Linzé Brandon's Blog, page 8

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step I - designing the composition (part 2: incorporating a theme)

Designing a composition based on an existing painting, to incorporate another theme, or style, requires some planning. And artists plan visually – digging out sketchbooks is the next step.

    Thumbnails, ie small drawings or paintings, are typically used to flesh out ideas. I do my version of that. I have a small sketchbook, A5 landscape size, that I use for either experimenting with new ideas or mediums or exploring ideas for a composition. I prefer the smaller size sketchbook to limit myself f...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step H - designing the composition (part 1: what’s in a theme)

 

As mentioned in previous posts, the competition has a prescribed theme: take one of the paintings of the old masters and interpret it with an African theme.

I thought, hey, this is easy right? And was I in for a surprise. Unlike the Baroque or Renaissance era, or the Impressionism and Surrealism styles, there is no such thing as African themed art. Historical African art was created for practical applications, e.g. decorating a home, or for religious/spiritual items, e.g. masks. Art was not crea...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step G - choosing the masterpiece (part 3: ask a friend)

 

After hours of staring at my first choice of paintings on my screen, I narrowed it down to eight and then three. Then I had to pick one. Sure, I can paint more than one and then decide later, but my time is severely limited: a heavy workload, the final edits to do on my next novel, I am working on another two books, and a few more art projects including commissions. So, I had to commit and the sooner the better.

But I was stuck. I loved the final 3 I chose. So I “phoned” a friend. I belong to an...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step F - choosing the masterpiece (part 2: the shortlist)

When you see the paintings that made the final round of judging, and the winners of 2023, you will notice that they are all portraits, or figure paintings. So I thought that maybe I should do that. Problem is that I don't like painting people. This will also make it more difficult to find a painting of the old masters to use, because they don't speak to me.

But...then I found a few. Which surprised me, I have to say. So which one to choose? Which artist, style or period? Like many things with opt...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step E - choosing the masterpiece (part 1: the artist)

 This competition has a theme, like most competitions do. And this year the theme is to take a painting from one of the masters and do it with an African theme. Or Baroque to braaivleis as the website says.

For my non-South African readers, braaivleis is Afrikaans for a BBQ, but it is the context that is relevant here, not the act of cooking, ie the theme is something (South) African. Weird, I know, but hey this is art, right?

This theme requires some out-of-the-box thinking, because the old maste...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step D - the fun rules

Since the competition is advertised on social media, ie Instagram, it goes without saying that some social media interaction is allowed. Blog posts like the ones I am sharing this month, where I share my process, but not the details, are allowed.

And so is sharing the details of the competition from the gallery to get the word out for more artists to take part. So yeah, please feel free to share my posts, but also check out the website and Instagram account of the gallery, for more information. S...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step C - early bird registration

 

Yes, I love a good deal as much as the next person, so when the AGAC2024 competition administrator mentioned a discount for early bird registration, I was all over it. The registration fee is more than just reasonable to be honest, but if you love buying art supplies (and who doesn't 😉) saving a few rands will be well spent on the next tube of paint for sure. LOL!

    It is not just about saving a few rands, but by registering I am committing my time and energy to see this project through.
    I ...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step B - the rules...what not to do

No one likes rules, so much, but entering any competition forces you to comply to the rules if you want to stand a chance of winning. Art competitions are no different.

Aside from complying with the requirements for size of the artwork, any medium restrictions, there are rules for the submission itself, and limitations on social media sharing. The last one should be the first rule any participant would comply with, because no one would want their work or their ideas at least to be copied. Crying ...

A-to-Z blog challenge: Step A - setting the tone

       As mentioned in the theme reveal, my posts will be my planning steps for the AGAC2024 art competition. This post explains what my posts will contain for this blog challenge.
     Since these posts are about an art competition, there are some things that I may or may not do, including not actually showing what I am painting. I will use some of my artwork to explain my thoughts, but the actual submission may not be shown until the competition's organisers allow it.
     I will talk about the r...

Theme reveal: My A-to-Z blog challenge 2024

 

It's been a while since I have taken part in the blog challenge. The problem is always coming up with new ideas so it isn't boring to me. This year I decided to change things up a bit, and it has the added benefit of blogging about something I will be doing this year: taking part in another art competition.

I took part in the AGAC (ARTi  Contemporary Art Gallery & Interiors) in 2023, and decided to take part again this year. Given the style and theme requirements of the competition, there is som...