I know there's still nearly a fortnight of 2009 to go, but as many people get so busy with the "happy holidays" I thought I'd open submissions for the Favorite 2009 Painting Photo Gallery now already. So, of all those you painted in 2009, which painting is your particular favorite, and why? Share a photo of your painting and tell us about it using this online submission form. (If you happen to paint something between now and the end of the year that you decide is your new favorite, feel free to submit that too.)

Granulation medium, texture medium, and iridescent medium.

• Gift Ideas for Artists
• What's the Best Art Gift You've Ever Received?

^{Photo © 2009 M Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc}

"I find your projects interesting except for the writing part. I come here to paint not write. Having to write a story on each project makes no sense. How about changing that to optional for those who do not want to waste time?" -- D.G.

The short answer: No.

The long answer: It's not a waste of time. The reason you have to supply a statement about a painting is that learning to talk about your paintings, to put into words the what/why/how, is part of developing as an artist and learning to critique your own work. It doesn't want to be in artspeak or jargon, plain and straightforward English is preferable for clear communication. Read more...

"...the art trade brings with it certain prejudices ... particularly ideas that painting is a gift --- well yes, a gift, but not as they make it appear; one must reach out and take it (and that taking is a difficult thing), not wait until it manifests itself of its own accord. ... one learns by doing.

"One becomes a painter by painting. If one wants to become a painter, if one has passion, if one feels what you feel, then one can do it, but this can go hand in hand with difficulty, worries, disappointments, times of melancholy, of powerlessness and all that."

Letter by Van Gogh to his brother Theo, 16 October 1883.

See Also:
• Myths About Being an Artist
• 22 Mistakes to Avoid When Painting

^{Image: © 2009 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc}