Challenge for September, Chickens

 The theme for this month's challenge is, simply, Chickens.

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Carmen Beecher's Chicken

Are YOU Talking to ME?

I love the comical look that chickens can have, and this one made me think of Robert di Niro's classic scene in Taxi Driver. Sometimes the title comes before the painting.

CarmenBeecher.blogspot.com

CarmenBeecher.com

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Kathy Garvey's Chickens

Rulers of the Roost  6"x16" Watercolor on 140 lb Cold Press Paper

I went and photographed chickens for this challenge, and sketched up my plans, but then ran out of time for painting as I'm prepping for a trip and will be out of town before the challenge ends. Since I haven't painted chickens in over twenty years, I had to dig deep to find a stand in for the challenge. Here it is...from 2001! 

More Watercolors and Home Goods at  www.snailflower.etsy.com.

Fabric Designs at http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/kgarvey.

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Donna Vines Chicken

Miss Chicken 

12x14 collage

I used this beautiful paper that reminded me of eggs in a nest as the nest.

I wanted to do a collage chicken for my challenge.   Up until now I had only done landscapes or stationary objects, doing this was a great lesson in the difference between a living subject and a teapot. I am o.k. with my first attempt but am going to try again using my lessons learned. 

donnavinesart.etsy.com

Watercolors, Chickens..What could go wrong?

Donna Vines
                                      
I did something really different for me and decided to just have some fun and experiment.  I saw some lovely watercolors in a store that were simply colors with ink lines on them.  The colors were so pretty and the design so simple I really loved them.  I thought it would be fun to try myself.  As usual the simpler something looks the harder they are to achieve.
I started with putting watercolors on paper and seeing how I liked that.  It was fun to do but not nearly as interesting as the ones I had seen.  I then did an abstract ink design on two of them.  They were o.k.

I then decided to outline the different colors instead of a randomly ink the design.  This is I liked much better.

I had some paint left and some time so I painted a few chickens I had photos of.  I painted three but only liked two of them so  I cut one out.

 

When I laid them down on a piece of blank paper I wondered how they would look in front of my experiments. 

This is one of them.  Chickens in motion, chickens in action, whirling chickens, run chicky, run.  All those thoughts went through my head in the most fun way.

Finding Time

Art is not just about going into a studio and creating.  There has to be inspiration, enthusiasm and most of all time. Of course it never seems like you have all three at the same time but you can try and be in tune with your artistic side while you are doing other things.
I am in the middle of getting my house ready for repainting.  I am clearing away photos, taking down paintings, putting away knick-knacks, while grousing constantly about the whole process.  As I was filling another box with "stuff" I realized this could be a great opportunity re-arrange and freshen up.
I started taking  photos of my groupings when another thought occurred to me.  Why not paint some of my arrangements?  Or if not the whole arrangement some of the pieces.  I have so many fun little "things" I have collected along the way but I see them every day, which means I don't see them anymore. 
Here is a photo of  my "Fun Wall" in my kitchen.  I realized on this one shelf alone I had several set ups if I wanted to use them.
Hmmm what would you paint?

Donna Vines

My Fun Wall



Does the word chicken come to mind?

Checking the Chicks!

Checking the Chicks

24 x 24, on salvaged tin ceiling tile

unframed, ready to hang

 

I'm having a little too much fun lately with chickens!  This is Brave Betty and Annie making another appearance, this time on a large piece of ceiling tin.  I used to want a tin ceiling so playing with these pieces that I can get ahold of is the next best thing.  Trouble is, there is a lot of prep work in making the tin "clean" enough to receive the paint and then treating it to assure the paint will adhere.

 

But I am growing rather fond of these two models....I have photos of them in several postures and by the time I am finished painting them I am certain I know exactly what is on their minds!  Stayed tuned for more...and pretty soon maybe I will find a rooster to add to the collection.

 

Cindy Michaud

 

p.s. if you are interested in this piece just send me a note at art@cindymichaud.com