24 Days of Painting - Art Advent Calendar Challenge
Why participate in an Art Advent Challenge?
Honestly, my biggest challenge as an independent artist is creating my own plan, schedule, and goals. I am a teacher by trade and although I had a ton of autonomy in planning and was able to express my creativity, I also had the curriculum and school calendar as clear guides. I knew what was expected, when, and how.
Self employment is different. I needed to push myself to get back into the workflow outside of commissions, and into the habit of painting daily. Doodlewash had the perfect monthly prompt lists to get me started.
A secondary goal was to create a holiday body of work to use as greeting cards to sell in 2022.
Please let me know if you would like any of these paintings to be made into a tutorial, or if you have any favourites you’d love to see included in the holiday card selection.
Day one - Prompt: Pinecone
On the first day I painted using a dot card of handmade paint from an Etsy shop I’d purchased from years ago, Gardenia Fair. The colour was called Pompeiian Red.
I did a rough pencil sketch first, then painted loosely in a few layers to get the depth in values I needed. There is also a small touch of red for the cheeks and splatter. Finally, I tried for a sketchy outline using fine-liner.
Day two - Prompt: Poinsettia
I often paint Sea Turtles, so with this one I did a creative nod to my Submerged series by including one as part of the flower.
The metallic Spectrum Noir marker is more luminous in person than could be captured by the scan.
I like the 3D illusion created here. Illustrative styles aren’t my usual, and I was pushing my comfort zone with every painting this month.
Day Three - Prompt: Tree
One of the first watercolour type mediums I purchased were the Brusho Paint Powders.
I was primarily into coloured pencil work at the time, and figured they would make for fun and splashy backgrounds. I’m not sure of their lightfastness, so I rarely use them for originals, but they’re ideal for artwork that is intended to become a print or card!
I masked out the white of the tree and then used a spray bottle, the powder, and some loose brushstrokes.
Day Four - Prompt: Baubles
For this one I planned out the location of the ornaments first, then loosely painted them with Isaro Watercolours, letting them do their thing. I purposely made blooms (that texture within) by dropping water onto the still damp paint.
Finally, I finished it off with Spectrum Noir sparkle silver paint pen. Again, the scan doesn’t do it justice!
Day Five - Prompt: Candle
This one was painted awhile back, pre-challenge. December 5th was a loaded day where I was out of the home until late at night so I had to make do with something I already had.
This one won’t be available as a card because I believe it was based on a tutorial, and I always like to be completely honest with my work and only sell what is mine.
Anyway, isn’t Indigo a gorgeous colour?!
Day six - Prompt: CandyCane
I scanned this before and after outlining it. To compare and see which you prefer, you can check them out on my Instagram page.
I had so much fun bringing this idea to life, though I think I would be more daring with my colour choices if I were to do it again.
Materials: Jackson’s watercolours on Artist’s Loft Paper (99% of these are done on the 140 lb Coldpress pad of Artist’s Loft Paper)
Day Seven - Prompt: Robin
This was painted at a hockey arena during my daughter’s practice. Sometimes sticking to my goal required flexibility!
I’m happy with how I was able to layer on this affordable paper. It wasn’t the same as pure cotton, but excellent considering the price.
