April Art Challenge Days 11-15, Plus a Roundup!

I feel like I can be honest with you - we are art sistas after all, right?

I cried happy tears this past weekend. Sure did. I'll tell you why...

A sweet lady, who is participating in the 30 day challenge, reached out to me to share her experience with the art challenge. She's given me permission to share her words:

"Martice, I can not tell you how much I love your 30 day art challenge! Your prompts are the best ones I've come across and they have given me the motivation to get up and create something. I am thankful to have found a fellow artist who leaves such thoughtful, generous comments on my art. You are a true example of what I aspire to as a professional artist. I have hidden my love for painting for the past 5 years. Yesterday, I decided to show my husband what I painted for the day 5 (spirit animal) prompt. He was shocked at the amount of detail I put into it! He also said that I should have it framed so we could hang it up in our living room!"

AH-MAZING, right?! Watching someone get past their fears to reach their breakthrough is nothing short of a miracle.

Want to join in? It's never too late.

Get all the details for the 30 day art challenge HERE.

Here's the cover of my board book for this 30 day challenge!

Click HERE to see a step out tutorial: How to Layer Jane Davenport Collage Papers.

Take a look at how I've been tackling each prompt...

DAY 11: DEEP IN THE OCEAN

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 11, 2017 at 6:45pm PDT

DAY 12: STREET

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 13, 2017 at 3:25pm PDT

DAY 13: CRYSTALLIZE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 14, 2017 at 11:12am PDT

DAY 14: VINE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 14, 2017 at 4:10pm PDT

DAY 15: SOMETHING FUNNY

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 17, 2017 at 7:11pm PDT

  SHARE THE INSPIRATION!  

Here is a roundup from people who are joining in, from all over the wooorld!

Guessing game time!! See if you can you match the artwork with its prompt.  

Curious to see what other artists are creating? While you're visiting Instagram, search for the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 or click here:

View photos from #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 on Instagram

Remember: you can start with DAY 1 or skip around to any prompt that speaks to you. Just have FUN!

April Art Challenge Days 6-10, Plus a Roundup!

:: Trumpet fanfare ::

We made it past the first week of our challenge! Woohoo!

I am blessed + completely in awe of the participation + encouragement that's been shared during this challenge.

Want to join in? It is never too late.

Get all the details for the 30 day art challenge HERE.

Here are two things I love about this challenge:

1. working on a smaller scale (Most of the time, I'm working on 9x12 or larger if it's commissioned pieces.) There's not a lot of pressure, which means, I get to enjoy being in the moment, creating something that makes me smile.

2. cheering for other people! I'm as proud as a mama hen when I look at the work that's being created under the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30. I make an effort to respond to EVERYONE'S posts. I leaving thoughtful comments - not what you might expect, right?! Well, I like to let you know what moves me, what makes me say 'You go, chica! You are rockin' this prompt!' Emojis can only say so much...

Take a look at how I've been tackling each prompt...

DAY 6: SPLASH

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 6, 2017 at 3:39pm PDT

DAY 7: REVERSE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 8, 2017 at 5:21pm PDT

DAY 8: STAMP

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 8, 2017 at 11:16pm PDT

DAY 9: PATTERN PLAY

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 9, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

DAY 10: LEAST FAVORITE FOOD

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 10, 2017 at 5:34pm PDT

SHARE THE INSPIRATION!

Here is a roundup from people who are joining in, from all over the wooorld!

Guessing game time!! See if you can you match the artwork with its prompt.  

Curious to see what other artists are creating? While you're visiting Instagram, search for the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 or click here:

View photos from #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 on Instagram

Remember: you can start with DAY 1 or skip around to any prompt that speaks to you. Just have FUN!

April Art Challenge Days 1-5, Plus a Roundup!

Hello, fellow art challengers! I hope that this first week of the 30 day challenge was a creative one for y'all. I'm having the best time creating my marks + illustrations in a cute, little children's board book.

The board book only measures about 5 inches by 6 inches. The pages are a fun, random assortment of scrap papers + textured surfaces: phone book paper, canvas + heavy duty watercolor paper (300lbs!).

My favorite thing about the journal itself is that each page has a unique personality - there are wrinkles + some papers are torn. I LOVE it!

What kind of journal are you working in for this challenge?

Take a look at how I've been tackling each prompt...

DAY 1: PATH

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 1, 2017 at 1:44pm PDT

DAY 2: TROPICAL

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 2, 2017 at 9:19am PDT

DAY 3: 3 (333) THREE

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 3, 2017 at 8:01pm PDT

DAY 4: MANDALA

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 4, 2017 at 2:38pm PDT

DAY 5: YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL

A post shared by mARTice • The Curly Artista (@marticesmithart) on Apr 5, 2017 at 1:20pm PDT

Want to join in? It is never too late.

Get all the details for the 30 day art challenge HERE.

SHARE THE INSPIRATION!

Here is a roundup of incredible art works from people who are joining in, from all over the wooorld! 

How cool is this?! You can follow these BRAVE artists on the 'gram + cheer them on!

Guessing game time!! See if you can you match the artwork with its prompt. 

Curious to see what other artists are creating? While you're visiting Instagram, search for the hashtag #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 or click here:

View photos from #MarticeSmithArtdaily30 on Instagram

Remember: you can start with DAY 1 or skip around to any prompt that speaks to you. Just have FUN!

I'm Hosting April Art Challenge

Hey friends!

I'm hosting a 30 day art challenge!* As you know, I'm all about COMMUNITY + encouraging the spirit of creativity in our lifestyles.

This challenge is for anyone who wants to slosh paint around, challenge themselves creatively + surround themselves with other cool artists.

We have all experienced the joy of creating + sharing art with others, so let's spread the inspiration around! I created this challenge, in the hope, that you'll discover new ways to make your BOLD marks on the world while inspiring each other to share our work more often. 

Let's make a beautiful mess of color, together!! I hope you will consider joining me in this stress-free, just have FUN, daily challenge. 

*Right click to save these two images, then share on social media.

Here are the details: 

1. choose a journal you ENJOY working in or...make one!

I am altering a children's board book. (Right now, I'm illustrating the cover. I'll be sure to link you to it once it's finished!)
Sneak peek: It's filled with multiple papers + fun textures: phone book paper, canvas sheets + 300lb. watercolor paper. (YUM! My mouth just watered!)

Think about choosing a journal with more than 30 pages.
I'm known to get carried away with a certain technique + spin off doing way more than intended ;-) I hope to continue this exercise long after the 30 day challenge has ended.
MORE PAGES = MORE FUN, right?!

2. set a TIMER

Choose whatever time works for you. I wish I could art all day, but, ya know...LIFE happens + I need to make sure I feed myself. LOL!

Automatically DOWNLOAD THE LIST OF PROMPTS HERE for yourself + a friend. It's FREE!

3. SHARE the challenge!

Spread the word + get your art homies involved. There's enough inspiration for everybody!
I will be sharing my challenge pages on my Instagram @MarticeSmithArt + blog. 

Use this daily activity to make art that makes YOU happy. Don't worry if you are unable to commit to each day - there is no such thing as falling behind. In fact, there is no wrong way to approach this. Do what you can. ❤You get mega points just for trying.

Got your list of prompts downloaded? Great! Let me know if you are participating by leaving a comment below OR clicking on the "Tweet" button. 

"I just joined the 30 day art challenge with @MarticeSmithArt! #MarticeSmithArtdaily30"

Click to tweet!

I'll see you creative, lovely peeps on Saturday, April 1st (two days before my birthday)!

Happy Creating!

xx Martice