Welcome to June ...

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 by Russell Drysdale with "Children Playing with ball 1976".

CRITERIA - Children playing

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

A little about Russell Drysdale ...

Sir Russell Drysdale AC (1912-1981), painter, was one of the first Australian artists to examine the complex relationships between the landscape and inhabitants of inland Australia, Russell Drysdale attained international status for the distinctly ‘Australian’ character of his work. His depictions of Aboriginal people, small town dwellers and rural workers isolated within a harsh and dramatic environment were in stark contrast to the dominant imagery of the Australian landscape as a land of pastoral plenty. He developed eye trouble in 1929, and had to leave boarding school for the first of many eye treatments which left him fearful of total blindness. He went to art school in 1935. In 1938 he took his family to Europe, and studied art in London and Paris, sharing a studio there with Peter Purves Smith, with whom he had gone to school. Having returned to Australia, over the course of the 1940s he produced a series of melancholy, foreboding works - including The Rabbiters, West Wyalong, The Drover's Wife, Sofala and The Cricketers - which not only laid down the terms of reference for most subsequent depictions of the landscape, but came to be seen as key representations of the Australian spiritual condition. In 1962 Drysdale's son took his own life; Drysdale's wife, inconsolable, did the same in 1963. In 1964 Drysdale and his second wife, Maisie, a lifelong friend, built a house in the Bouddi National Park, not far from Tallow Beach. A period of stability followed, and Drysdale was able to produce a further body of significant work over the next fifteen years.

And now some inspiration from our team ...

(in no particular order)

Karen Brierley - (Australia)

Tanya Heritage - (Australia)

Oh my goodness, as soon as I saw that the criteria was children playing I knew instantly that I had to use these photos. I thought big brothers are supposed to protect their little sisters not torment them with the hose.

Karen McLaughlin - (Australia)

It always feels good capturing the moment when kids are laughing.

Annemarie Caister - (New Zealand)

I chose some photos of my son when he was at preschool, using Kaisercraft Fiesta paper range, did some fussy cutting, distressing, inking and hey-presto!!! Quick and easy! I loved using the bright colours in this range.

Sharon Bishop - (Australia)

My Jarred, Prep/Grade 1 - 1992 PVCS Plenty Valley Christian School

Dale Tiernan -  (Australia)

I thought that I would add two projects, one for each son. Both are playing ball games.

Jane Howden - (Australia)

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 May winners.