Welcome to July ...

Our July inspiration comes to your from Roger Kemp with a piece called Untitled.

CRITERIA - Use pen on your work in some way

A little about Roger Kemp 

After completing three years of study at the National Gallery of Victoria's School of Painting, Roger Kemp remained aloof from the art world for a decade, troubled by the vitriolic reaction of conservative creative circles to the new concepts of abstraction and artistic experiment. His paintings from this time were smaller scale and landscape and figure based, before becoming more abstracted and symbolic, inspired by modern music and dance. In 1944 he held his first solo show at Velasquez Gallery in Melbourne - at that stage the only gallery that would exhibit modern art. An exceptionally high number of inclusions in major group shows through the 1950s established Kemp's name among the great modern Australian painters. During this time, painting in enamel on masonite, his work moved towards non-objective abstraction, whilst tying in symbolic uses of colour and composition. In 1970, at age 62 - his reputation at its height - the Kemp family moved to London. There he produced a major series of small scale pastel and ink drawings, and shared a studio with Bridget Riley and Peter Upward where he began painting on paper on a large scale, employing the 'all-over' composition he is best known for today. Kemp remained an active, productive and respected artist and teacher in Melbourne until his death in 1987, being awarded an OBE and installing four monumental tapestries of his paintings in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria, where they remain today below Leonard French's stained glass ceiling.

And now some inspiration from our team ...

Tanya Heritage - Australia

I liked the straight likes on the painting so decided to draw straight lines in between the brick stencilling on my layout.

Tone Jensen - Norway

I have just enjoyed making my own background with water and Distress Ink and then I drew a line around. Here Daniel is waiting for the Christmas lights to light up. We are outside the county museum at Strømmen 1. advent 2007.

Kat Gray - Australia

Here's my pocket page inspired by the pink colour and the sketchy black lines. I've used pen to outline some elements and to add journaling.

Judy Willey - Australia

The geometric lines in the painting inspired me to use me of randomly angled papers to back my photo. I have used a fine point pen to outline all the layers.

Karen Brierley - Australia

I used a stencil and art pen to create my background, then I used pink and peach sprays to create a colour scheme similar to the inspiration piece.

Karen McLaughlin - Australia

I have used pen around the edges of the page and also around the edges of the cardstock behind the photo.

Jane Howden - Australia

I have created circles in pen and also took inspiration from the limited colour scheme of 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 Jane Howden

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. No blog? No problem!  You can also add your entry to our gallery on our Facebook page.

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