April challenges

 Paint and Draw together - a sign of spring Tulip painted in acrylics

Rookie - There are two posts this month because their challenges are three weekly so every now and again the challenges come in the same month,and not overlapping into the next.The first picture wasn't posted in time for the dead - line but I decided to finish it anyway.

The rose was finished in time. At the moment with quite a few challenges on the go I am working in acrylics, however I don't find that I achieve the finesse in that media that I would like.

A Day not Wasted - A rather impressive statue. I worked this one in pencil/charcoal with a watercolour wash. It was only a small study as I have been knitting for the imminent arrival of my fifth grand child.

Studio Atelier - another complex still life study, but one I really got into.
Barb has set up another challenge site which I shall be working with, this site has no deadlines, so it can be quite useful if you get bogged down with lots of challenges and other distractions.

March Challenges

 

This month two of the challenges were about food.As there have been several cookery programs,I decided to put both together.Kiwis and Oranges make a very refreshing salad.

 The Studio Atelier challenge was a very complex arrangement.In the end I pulled out a few of the items to paint leaving the others for another time.

 An ink and wash. When I put this on the Day Not Wasted Site it came up very wishy washy so , I put another layer of colour on to make it have more guts.( I'm not very happy with the paper quality ,so I shan't use that particular pad again )

Finally ,another food subject.The pears looked delicious,so going with the culinary theme I added blue cheese and a glass of Perry. (Perry is a sparkling wine made from pears.)

February Challenges

 Kettle and apples for the Rookie site .Painted in oils .I had a great deal of trouble making the apples look like apples , they wanted to look like last months' tomatoes.

The Ponte Vecchio was the challenge for a day not wasted , painted in pen and wash.

February Challenges

 This was the first attempt at the Studio Atelier Tiger

My second attempt was to get the head looking down , but the head is more upright than the first! I must work more on the angles of the head.  Worked in pastels.

A New Year 2012 - January Challenges

A pencil sketch for A Day Not Wasted, I felt there was a lot of character in his face, and probably many stories to tell.

I think this oil painting for Paint and Draw together was my favourite subject this month. I made it have a Provencal feel, which I hope comes across.

Studio Atelier offered a selection of nutcrackers for the challenge and I worked this one in pastels.

The last one this month was for Rookie challenge, and was the study of a creamer with spools of cotton inside, worked in oils, I just had to insert the reason ,  - someone making a rag doll.

Christmas and New Year Greetings

I would like to wish all those who have visited my site ,
a big thank you, a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Your thoughts and encouragements have been a great spur when sometimes it hasn't worked as I would have liked. I have enjoyed the "challenge " of each challenge, attempting scenarios that were out of my comfort zone.

I am looking forward to next year ,and i enjoy looking at your web-sites ,it is really interesting seeing the variety of styles one challenge can produce. A phrase they use on Strictly Come Dancing, is Keep Dancing! All I can say is Keep Painting!!!!!!!
All the very best for 2012,
Luv Syls x

November and December Challenges

The last challenge of the year was an upside down yellow rose, posted by Paint and Draw Together. I wanted to add some drama so I added the dog-tags and painted it in acrylics giving bold colours to an emotional subject

 I added some holly to give this challenge a little more colour. Pen and wash, Studio Atelier

 I enjoyed this challenge as it reminded me of summers in France. Pen and wash for A Day not Wasted.

 

Pen and wash, for the Rookie site.

I can't believe another year has passed, but I look at the Challenges I have attempted and feel I have certainly been stretched, and have found the subjects so different and some I wouldn't have thought to have tried without the impending deadline!!!

Well it's goodbye to the to the Old year and hello to the New one , bring it on!!!!!!!