Get Inspired & Creative with Art Challenges! (free online class)

Let's Try Something New:
An Online Class on Inspiration and Creativity with Art Challenges!

I recently taught a fantastic class on art challenges and inspiration at Art and Soul (scroll down and you can find lots more about my trip). I enjoyed the class so much that I started thinking...hmmm...wouldn't this be a fun class to teach online? So, let's do it!!! I'm excited!

Over the next 9 weeks, I'm going to teach you how to expand your creativity through fun art challenges. With all of the art challenges I'm going to hit you with....the key is to get into the process and not focus on the end result too much. In these art challenges, you're not trying to create amazing art...you're just trying to get in touch with your creativity. For this reason, I will not be picking winners for these art challenges. Instead, my kitties will! Each week, my cute kitties will randomly pick 3 winners and those 3 winners will get to pick 3 free ARTchix sheets of their choice. Cool, eh?

So, let's begin!!!

Art Challenge #1 (of 9): Get inspired by Pattern!

First, dig out your supplies:
We're going to focus on circles and dots as our pattern to explore. So, dig out a big sheet of watercolor paper (or even better: a spiral notebook with 9" x 12" watercolor pages), your favorite pens, pencils, paints, etc. and all the circles you can find.

I pulled out my watercolor crayons because I can't live without them, watercolor pencils, Sharpie markers, hole punches, circle template, round rubber stamps and Ancient Page (I like how its waterproof...good when combining with watercolors), page protectors, decorative polka dot papers, etc.

.....

Next, draw your grid lines (I used a watercolor crayon). And then start playing with all of the supplies you pulled out. Don't think too much. Just play. Don't worry about making it pretty and having the colors coordinate, etc. Just have fun making circles and dots.

Here's what I did:
In the top left, I made the dots with nailpolish on top of a watercolor wash. Below that are circles I made using a Sharpie and my handy dandy circle template.

Below that is a piece of green polka dot scrapbooking paper that I randomly colored in a few of the dots with blue crayon.

Middle column, top: More drawing with a Sharpie and watercolor wash. Below that is gold german flowers that I circled with watercolor pencils. I want to try circling more objects to make patterns...will be fun.

Bottom of the middle column is dots made using sequin waste. I used acrylic paint and a makeup sponge and used the sequin waste as a stencil. Fun!

Top right is a rubber stamp that I colored in with crayons. And the other 2 on the right column are more Sharpie drawing with watercolor washes.

Again, the key with all of this is to just have fun playing with dots and circles. Put on some fun music and play, play, play.

About the process:
Warning: once you do this art challenge...you may become obsessed with polka dots and you'll start seeing them everywhere you go. This is a good thing! Don't question it...continue to stretch your creativity thinking of how to make cool polka dot patterns and go for it whenever you can.

Keep in mind, you can work on filling up your grid all in one sitting. Or you can wake up each morning this week and set a time limit of a favorite song or two and then fill in 1-2 sections every day. Your choice....whatever is most comfortable for you.

How To Play in This Art Challenge: Make a grid and fill it with dots and circles.

Then scan it and post it online to your blog, flickr account, website or our YahooGroup (Photos section: "Helga's Blog: Weekly Art Challenge").

Next, click on "Comments" at the bottom of this post and leave a note with a link to your art challenge grid so I know where to see it online and if you can, please let us know what your favorite way to create dots and circles was. (Let's learn from eachother too!) In addition, please link back to my blog. 

Deadline: Tuesday morning, October 20, 2009.

Prizes: My cute kitties will randomly pick 3 participants and they will each get to pick 3 free ARTchix sheets of their choice! Hooray!

Comments

[Jan DeBellis]

Sounds like Portland was a ball....someday I'll get there! I'm thinking about it for 2010! In the meantime, I like this new challenge and your inspirations. Just the thing to kick start the old brain. SO, I'm getting out my supplies and hope to produce something fun in the next few day.

Jan DeBellis
Colorado

[susi]

Fun challenge - please take a look. I ended up having to piece them together since my scanner bed couldn't get the whole thing in one. Here's the link: http://susicreates.blogspot.com/2009/10/circles.html

[Melisa Waldorf]

What a cool challenge!! I love it! I'm so glad I ran across your blog and subscribed!! I will try and play along!

[Jan DeBellis]

I'm going to post mine on the YAHOO GROUP. Since I don't BLOG anymore, I'll post there instead!

[Peggy B]

OK....My first challenge.....
- I finally had a chance to use my stencil of various circles. What fun!
- I also had fun playing with my Markers.

And it was a challenge to create only circle art. Helga came up with a great idea and I am looking forward to what else she has up her sleeve!!
I uploaded my first Flickr piece. Seems Flickr has been waiting there for me for a few years to upload something...lol

[Carol A]

Here's my offering. It was quite a challenge to stick to the circles. I am looking forward to the next challenge.

http://traveller2006.wordpress.com/2009/10/17/helgas-circle-challenge/

Carol

[Joy Meadows]

This is a fun challenge, Helga!

Here is mine:

www.fifisdaughter.blogspot.com

Thanks!!

[Sabine Busch]

Thank you for this challenge!
My dots ans circles are here:

http://stempeltanz.blogspot.com/2009/10/art-challenge-1-of-9-get-inspired-by.html

Sabine

[Linda]

I lost sleep as I saw this challenge post at the end of night and could hardly wait to start!!! Posted mine in the Yahoo group folder. Each block is a different technique but the bottom was cut off a bit due to the size. I made them big enough that I could make copies and use them for ATC backgrounds.Can't wait for the next one!!!

[Angie Hall Haviland]

Thanks so much for the FUN Challenge, Helga!! I took it...was lots of fun!!

http://angiehallhaviland.typepad.com/angiesartfulllife/2009/10/inspiration-and-creativity-art-challenge.html.html

[Gena Boone-Curtis]

Made mine....had fun, spent a lot of time adding layer upon layer. Can't wait for the next lesson!
http//www.grbc123.blogspot.com
Gena :)

[Marion]

My circle grid is here:
http://bockel24.blogspot.com/2009/10/circle-grid.html

[Christa]

My dots and circles you can find here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14257786@N05/4026824053/

[Cat Dodt-Ellis]

I posted mine to my file folder on ArtChix, couldn't post to the photo folder, here's a link:

http://tiny.cc/914kS

This was such fun!!!

[Laura Bill]

Hi Helga, what a great challenge! I really look forward to next weeks installment!
Laura
http://lunabellaoriginals.blogspot.com/2009/10/helgas-online-class-of-art-challenges-1.html

[Libby Baldwin]

I love the idea for this and the class. Due to traveling this week and next, I will have to do "circles" on my own, as well as the next week's homework, but will be caught up by week 3. Thank you for inspiring and guiding us! :)

[Cindy McMath]

What a fun challenge Helga - I bet your class was just the best! One of these days hopefully I'll make it to one of these events. My challege is on my blog.

Cindy :)

[lenna]

Here is mine, Helga : ))

http://creativelenna.blogspot.com/2009/10/circle-challenge.html

xo lenna

[Carol Stocker]

Helga, I didn't meet the deadline but thought you might like to see what I created. What a fun challenge, Helga. Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs, Carol http://spiritsjourneydesigns.blogspot.com/2009/10/last-week-on-my-artistic-life-helga.html

[Buddhini]

I also couldn't meet the deadline. But really enjoyed doing this challenge.

http://buddhini.blogspot.com/2009/10/helgas-art-challenge-1-of-9.html

Thanks for your inspiration :)

[Bonnie Ashurst]

Helga,
I have posted my #5 collage fallowing your instructions. It was so much fun, especially playing with the color crayons and wet paint brush.
I have attached my favorite things on a small branch from my garden. I also snuck in a little drawing of my Gracie at the bottom of the page.
She IS my favorite thing.
Looking forward to #6.

Bonnie