Comments on: Preparing For The Challenge: 31in31 Fast Approaches! https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/ Info, opinion, and training on how to pastel with artist Gail Sibley BFA, MA Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:54:49 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54927 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 18:54:49 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54927 I'm happy to hear the process is stimulating - as you say, it's an opportunity to try out new ways of painting. I'm very keen to know how you made out because without external accountability, the going can be much tougher!]]> In reply to Nancy Malard.

Hey Nancy, and how did that 1:1 commitment go? Did the ironing wait?? I sure hope so lol. It should always wait as far as I’m concerned 🀣
I’m happy to hear the process is stimulating – as you say, it’s an opportunity to try out new ways of painting. I’m very keen to know how you made out because without external accountability, the going can be much tougher!

]]> By: Nancy Malard https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54218 Mon, 09 Oct 2023 12:52:11 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54218 Hello Gail,
I have chosen to do it on my own, having no Facebook or other social media. So it’s a commitment between me and myself. The ironing can wait! Have divided as you suggest into weeks. Last week was fruit, working in series. This week, trees. Next week??? I find it immensely stimulating. We get to use unfamiliar colors, try different papers, other techniques (alcohol..) make discoveries!
And perhaps use these little formats can become a basis for bigger adventures.
thank you for organizing this!
Warmly
Nancy Malard

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54180 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 23:25:03 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54180 In reply to Christine.

That all sounds fantastic!!!

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54179 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 23:24:28 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54179 ]]> In reply to Chris Williams.

Chris, really, it’s up to you. However, the purpose of the Challenge is to get pastel to paper each day and not worry about the result. That’s why we aim for 31 paintings through the month.
Posting is in the HowToPastel Facebook group OR you can post on your own social media (Facebook? Instagram?) to keep you accountable. Remember to sue the hashtag #31in31htp2023 so we will find them 😁

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54178 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 23:22:25 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54178 ]]> In reply to Mary Beth Sasso.

Well good for you getting five done a week Mary Beth! And here’s to completing the week with two more! πŸ’ͺ

]]> By: Chris Williams https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54122 Mon, 02 Oct 2023 16:18:10 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54122 Hi, I will join the challenge if it is OK to have a day where I am doing an underpainting for pastel the next day or spend a couple of days on one large painting?
If not, no worries, I will have my own challenge to be painting or sketching daily this month. I have a lot of ideas and need to spend time daily to put pastel to paper. I want to experiment with different underpainting techniques. Thank you. Not sure where to post?

]]> By: Christine https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54121 Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:19:22 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54121 In reply to Gail Sibley.

Thank you for the words of wisdom. It is about doing for sure. And I am determined.
I want to keep it simple so I will use one piece of fruit, but a different one each day. But great idea to line them up so I am ready. Flowers will have to be from photo as not many left live in the garden, but I will have them picked out.
And I will do my best to do something while traveling , although 2 of the days will be 12 hours in a car, but the other 2 will be with family and they are supportive so I think they will enjoy me doing some pastels at their house

]]> By: Mary Beth Sasso https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54114 Mon, 02 Oct 2023 04:06:05 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54114 HI! I’m in for this challenge. I teach pastel classes remotely for a college and I complete 5 per week so I’m challenging myself to have one done every day! Some will be studies and some will be small works. Thank you for this exciting event!

]]> By: Gail Sibley https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54105 Sun, 01 Oct 2023 15:12:54 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54105 In reply to Christine.

Hi Christine, First of all bravo to jumping into the Challenge! Remember it’s all about you and your growth as an artist. This is an opportunity to really did into your pastels. It’s always easy to passively watch others teach and demo as you’ve said but it’s our own doing that moves us forward. Which is why the 31in31 Challenge is sooooo helpful. It can be scribbled sketches – it’s about pastel to paper. Daily. That’s it. It IS a commitment especially as we work around life – like you’re travelling. I’m visiting family these first few days and then next weekend which is Thanksgiving in Canada. But sneak away and make those quick sketches. That’s what I am going to do today!

And yes, having a plan of what to work on is HUGE!! It’s easy to get to a day and when you don’t have any idea what to paint, let the day slip by. I like your plan! Now, think about what you might explore with each genre. Are you going to paint the same image (photo?) each day ie create a developing series? Or perhaps different ones? Get them lined up and ready to go for the week. This way each morning you get up and know what you will paint.

You can do this!!

]]> By: Christine https://www.howtopastel.com/2023/09/preparing-for-the-challenge-31in31/#comment-54089 Sat, 30 Sep 2023 21:48:48 +0000 https://www.howtopastel.com/?p=28461#comment-54089 I will do the challenge. This is my very first one and will take lots of commitment to complete. But if it’s just to create something each day, be a color study or loose painting I will do it. And I want to post on FB page to hold myself accountable. October 6-9 will just be sketches in a sketch book as I am traveling. I have only been doing pastels for a year, I feel very unaccomplished. Always jumping what I want to work on or who to watch next on YouTube and then nothing gets on paper. To prepare myself I had thought I will have 4 themes and switch each week. Keeping the subject simple. First week Fruit, second week, flowers, third week sky and clouds and last week trees. What do you think of that plan Gail?

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