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.