The 'Calendar Challenge': 12 monthly paintings of the same view.

[Plein Eire Administrator]

With winter approaching it gets harder to arrange successful paint-outs so here's a little challenge to do on your own and post the results to the website. We also have a number of overseas members and this is something everyone can take part in if they wish.

The idea is an adaptation of Kevin Macpherson's 'Reflections on a Pond' project in which he painted the same view on every day of the year, taking 3 years to complete his task. I'm suggesting you choose a motif near at hand - even a view from your window - to paint one painting each month, starting in November 2011. The aim would be to try and reflect the different moods of the year, so perhaps something with a bit of greenery in it would be good, but it is up to you. Of course, you can also vary the times of day etc.

Each month you upload your painting, you should save the uploaded image to a separate album within your Plein Eire  Artwork Gallery and mark that album 'Calendar Challenge' or something like that to distinguish it from your other uploaded images

To do this, Click the 'Paintings' tab, select 'My Portfolioss' and click 'Add Portfolio' which you title appropriately as you want. Title the painting uploaded by the month, so we will know this is part of your series done for this project, so the first one you post will be 'November'.

Only your 12 calendar paintings should be in that album so we can list the links to those albums here in one location and anyone interested can browse through them to see the progress of your project. If you want to do more than one view, open a separate album for each set of 12 paintings.

Remember, if you need to skip a month for any reason, just carry on regardless - its the exercise that matters. There is no prize or winner for this one - but no limit on pleasure or reward!

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Ok, here are some of the 'Calendar Girls' and boys (perhaps 12 Angry Men, The Dirty Dozen or 12 Monkeys??? ) who are up for a challenge :

Midge Ace

Norah Blount

Ann Cahill

Lynda Cookson

Donna Louise Crook

John Cullinan

Siobhan M. Dempsey

David Diaz

Sally Downey

Philip Dundon

Kevin Freeney

Alison Fox

Laura Gibney

Terence Gillespie

Norma Healy

Esther Heffernan

Lize Human

Maeve Hunter

Elaine Hurst

Margaret Kent

Rita Lett

Kevin Lewis

Greg Long

Barry Lynch

Denise Kevany

Michael Keogh

Mary McDonnell

Dee McKiernan

Jane Meyler

Deirdre Moriarty

Mary O'Carroll

Mary O'Dowd

Maura O'Halloran

Lori Putnam (Scene One)

Lori Putnam (Scene Two)

Tony Robinson

Karen Scannell

Annemieke Schenkels

Tom Scott

Svetlana Starikova

Louise Treacy

Alberto Valentini

Deirdre Walsh

Liz Walsh

 - If you want to join them, sign up by replying to this Forum and we'll add your name and put links to your Calendar Album on here. November is the first month, so be thinking of your chosen spot. As Dee McKiernan points out, it will be tough to paint something 12 times and make it interesting. On the other hand, it may free you to emphasise the mood and atmosphere, the temperature and the light as it has Kevin Macpherson. Hopefully, that will be the case but we'll enjoy the adventure of finding out and encouraging each other in this project throughout the coming 12 months. 

Any questions before we begin?

Good luck to everyone and happy painting!

 

[Sally Downey]

I didn't realise how difficult it would be to choose a view.  Must it be a view of the outdoors or could it be an interior.  I was thinking of my cooker.  It changes all the time depending on what clothes etc are drying on it or at it.  It makes a great drawing exercise. And its a comfortable location!

[Plein Eire Administrator]

Could be the germ of a novel cookbook idea? :

..."Sally's Seasonal Recipes, with illustrations of the household laundry"

sally downey said:

I didn't realise how difficult it would be to choose a view.  Must it be a view of the outdoors or could it be an interior.  I was thinking of my cooker.  It changes all the time depending on what clothes etc are drying on it or at it.  It makes a great drawing exercise. And its a comfortable location!

[Kevin Freeney]

Still scouting for a location, but I'm game.

(Note to neighbours now that hunting season is here; I may be game but not a pheasant so make sure before you shoot)

[Lize Human]

we should post this note in the local paper - we will all be scouting out somewhere!

[Elaine Hurst]

Hunting season here too.  Best not to go into the woods right now, and when deer season starts.  

[Karen Scannell]

How's everyone doing on this challenge?? Is it harder / easier than you thought? have you picked a scene, but haven't got round to painting it yet. What media are you thinking of using? 

Let's help each other out on this one, so we can achieve our goal for the year :)

[Norah Blount]

Looking for a view that will have interest all year, water and trees so am off out next week for some scouting probably in Liffey Valley area around Lucan/Leixlip as there are some hidden gems there if you are willing to walk to find them !

Karen Scannell said:

How's everyone doing on this challenge?? Is it harder / easier than you thought? have you picked a scene, but haven't got round to painting it yet. What media are you thinking of using? 

Let's help each other out on this one, so we can achieve our goal for the year :)

[Elaine Hurst]

I am going to use my pastel painting of our front garden for my first piece for this challenge.  I'm not all that happy with it, but I will hopefully see improvement as the months go by.  I am planning on sitting inside and doing a couple of paintings from an upstairs window, looking down on the scene. 

[Karen Scannell]

Great!..hope you won't have too far to trek....then again you' ll be even fitter at the end of the twelve months!! 

Norah Blount said:

Looking for a view that will have interest all year, water and trees so am off out next week for some scouting probably in Liffey Valley area around Lucan/Leixlip as there are some hidden gems there if you are willing to walk to find them !

Karen Scannell said:

How's everyone doing on this challenge?? Is it harder / easier than you thought? have you picked a scene, but haven't got round to painting it yet. What media are you thinking of using? 

Let's help each other out on this one, so we can achieve our goal for the year :)

[Karen Scannell]

We'll look forward to seeing the changes throughout the year Elaine! What type of tree are these?

Elaine Hurst said:

I am going to use my pastel painting of our front garden for my first piece for this challenge.  I'm not all that happy with it, but I will hopefully see improvement as the months go by.  I am planning on sitting inside and doing a couple of paintings from an upstairs window, looking down on the scene. 

[Midge Ace]

It is hard to pick a spot as got quite a few to choose from round here .. so decided to go somewhere I have passed through many times in the car, but this time stopped for an hour or two to explore at the weekend and think have found a gem of a place. Thinking might have a try at doing 3 in pastel, 3 in watercolour, 3 in acrylic and 3 in oil depending on the weather and time available. Think it will be interesting to see the variation of the results in the different media to capture the seasons. When I get a moment will photograph and post my first sketch in pastel from the weekend or I may go out there again and give it another try before the end of the month ;-)

[Midge Ace]

Thanks for the suggestion .. yes may try a few sketches per month (time permitting) and choose one from the set. Think it will also be interesting to see my interpretations on different days/weather conditions.

Best regards

Midge

Plein Eire Administrator said:

Hi Midge,

 Nothing to prevent you doing a few views in November to start with and narrowing it down to the one you like best in successive months.  Discovering which view most reflects the seasons, as it were, may be interesting and instructive in itself? ...If you have the time.