Royal Art Society of New South wales between 1910 and 1912. After two years spent travelling in Europe, shere she was inspired by post-impressionism, she returned to continue her studies with Rubbo. Sock Knitter (1915), painted while Cossington Smith was still a student, is considered a key picture of the Australian modernist movement. She was a member of the Contemporary Group (established in 1926 by George Lambert and Thea Proctor to foster young modern artists) and worked closely with modernists Roland Wakelin and Roy de Maistre. However, her contribution to Australian art went largely unrecognised until 1970 when a retrospective of her work, organised by Daniel Thomas, toured Australian galleries. Cossington Smith, who has come to be recognised as a major 20th century Australian painter, produced a large and consistent body of work that is distinctive in its vibrant use of colour, representation of volume and space, and concern for the objects of everyday life. She is best known for her domestic interiors and images of the Harbour Bridge during its construction. Cossington Smith is represented in the National Gallery of Australia and in all the state and many regional galleries.

And now some inspiration from our team ...

(in no particular order)

Sharon Bishop - (Australia)

A collection of family cat photos...from left 'Astro' (dec), Uncle Pusskins, cousin Cruiser, 'Kimba (little brother to Astro) and Aunt Tabby-tha

Annemarie Caister - (New Zealand)

I used the new Dusty Attic chipboard frames and Mintay papers.

Karen Brierley - (Australia)

I used a cardstock frame to some drama to a landscape photograph.

Karen McLaughlin - (Australia)

Tanya Heritage - (Australia)

I thought an outdoor photo worked well with the inspiration painting. The first thing I saw in the painting was the trees.

Dale Tiernan -  (Australia)

Jane Howden - (Australia)

I added a frame to showcase the photo and used the orange based colours from the artwork.

Our main prize winner this year will be selected by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience or your country of residence. If there are more than 8 entries in the month a second prize (donated each month by one of our team) will be drawn.

Main Prize

Second Prize
(drawn if more than 8 entries)

Donated by Dale Tiernan

Over to you ......

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT or click onto our new Facebook public group (ARTastic challenges) and put your entry directly into our monthly album under photos by 11.55pm on the last day of the month - please remember we are an Australian based challenge so please check your day and time. You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges. Please include our inspirational picture and challenge details on your blog post as well as providing a link back to us at ARTastic. You may enter more than once in any month as long as each submission is with a different creation. International entries are very welcome.

Please call past on the 15th for our announcement of our September winners.

September highlights ...

There is still time to play along with us this month. We'd really love to see your layout based on our inspiration from John Murray called Hear No Evil.

CRITERIA - Use humour in some way

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

We have enjoyed all of your amazing entries but here are just a couple which have caught our eye over the past few weeks ...

JULENE

GLORIA

We'd love to see your work too so please come and join in with us.

August winners ...

Thank you everyone for your fantastic entries based on our inspiration from Grace Crowley called Abstract.

CRITERIA - Use shapes (any) on your entry

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

Our main prize winner this year will be selected by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience or your country of residence. If there are more than 8 entries in the month a second prize (donated each month by one of our team) will be drawn.

Main Prize

and our winner is ...

BARBARA

Second Prize

(drawn if more than 8 entries)

Donated by Annemarie Caister

and our winner is ...

MARIA

Could the winners please contact me on artasticchallengeblog@gmail.com with their postal address.  Please remember it is the winners responsibility to claim their prize and provide their details.  You have until the announcement of the winners for next month to do so. 

Please don't forget to enter this month's ARTastic challenge. All the details are in the left sidebar. Remember you have until the end of the month to submit your entry.

Welcome to September ...

We are now making it even easier to enter our challenges - use our inlinkz gallery on the left or click onto our new Facebook public group (ARTastic challenges) and put your entry directly into our monthly album under photos.

This month our inspiration comes to you from John Murray with Hear No Evil.

CRITERIA - Use humour in some way

Please remember - You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges only.

A little about John Murray ...

I am a realist painter working in the medium of acrylic paint on canvas and paper. Whimsical photo-realism is one way to describe my approach to painting. On a technical level I place a priority on addressing the light source in a realistic way. No matter how indulgent I am with parodies of birds and human behaviour, there is always that attention to light and shadow. My work is constantly evolving and I enjoy contrasting serious landscape studies with whimsical caricatures of birds and other creatures.

When I arrived out here (Lightening Ridge NSW) as a city artist, my first impression of the landscape was the simplicity and clarity of my surroundings. Over the years I have been trying to capture the energy and beauty of such a seemingly "nothing there" landscape.

I try to convey the endearing qualities of country life by drawing on everyday situations, human folly, places and scenes that are a familiar part of life in the bush. Anyone who has driven inland from the coast 800 kms or more gets that sense of vastness, the harsh and dusty beauty of the landscape. The light has a different quality to it, due to the lack of pollution and moisture, there is an intensity of colour that, as a painter, continues to inspire and challenge me.

And now some inspiration from our team ...

(in no particular order)

Sharon Bishop - (Australia)

My Grandaughter 'Skyla' trying to be a dinosaur inbetween giggles!

Tanya Heritage - (Australia)

I love the big eyes in the inspiration artwork and thought this photo would be perfect, a little silly but hey that's us!

Dale Tiernan -  (Australia)

Karen Brierley - (Australia)

It's been a while since I played around with digital elements. I used a template by Two Tiny Turtles to kickstart this layout, featuring my husband pulling faces. Full digital credits on my blog.

Annemarie Caister - (New Zealand)

A fun layout which got me reminiscing about how my (now) 17 year old son loved to hide and climb!

Karen McLaughlin - (Australia)

Jane Howden - (Australia)

Nothing quite like some sudsy fun!

Our main prize winner this year will be selected by random draw - so anyone could be a winner, no matter your style or your level of experience or your country of residence. If there are more than 8 entries in the month a second prize (donated each month by one of our team) will be drawn.

Main Prize

Second Prize

(drawn if more than 8 entries)

Donated by Sharon Bishop

Over to you ......

Please upload the DIRECT link to your actual entry with the link tool on the LEFT or click onto our new Facebook public group (ARTastic challenges) and put your entry directly into our monthly album under photos by 11.55pm on the last day of the month - please remember we are an Australian based challenge so please check your day and time. You may combine your entry with 3 other challenges. Please include our inspirational picture and challenge details on your blog post as well as providing a link back to us at ARTastic. You may enter more than once in any month as long as each submission is with a different creation. International entries are very welcome.

Please call past on the 15th for our announcement of our August winners.