Hello 2018 ...

Welcome to a brand new year on ARTastic. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, spent quality time with your family and friends and are ready to get back into some crafty time for yourselves.

Our first inspiration for 2018 is this fantastic painting by Arthur Streeton called Beach Scene.

CRITERIA - Use vacation photos

A little about Arthur Streeton ...

Arthur Streeton was born on 8 April 1867 at Mount Duneed, Geelong, Victoria, the son of a schoolteacher. He took night classes at the National Gallery School, Melbourne, from 1882-87 and for two years during that time he worked as an apprentice lithographer with George Troedel & Co., Melbourne.

In the summer of 1886 Streeton met Tom Roberts and Frederick McCubbin, and subsequently joined their painting camps around Heidelberg and Box Hill, on the outskirts of Melbourne, where they were also joined by Charles Conder. Streeton exhibited about forty small plein air paintings in the ’9 × 5 Impressions’ exhibition of 1889. He moved to Sydney in 1890, where he became known for his lyric views of the area around Sydney Harbour and heroic landscapes of the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury River.

In 1897, Streeton left for England, breaking his journey with a stay in Cairo and Naples. While living in London he visited Italy and France and made several return trips to Australia. He admired the landscapes of Constable and Turner, as well as those of Philip Wilson Steer.

During the First World War Streeton served as an orderly at the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, and was subsequently appointed an official war artist, working in France. He finally returned to Australia in 1923, where he painted sunny, pastoral landscapes – which were appropriated in the cause of a conservative nationalism. In 1929 he became art critic for Melbourne Argus . He campaigned to preserve native forests, and sought better urban planning for Melbourne. After his wife’s death in 1938, Streeton retired to Olinda where he devoted most of his time to his gardening and listening to music. He died on 1 September 1943 at Olinda, Victoria.

And now some inspiration from our team ...

Judy Willey - Australia

I was inspired by the beach theme of the painting. The beautiful textures of the water and waves inspired my mixed media background too

Tanya Heritage - Australia

I choose the yellow and red colours from the people’s clothes to use with my Fijian holiday snap shot.

Karen McLaughlin - Australia

Tone Jensen - Norway

 I was inspired by the blue and light yellow colors....and water of course

Kat Gray - Australia

I made a pocket page inspired by the beach themes and the title of the artwork.

Elaine Schoof - Australia

I went with the beach theme like the painting.

Jane Howden - Australia

I picked out the blue and yellow from the painting and used some photos from a driving holiday my family did around Tasmania a few years ago.

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 January Prize

Second January 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 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 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 December winners.