Dina Wakely and Samantha Kira are two very accomplished art journalers living in Arizona. And they have hatched a wonderful challenge.
You can read all about it here. Essentially, they are challenging you to get out of your art journal and start playing on canvas! The challenge is to complete two canvases (larger than 8×10) each week. Click here to see what I did for week one and here for week two.
This week I'm in Maine. We're right on the water and I brought some canvases with me thinking that the ocean might provide some unique inspiration.
Meh.
I mean, the ocean is totally spectacular! Look at this killer view:
But when I sat down to paint the rocks or the waves or even the pool…nothing happened. I got total creative block. But rather than spend my precious creative time kicking myself for not being able to get inspired, I did exactly what I do when I get stuck in my art journal: I worked on backgrounds!
Backgrounds are easy because they don't require you to do any thinking or planning. You just do what feels and looks good without any thought about the story or composition. Love that!
So here are two backgrounds.
I have to decide what to put in the foreground now. I'm thinking some collage. I'd like to do something ocean-beachy, but I'm not sure what. I need some time to percolate.
Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine! Those backgrounds look great. I love circles. Trying to work some chevrons into my artwork. I like how bold and uniform they are. Have a great time – I know you’ll come up with something great.
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine! Those backgrounds look great. I love circles. Trying to work some chevrons into my artwork. I like how bold and uniform they are. Have a great time – I know you’ll come up with something great.
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine! Those backgrounds look great. I love circles. Trying to work some chevrons into my artwork. I like how bold and uniform they are. Have a great time – I know you’ll come up with something great.
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine! Those backgrounds look great. I love circles. Trying to work some chevrons into my artwork. I like how bold and uniform they are. Have a great time – I know you’ll come up with something great.
BEAUTIFUL work! I love it!
Ruth xo
BEAUTIFUL work! I love it!
Ruth xo
BEAUTIFUL work! I love it!
Ruth xo
BEAUTIFUL work! I love it!
Ruth xo
I just returned from 11 days in Maine. It took me ten days to get inspired to do a landscape, but I made tons of background pages! Funny, isn’t it? But I’m glad I kept trying and finally made one landscape.
Enjoy your trip. I wish I was still there…
I just returned from 11 days in Maine. It took me ten days to get inspired to do a landscape, but I made tons of background pages! Funny, isn’t it? But I’m glad I kept trying and finally made one landscape.
Enjoy your trip. I wish I was still there…
I just returned from 11 days in Maine. It took me ten days to get inspired to do a landscape, but I made tons of background pages! Funny, isn’t it? But I’m glad I kept trying and finally made one landscape.
Enjoy your trip. I wish I was still there…
I just returned from 11 days in Maine. It took me ten days to get inspired to do a landscape, but I made tons of background pages! Funny, isn’t it? But I’m glad I kept trying and finally made one landscape.
Enjoy your trip. I wish I was still there…
Even if you left those as is, they would be awesome! Please post pics of how you finished those pieces up!
Even if you left those as is, they would be awesome! Please post pics of how you finished those pieces up!
Even if you left those as is, they would be awesome! Please post pics of how you finished those pieces up!
Even if you left those as is, they would be awesome! Please post pics of how you finished those pieces up!
Where are you staying? I’ve not seen a place so close to the water!!
Where are you staying? I’ve not seen a place so close to the water!!
Where are you staying? I’ve not seen a place so close to the water!!
Where are you staying? I’ve not seen a place so close to the water!!
Hey Julie, of course those backgrounds are really great! Love the chevrons especially – any mark you make in this life is a mark that never existed before! My parents & I visited Boothbay Harbor up there for several years, Maine is such a great state for clearing the cobwebs. I love sailor’s bracelets, homemade fudge & lobster rolls from there. Eclectic taste? Meanwhile I’m waiting patiently for The Ink Pad to receive a new stock of your stencils so I can add them to my art supply hoard.
Hey Julie, of course those backgrounds are really great! Love the chevrons especially – any mark you make in this life is a mark that never existed before! My parents & I visited Boothbay Harbor up there for several years, Maine is such a great state for clearing the cobwebs. I love sailor’s bracelets, homemade fudge & lobster rolls from there. Eclectic taste? Meanwhile I’m waiting patiently for The Ink Pad to receive a new stock of your stencils so I can add them to my art supply hoard.
Hey Julie, of course those backgrounds are really great! Love the chevrons especially – any mark you make in this life is a mark that never existed before! My parents & I visited Boothbay Harbor up there for several years, Maine is such a great state for clearing the cobwebs. I love sailor’s bracelets, homemade fudge & lobster rolls from there. Eclectic taste? Meanwhile I’m waiting patiently for The Ink Pad to receive a new stock of your stencils so I can add them to my art supply hoard.
Hey Julie, of course those backgrounds are really great! Love the chevrons especially – any mark you make in this life is a mark that never existed before! My parents & I visited Boothbay Harbor up there for several years, Maine is such a great state for clearing the cobwebs. I love sailor’s bracelets, homemade fudge & lobster rolls from there. Eclectic taste? Meanwhile I’m waiting patiently for The Ink Pad to receive a new stock of your stencils so I can add them to my art supply hoard.
The chevrons are great because they’re unexpected and unusual. The colors you used makes it feel very beachy already – they feel like rooflines of those little beach cabanas that are usually all different colors, lined up in a row. Anyway – GREAT backgrounds.
The chevrons are great because they’re unexpected and unusual. The colors you used makes it feel very beachy already – they feel like rooflines of those little beach cabanas that are usually all different colors, lined up in a row. Anyway – GREAT backgrounds.
The chevrons are great because they’re unexpected and unusual. The colors you used makes it feel very beachy already – they feel like rooflines of those little beach cabanas that are usually all different colors, lined up in a row. Anyway – GREAT backgrounds.
The chevrons are great because they’re unexpected and unusual. The colors you used makes it feel very beachy already – they feel like rooflines of those little beach cabanas that are usually all different colors, lined up in a row. Anyway – GREAT backgrounds.
Just linked here from KP’s blog…..your art is incredible! And after the “rejection” post (which is hard to believe….!!) I’m glad I have never submitted anything anywhere! Love the chevron piece especially- can’t wait to see how you finish it (I think it looks finished now!) Beautiful!
Just linked here from KP’s blog…..your art is incredible! And after the “rejection” post (which is hard to believe….!!) I’m glad I have never submitted anything anywhere! Love the chevron piece especially- can’t wait to see how you finish it (I think it looks finished now!) Beautiful!
Just linked here from KP’s blog…..your art is incredible! And after the “rejection” post (which is hard to believe….!!) I’m glad I have never submitted anything anywhere! Love the chevron piece especially- can’t wait to see how you finish it (I think it looks finished now!) Beautiful!
Just linked here from KP’s blog…..your art is incredible! And after the “rejection” post (which is hard to believe….!!) I’m glad I have never submitted anything anywhere! Love the chevron piece especially- can’t wait to see how you finish it (I think it looks finished now!) Beautiful!
I was in Maine earlier this summer (Mt. Desert Island) and I think the ocean and cliffs are so spectacular and overwhelming, I can’t even imagine painting them. I took lots of pictures though. Your backgrounds look fantastic though. Have a fun vacay!
I was in Maine earlier this summer (Mt. Desert Island) and I think the ocean and cliffs are so spectacular and overwhelming, I can’t even imagine painting them. I took lots of pictures though. Your backgrounds look fantastic though. Have a fun vacay!
I was in Maine earlier this summer (Mt. Desert Island) and I think the ocean and cliffs are so spectacular and overwhelming, I can’t even imagine painting them. I took lots of pictures though. Your backgrounds look fantastic though. Have a fun vacay!
I was in Maine earlier this summer (Mt. Desert Island) and I think the ocean and cliffs are so spectacular and overwhelming, I can’t even imagine painting them. I took lots of pictures though. Your backgrounds look fantastic though. Have a fun vacay!
These are both super but I’m a circle girl so that one is my favorite. It’s was interesting to read your thoughts on the background because for me it’s hard to know what color to start with. I need to relax more and enjoy the process and just let it happen I think. Thanks for sharing and hope you show the finished work.
These are both super but I’m a circle girl so that one is my favorite. It’s was interesting to read your thoughts on the background because for me it’s hard to know what color to start with. I need to relax more and enjoy the process and just let it happen I think. Thanks for sharing and hope you show the finished work.
These are both super but I’m a circle girl so that one is my favorite. It’s was interesting to read your thoughts on the background because for me it’s hard to know what color to start with. I need to relax more and enjoy the process and just let it happen I think. Thanks for sharing and hope you show the finished work.
These are both super but I’m a circle girl so that one is my favorite. It’s was interesting to read your thoughts on the background because for me it’s hard to know what color to start with. I need to relax more and enjoy the process and just let it happen I think. Thanks for sharing and hope you show the finished work.
These are super yummy! Love.
These are super yummy! Love.
These are super yummy! Love.
These are super yummy! Love.
We were staying at a house in Kennebunkport. 🙂
We were staying at a house in Kennebunkport. 🙂
We were staying at a house in Kennebunkport. 🙂
We were staying at a house in Kennebunkport. 🙂