Huzzah! I completed the index card a day challenge 🙂
How did you get on? Did you join in? How did you find it? Will you do it next year?
Here are my lovely ladies – the #icad #colourportraits series – in all their glory. Don’t they look amazing together?
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that there are not 61 cards in the above selection. That’s because when I started out with the challenge I had no idea that this series would appear.
I started out by making random, non-related selection of cards at the beginning of June:
To be honest, I found it quite difficult to stick with the challenge of one-a-day and missed quite a few days in a row, so that was when I got to making a small collection to play catch-up :
And that’s when I really began to enjoy myself, so I made another series, this time in a limited palette;
And then the colour portrait series was born – because I discovered I’m really all about colour these days.
Once I got going with the ladies, there was simply no stopping me. They had something important to tell me and I’ve been listening to them for the best part of six weeks. They made the challenge easy from then on in.
The #icad seed germinates
Those ladies spoke to me in the beautiful language that is the oil pastel – oh how I have loved discovering the qualities of these wee crayons.
There was also strong desire to grow these mini portraits in size, first from 5″ x 3″ to 8″ x 5″, then to 14″ x 10″ :
The 14″ x 10″ poster was designed especially for a guest post on Jamie Ridler Studios and will be available in my Etsy shop as a digital print when I get back from my summer holidays.
The second poster in the series will appear in another guest post soon and will also be available in the shop. There are already more in the making, for they’re really fun pieces to work on.
After I’ve finished working on I Am, I Am, I Am (an art journal adventure for beginners) I will be creating the next incarnation of #colourportraits. It’s a completely unique product and a collaboration I’ve been trying to figure out for years – I really can’t wait to share that with you.
But first, there’s I Am, I Am, I Am and the #icad challenge also served up some inspiration for some of the techniques included in the workshop :
As far as I can think right now, this was my first internet art challenge – and also the first internet challenge I’ve ever completed from start to finish. Sixty one days of creative magic. I had a ball – and learned so much in the process. Look out for it in 2014 – I’m pretty sure you’ll be surprised at what emerges.
Thanks Tammy and all the other participants for making it so fun.
What will I do with the cards?
I’ve had requests for trades on the cards, which I’m happy to fulfill and some of the cards have already been allocated for specific people. If you’d like to trade with me, get in touch in the comments and I’ll drop you a note and see what we can figure out.
There’s also a give-away!
What’s up for grabs?
- Butterfly collection (4 cards, one recipient) – my favourite cards of the challenge!
- Chopra quote collection (4 cards, one recipient)
- Colour portrait foursome (4 cards, one recipient)
All you need to do is leave a comment* below (before 9am BST Wednesday 7th August) and tell me who your favourite artist is – and why!
Easy peasy. I’ll select the winners using a random number generator and reveal them about noon on Wednesday 7th, here on the blog. Good luck!
*Only one entry per person, please and thank you.
It’s so great that you’ve enjoyed this challenge – I’ve loved seeing all your cards (I especially love your limited palette ones – possibly my favourite set of colours) . I’ve not kept up so well (though I think that it has much to do with seeing how good everyone else’s is and feeling a bit intimidated!) But I’ll try and keep plugging along until I get them all done!
I forgot to tell you who my favourite artist is!! It’s Toni Codgell!
Thanks for taking time to play, Karen – I need to go and investigate Toni Codge! I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
I love how the “challenge” (i hate that word-makes it sound like it was a struggle, anyway) evolved into something you could really sink into and made you flourish. I really liked where you were going in the beginning, but I am scattered that way and so that kind of randomness appeals to me. Your ladies are lovely as are you for indulging your fans with a bit of your art.
I have always had a love affair with Georgia O’Keeffe. It wasn’t just her art, it was her life.
“To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.” She said that and I believe her to be a very courageous woman.
Congrats on your completion!!
~Dawn
Hi Julie,
Your ICAD pictures are fabulous – I really enjoyed doing mine, though I haven’t finished yet (done about 45 cards I think) as I struggled with motivation towards the end due to lots of other stuff going on in my life. Hence being a bit quiet on the forums too! I will definitely do it next year, I got so much inspiration from everyone else and so many new ideas to try and I am still stunned by the images stuck to my cupboard doors and my fridge that show me just how creative I can be 🙂 The more I practice, the easier it gets.
My favourite artist at the moment is a photographer called Helen Dixon – she does amazing panoramic images and I have two of them on my wall that I bought in Cornwall last month – a beech forest and a lavender wood.
I’m swooning over your butterfly set!!!!!!!! I would frame the up as one set on my house!!!!! My favorite artist??? That’s a touch one… It changes with my modes… One day it’s Picasso , then Monet , and then pollock … Currently I’m liking YOU!!! Your colorful faces just make me happy:):) fingers crossed — hugs- Sandie
Yay Sandie – some ladies are on their way to you 🙂 xo
I’m so excited that you are going to be trading these! I enjoyed looking for your lovely ladies every day! I was excited to see all the others as I think I must have missed some! I would of course love to trade:) As for my Fave Artist- I have so many and it changes every day! Today I am obsessed with Cathy Blutheau’s Little Houses:) I had a wonderful time on ICAD- God Bless Tammy Garcia!
Yay, Molly! YOu’re a winner 🙂 I’ve sent you a confirmation email – look out for it! xo
Julie, what a great giveaway!!!! My favorite artist is Georgia O’Keefe – just love the way she saw and made us see the beauty around us… Thank you so much!
I’ve only recently discovered Georgia, Isabelle! *blush* I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
It was so great to see these ladies evolve. I remember the second or third one you posted and saying to Tammy Garcia that something magical was happening! Can’t wait to watch and see what you do next!
My favorite artist is Vincent Van Gogh. I love all the impressionists, but all of his pieces affect me in a way I can’t even explain. 🙂
Thanks for tuning in Melissa – I love Vincent, also – one of my best moments was visiting Arles and all the places he made famous – Starry Night, the Cafe , bridge, hospital etc – oh yeah, I’d go back in a minute 🙂 I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
I love the chopra quote set! My favorite color scheme and love me some deepak! My favorite artist is Donna Downey. She is so inspiring to me because she is self-taught and just rolls with whatever comes from her creativity. It’s taught me how to turn mistakes into something I love.
I love watching Donna’s videos Carly! I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
You did such an INCREDIBLE job on these cards! I love every single one of them! I tried to do one per day, but as you said, sometimes I ended up having to miss a few days and play catch up. I love what you did with making the families of cards. GREAT JOB!!! Love your work!
Thank you so much, Jill! I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
I adore your ladies! 🙂 It’s been fun to see them as they all have been birthed.
My favorite artist is Julie Margaret Cameron mostly because I love how she saw the world. It was such lush beauty.
Congratulations Julie! I’ve sent you an email with confirmation and a request for your postal address 🙂 xo
I have just seen how many of your posts I have missed in my reader! That is the fault of ICAD because I was so creatively inspired, I took time away from blog reading…now to catch up.
Love the series together, oil pastels are smooshy goodness. A great review.
Your other cards are stunning as well.
My favourite artist is Emily Karaka. I fell in love with her raw, expressive paintings when I was 17, and I can still remember the awe I felt at her work. It spoke directly to my heart.
I must check out Emily’s work! I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
Hi Julie! Congrats on completing the challenge! 🙂 I didn’t do ICAD this year but I’m working on a series of ATCs for a swap that I will have some leftovers of.
My favorite artist is Kandinsky… I love his use of color and his abstract symbolism. He showed me that “art” isn’t just realism, and showed me other ways to express myself through color & form in paint.
Ooh, I love Kadinsky, too! Looking forward to reading his books … I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/
Hi Julie,
Thanks for the chance to win some of your work. I’ve only just started to dip my toe into creating art and ICAD was a fantastic learning experience and inspirational. Since art is completely new to me and I’ve never taken any classes, I don’t know any of the “rules” and I think I like it that way for now. I’m just enjoying the process – having fun. I don’t really know any artists. You and “your girls” have been a tremendous inspiration to me. I’ve always told myself that I can’t even draw stick people, but after seeing your work I was inspired to try faces and I love it. I have a long way to go, but I’m having great fun trying! So, you are my favorite artist and I would love to have some of your work! Thanks – Beth
Thanks so much Beth for all your kind words. I’m sorry you didn’t win this time (maybe next!) You can check out the winners announcement here http://www.juliegibbons.com/2013/08/07/announcing-the-winners/