The intention of these painting projects is to encourage you to explore new subjects and techniques, to challenge yourself. Note that all paintings submitted will be deemed to be available for critique, though comments will not always be given.
You'll notice each month also lists projects from previous years. You're obviously very welcome to tackle these painting projects too. If submissions are still being accepted for a project, there will be a link to the online submission form on the page. Another option for feedback is to post a photo in the projects folder in the Painting Forum.
January Painting Project 2012: 3 Colors
Photo ©2012 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.
Previous January Painting Projects:
• Monochrome
• Chromatic Black
• Limited Color Palette (lemon yellow, phthalo blue, burnt sienna)
• A Color and Its Complementary
February Painting Project: Love Symbolism
Photo © Marion Boddy-Evans
This challenge of annual painting project is to create a painting or card to give to someone you love. Read project instructions...
Previous February Painting Projects:
• Scribble Painting
• Expressive Self-Portraits
• Expressive Figures
• Expressive Portraits
February/March Painting Project 2012: Moods
Photo © Marion Boddy-Evans
The challenge of painting project is to paint the sense of a mood in a figure. Read instructions...
Previous Painting Projects:
• Inside a Forest
• Big Brush Painting
• Knife Painting (Open Subject)
• Knife Painting: Essence of a Season
• Trees
• Clouds and Cloudy Skies
• Changing Seasons
• Portrait of a Flower (with photos of setup)
• Painting Done from Sketches or Studies (open subject)
April/May Painting Project 2012: Abstracting Nature
Image © Jean McConnell
Last year it was geometric abstracts, the year before that a nod to the style of Georgia O'Keeffe with abstracted flowers. This April/May takes us into abstracting nature. Read the project instructions...
Previous Painting Projects:
• Geometric Abstracts • Abstracting Flowers
• Abstracting Nature
• Abstracting a City Scene
• Abstracting an Urban Scene
June/July Painting Project 2012: Painting Done from Sketches
Photo © Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.
This project will be similar to the Painting Done from Sketches or Studies in that you need to include a photo showing your sketches or studies when planning the composition, as well as the photo of your final painting. This year's subject is seasons, and be sure to read the instructions before submitting a painting.
Previous Painting Projects:
• Impressionist Sun Painting Project
• Urban Transportation
• Unusual Angles
• Realistic Water Drops
• Landscapes
• Children's Book Illustration
• Summer Amusement
August Painting Project 2012: Still Life
Photo ©2011 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.
August is still life month. Last year the challenge was to paint a still life with at least one paint tube. Watch this space for details of this year's still-life challenge.
Previous Still Life Painting Projects:
• Paint Tube Still Life
• Still Life with Two Objects
• Still Life with Fruit
• Still Life with Blue
• Still Life With Red
• Still Life Featuring a Chair
September Painting Project 2012: Miniature
Photo © Deb Griffin
Buy Direct:
• Blank Miniature Canvas
• Miniature Brush: Sable, Synthetic
Previous September Painting Projects:
• Miniature Landscapes
• Miniature Still Life with Five Objects
• Miniatures (Open Subject)
October Painting Project 2012: In the Style of...
Photo ©2010 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.
Last year's "in the style of" project took a look at the still life paintings of the Italian artist Morandi. Watch this space for details of the 2012 "in the style of" project.
Previous October Painting Projects:
• Still Life in the Style of Morandi
• In the Style of LS Lowry
• In the Style of Matisse
• In the Style of Whistler
• Tribute to Van Gogh
November Painting Project 2012: Mixed Media
Photo ©2011 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.
Previous November Painting Projects:
• Using Color Expressively (Like a Fauvist)
• Moods
• Mixed Media: Open Subject
• Linocut Printing
December Painting Project: Holiday Cards
The December project that runs from year to year is to Make Your Own Holiday Cards to send out. Find out more here...New this year will be a project to create a 2011 calendar featuring paintings you've made. Watch this space for details...
Suggestions for Future Projects
• Planned Painting: Clouds (or "visual weather diary" recording skyscapes on different daysmaking notes of the wind/rain/temperature as Constable did).
• In the Style of... a Colourist.
• Candle Flames
• Analogous Colors
• Emotions
• Still Life with Yellow (seeing we've had red and blue)
• Doors (closed, partially open, secrets behind...)
• Interior views from one room into the next
• Design a symbol for a signature, like Whistler's butterfly, Durer.
• Still Life with Shoes
• Fabric/ folds
• Ovals/ellipses
• Still life with found objects
• Bunch of Flowers/Pot Plant
• Take a picture, divide it into sections, people to paint different sections, then reassemble it from all the separate components and posting the final result.
• Nonsense paintings: flowers in a toaster, a cow in a swing, or an upside-down skyscraper.
• Elements of the Periodic Table
• Small, single still life object on a large table, like The Rose Marble Table Matisse, or Giacometti's apple.
• Still life with a bowl.
• Use only primary color glazes.
