HH4 challenge # 9

I had to go out of town unexpectedly before I started this challenge, so I'm the guilty party that held the up the Hilton Head 4 postings for challenge #9.  Maria provided the reference photo this time.  I love this this young lady with her wonderful red purse, heavy sweater and boots admiring Renoir's "A Girl with a Watering Can" (1876).  

Some days a title comes to me before I even start a painting and sometimes I'm blank.  I was in the blank mode when I finished this one, but decided since it has felt like Mother Nature skipped spring almost everywhere this year.  I am still hoping spring will still visit us so I decided I'd name this painting "Looking Forward to Spring."

"Looking Forward to Spring"

9x12” oil on canvas

 

Maria Bennett Hock

"I am Blue", oil on RayMar

Lulu and Chris had super busy schedules this challenge and decided to give iPad painting a try.  I think they turned out great.  Isn't technology wonderful?  We can now paint anywhere with no fuss or muss in a pinch.  I have to get one of these aps. 

Christine Werst

iPad painting

"Just a Glance", iPad painting

Regula Scheifele

Challenge #5 - Beau Roux

This is #5 for the HH4 as we affectionately call the Hilton Head 4 challenge.  It was Regula "Lulu" Scheifele's pick.  Lulu sent us a number of pictures she took in Paris.  I'm so envious.  All the photos were great.  Picking one was a challenge in itself!  I loved this gal's gorgeous red hair, so as they might say in Paris, Beau Roux!  

Beau Roux 
8x8" oil on RayMar panel

Paris in the Pink!  

 Maria Bennett Hock 

Paris à Deux Regula Scheifele

Chris Werst

#4 - Hilton Head 4 - Talkin Bout My Gull

This is Challenge #4 for the HH4 as we affectionately call our challenge group, so it’s time to start the cycle over again. Next pick will be dealer's choice and doesn't have to be a picture taken at the beach.  I'm looking forward to seeing Lulu's next pick.  

I had been reluctant in the past to do challenges.  As much as I am enjoying them now, I'm sorry I didn’t start sooner.   A challenge with friends works well for me, because I don't want to let my friends down by missing a deadline.  That's a push I need.  Challenges take me outside my comfort zone and try subject matter I probably would have avoided in the past. 

The challenges have helped me not to be so married to a reference photograph.  Now I try to think about how I can crop or change it to make it a composition that will be different, but still reflect the subject matter.  I initially painted the middle gull with its head tucked back and then did something I need to do more. I didn't like it, so I painted out the head and did it over again facing the other way. 

A big thanks to my husband for helping name this painting.

Talkin Bout My Gull,  8x10" oil on canvas board

Artist Chris Werst

Chris provided the photograph for challenge 

Of Course I know the Way, 8x10" oil on board

Artist Maria Bennett Hock

mariahock.blogspot.com

Jonathan C. Gull, 8x8” oil on board

Artist Regula Scheifele

www.regulascheifele.blogspot.com