Artistic Polar Bear Challenge: 100 Ways in 100 Days. #20 - Limited Brushstrokes

And now for the second in our "Stop Futzing And Loosen Up Already!" series.  This idea was inspired by a tutorial I read on Wet Canvas, although I can't find the original post.  The gist of the idea was this:

• Set up a simple still life subject. 
• Draw three 4 X 4 inch squares on the substrate of your choice.
• In the first square, create a simple line drawing of the subject.
• In the second square, create the line drawing again.  Now paint the drawing in grayscale using no more than 40 brushstrokes.
• Create the drawing again in the third square.  Paint the drawing in color, using no more than 80 brushstrokes.

Simple, fun, and educational, right?  I'll skip the drawing and color parts of the tutorial, and just do the painting in grayscale.  Since I'm doing a 5 X 7 study instead of a 4 X 4, I increased the usable brushstroke number from 40 to 60.

Limited Brushstroke Bear

Acrylic on paper
 

As far as I was concerned, as long as the brush didn't leave the paper, it counted as only one brushstroke.

Which accounts for all the long, strange, squiggly strokes.

I called it done at 58.  The signature initials don't count.  Hey, it's my rules.  :-)

Artistic Polar Bear Challenge: 100 Ways in 100 Days. #19 - Time Challenge

And now for something completely different.  Gleaning inspiration from The Twenty Minute Challenge, I decided to test my speed brush skills.  Given that these studies are small (5 X 7), a ten-minute time limit was set.
 

Ten-Minute Bear

Acrylic on paper

Normally I'm a consummate paint dabbler, fussing and putzing 'til the piece is on the verge of being overworked.  There's nothing like an kitchen timer ticking away at your elbow to put that little habit to rest.  I used a half inch brush for the study, with one pile of white paint and one pile of black on the palette.  I judged the value, mixed it slightly on the palette, then put paint to paper.  The study was finished with about fifteen seconds to spare.  Admittedly exhilarating, and a wonderful loosening-up exercise.

Artistic Polar Bear Challenge: 100 Ways in 100 Days. #18 - Palette Knife

We've explored a few different media and substrates, today it's a different method of application: the palette knife (taa-daa)!  This one will be a full value study so I can focus on handling rather than tone; I've never painted with palette knives before.

Let's start with a couple of values, and the chosen implements of destruction application.

The knives initially felt totally foreign and clumsy. It reminded me of my first attempt to use chopsticks at our local sushi restaurant.  While my friends ate and chatted, deftly handling their chopsticks with a seemingly unconscious ease, I was focusing on my Philadelphia Roll with predatory concentration, desperately trying to assuage my hunger by getting a bite of anything to my mouth.  When my chopstick-wielding hand finally cramped up completely and welded itself into the shape of a crab claw, I resorted to popping sushi into my mouth with my other hand when no one was looking.  Thankfully, my chopstick finesse has greatly improved since then.

The knives became more comfortable as the study progressed, and I enjoyed dabbing, pulling and scraping the paint around.  The method almost demands a thick application of paint, and I was happy to oblige.

Palette Knife Bear

Acrylic on paper

This turned out to be quite a hoot to do.  I'll have to take the knives out for another spin in the future.

And, hey...no brushes to wash!

Artistic Polar Bear Challenge: 100 Ways in 100 Days. #17: Midrange Values with Accents

Yet another variation on the value theme, albeit with a much looser style this time.  Sometimes it just feels good to squish blobs of paint around with abandon.  I'm actually learning things from these little studies, and am now starting to understand the reasons artists will do them when planning a painting.  In this example, the upper left part was painted a dark value, not completely black as has been done before.  I like how that little change really shifts the focus onto the bear's face, where the full white/black contrast really draws the eye. 

Midrange Bear

Acrylic on paper

I'm going to lead you off the bear path for a moment, and share with you something I found pretty spectacular.  Sit back, grab a snack or a cup of coffee for this one, this is going to be one verbose post.  I'll say this to start:  if copious amounts of cash ever came into my possession, and I didn't have to work a 40 hour week to help keep a roof over our heads and kibble in the dog bowls, and I was able to pursue any interest that struck my fancy, then the occupation line on my business card would read "Artist/Backyard Imagineer/Stormchaser". 

The 'artist' part is self-explanatory.  'Backyard Imagineers' are a legion of everyday people who endeavor to create 'Disney-esque' effects in their very own home.  Google 'backyard imagineers', and you would be amazed at the home-grown creativity of these folks.  So far, I have limited my Imagineering projects to Halloween props, and the limitations only come from lack of space to store the created items the other 364 days of the year.  I've designed my own tombstones, some with animated effects and lighting, and have plans for more.    The future goal is to have an entirely home made graveyard, with ground-hugging spooky fog and lighting effects.  Nothing bloody or gory that would send the candy-craving little kiddies to therapy for the next decade, just a slightly eerie graveyard with a whimsical bent.

The 'stormchaser' title is also somewhat self explanatory.  I am an avowed 'storm-aholic'.  I love the feel when a thunderstorm is approaching, with the smell of rain in the air, and the electric feel of the atmosphere.  We enjoy sitting out in our sunroom when a storm is passing, listening to the rain and wind and watching the lightning.  Alas, our poor dogs don't share our enthusiasm, and either hide behind the couch, or retreat to the basement.

The other night was perfect for brewing thunderstorms: a warm, humid air mass being hit by a cold front. I happened to be out and about when a line of severe storms cropped up just to the south of where I was. And whaddaya know, I also happened to have my camera with me. The storms were the type where the lightning was so frequent it looked like paparazzi camera flashes at a celebrity red carpet event.  I set my camera to video, and stuck it out the truck window.  This is a sampling of what transpired:

Each photo is one frame of video, equal to about 1/30 of a second, so the entire series you see above took about 1/3 of a second in real time.  The details would have flashed by far to quickly to be seen by the naked eye, but they show up beautifully here.

I sat there in that truck for quite a while, just watching in awe.  Mother Nature sure knows how to put on one helluva spectacular show.

Artistic Polar Bear Challenge: 100 Ways in 100 Days. #16: Four Value, Low Key

Another variation on the four value theme.  This one could aptly be titled "Polar Bear Out For A Stroll On A Moonlit Night".

Four Value Low Key Bear

Acrylic on paper