the ekphrastic challenge { part two }: riopelle

pavane by jean paul riopelle

colour palette generated for this piece

bravo, superstars!
the 1st round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #2!

today we're oohing and aahing at one of mr. rikrak's very favourite pieces of modern art, the breathtaking pavane by canadian artist jean paul riopelle. if you've ever had a chance to see this piece in it's mammoth (300 x 550.2 cm overall) 3-panel glory at our beautiful national gallery of canada, it is safe to say that you, like me, might have been... in ... awe!

i just love those gorgeous tones, the textured brushstrokes and the crystally movement of the piece. thought it might be perfect for today's weather!

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so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art." study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it. leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 2nd collective *ekphrastic response.* just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks!

so show me your *riopelle-y*, nicies!
can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones! Pin It

the ekphrastic challenge *revealed* : part three

gorgeous! just gorgeous!

i put forth a new creative challenge last week- and you nicies rose to it!
and so part three of the ekphrastic challenge began: suggest handmade works that are ekphrastically inspired by the colour palette of a famous piece of art. this time i chose Monet's La Promenade! i love seeing what you come up with... so here we go...

row one

tialey vintage , dbabcock , pulp & paisley

row two
bethtastic , lil fish studios, davie and chiyo

row three
golly bard , lucindas nice things, random pretties

row four
alex keller vintage , KbOriginalsetc , charlotte hupfield ceramics

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just lovely, nicies! while we anticipate the next ekphrastic challenge, don't forget to show me what you're wearing to my springtime TEAPARTY looks in the latest funfun event here.

AND.... tune in monday for the WINNER of the green couch designs wall pockets
& the karen meyers purse giveaways!
(still time to enter karen's! it closes today!)

have a most colourful weekend, nicies!

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the ekphrastic challenge { part four } : mondrian

Piet Mondrian's Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red via the Tate Gallery

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it's a tour de force, superstars!
the 3rd round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #4!

and today, we're ADDING a TWIST to the challenge .. read on!

for challenge 4 we're oohing and aahing Piet Mondrian's famous Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red painting, courtesy of the Tate Gallery.

i just love the lines, the shapes, the balance of fresh tones here. splendid!

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so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art." study the colours of the painting above. for THIS challenge, i'd also like you to study the linear feel and focus on the shapes therein!

then leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or anothers) that is inspired by these colours + SHAPES! (there's the twist - i know you can do it, nicies!)

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 4th ekphrastic response! just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette & the lines and shapes of this piece! thanks!

can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the ekphrastic challenge { part three } : monet

La Promenade by Claude Monet. 1875

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bravo, superstars!
the 2nd round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #3!

today we're oohing and aahing at a painting i've long loved for it's springtimey lure: Claude Monet's La Promenade.

i just love those gorgeous hues, the textured brushstrokes, the spring wind gently rushing thru that gorgeous blue sky, and the spring green grasses rustling. thought it might be perfect for today's spring weather!

.........................................
so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art." study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 3rd collective *ekphrastic response.* just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks!

so show me your springtime *monet*, nicies!
can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones! Pin It

the ekphrastic challenge *revealed*: part four

fabulous! just fabulous!

i put forth a new creative challenge last week- and you nicies rose to it!

and so part four of the ekphrastic challenge began: suggest handmade works that are ekphrastically inspired by the colour palette & lines of a famous piece of art. this time i chose Mondrian's "Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red." i love seeing what you come up with... so here we go...

Piet Mondrian's Composition with Yellow, Blue and Red
via the Tate Gallery

row one

bellsandunicorns

row two
betsyonetsy
pulpandpaisely
reiter8

row three
bestillshop

row four
mary zoom

row five
brightmoondesigns
zanneavenue

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and superthanks to SHAbang! who sent me this fabulous link to this fabulous Mondrian-inspired handmade cake! made by caitlin williams, via cakewrecks! woohoo!

just lovely, nicies! and while we anticipate the next ekphrastic challenge,

don't forget to VOTE in round B of the 2010 handmade world cup
(did YOUR fave teams advance? - it closes TODAY!)

and enter my sponsors' shopping spree giveaway here!

see you tomorrow!
have a most colourful day, lovelies!

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the ekphrastic challenge *revealed* : part two

woohoo!
you've done it again, nicies!

i put forth a new creative challenge last week- and you rose rose rose to it!
and so part two of the ekphrastic challenge began: suggest handmade works that are ekphrastically inspired by the colour palette of a famous piece of art. this time i chose the beautiful *pavane* by jean paul riopelle. wonderful wonderful suggestions, lovelies! i love seeing what you come up with... so here we go...

pavane by jean paul riopelle

row one
CrowandIris
burntmill
ScowlingOwl
MichellesThreads
ThePeachTree

row two
kylebogucki
sarathomas
emmarts
pulpandpaisley
vintagebutterfly94

row three
ripegoods
InHonorOf
DirksenDabbles
fionachapman
SewMo

row four
rachel austin
LucindasNiceThings
nauli

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wonderful tones, lovelies!
and a special thanks to the superstars, like nauli, who handcrafted something just for the challenge! i love it!

tune in again soon for a brand new round of the ekphrastic challenge!
and don't forget to cast your votes in the *handmade olympics!*

over 9000 individual votes cast so far!
woohoo democracy!

and have a most inspired day, filled with lovely tones, nicies!

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the ekphrastic challenge { part five } : signac

paul signac's pointillist superstar: Sandy Seashore, 1890

via the Pushkin Museum, Russia.

.......

bravo, superstars!
the 4th round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #5!

today we're lounging at the beach  with a painting full of late summer lure: Paul Signac's pointillist superstar Sandy Seashore.

 oh how it reminds me of one of my favourite summer beaches: sandbanks provincial park here in southern ontario! just love those gorgeous sandy grey tones, the textured dots, and those dunes-o-delight!

.........................................
so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art" ,  study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!

in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 5th collective *ekphrastic response.* 

---> just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks.

so show me your late summer signac, nicies!
can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the ekphrastic challenge *revealed* : part five

:: row 1 :: larimeloom + mojospastyle

:: row 2 :: nauli + pulpandpaisley + ikabags + vadjutka

:: row 3 :: magichands +beautybysaria + vilte + fleurfatale

:: row 4 :: woodbyderaud + awkward + madfishmarket

wonderful imaginings, nicies!

love the tones and hues you all incorporated in this round of the ekphrastic challenge!

here's what you all came up with, inspired by Paul Signac's pointillist superstar Sandy Seashore. 

gorgeous! just gorgeous!

AND as an extra special thank you, cheers go out to 2 wonderstars: the wonderful vadjutka + the amazing fleurfatale - who each created a piece especially for the challenge! woohoo!

wonderful, inspired work, nicies!

by vadjutka

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by fleur fatale

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the ekphrastic challenge: { part 8 } bloemers

Lilacs, Peonies, Tulips, Roses, Irises and other Flowers with Fruit and a Bird's Nest on a Marble Ledge by Arnoldus Bloemers (1786-1844)

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bravo, superstars!
the 7th round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #8!

today we're adoring a landmark work by the brilliant Arnoldus Bloemers (Dutch, 1786-1844) the still life painting: Lilacs, Peonies, Tulips, Roses, Irises and other Flowers with Fruit and a Bird's Nest on a Marble Ledge inspires with it's springtime floral palette of pretty pastels. 

so delightfully pretty, don't you think?

.........................................

so, here's the challenge for you:

.........................................

1. using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art" ,  study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . 


2. leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones + shapes!


3. in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 8th collective response. 

---> just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette AND artistic of this piece! thanks.

so show me your springtime colours inspirations, nicies!

can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the ekphrastic challenge {part one: Brueghel}

The Hunters in the Snow / The Return of the Hunters by Pieter Brueghel the Elder


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colour palette inspired by The Hunters in the Snow,
in Adobe Swatch Exchange (ASE) format

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often times in these wintry sorts of days, as the family & i jaunt thru the northern landscape or drive through the snowy countryside, the view will elicit a common "how brueghel-y!" ; a term made-up by art-history-loving mr. rikrak + i that just means: how reminiscent of old master's painter pieter brueghel's work!

where i live in canada, the colours of this painting, seen above, seem to be everywhere for most of the winter.

and while i think these tones have often been described as gloomy, now that i see them all the time, i find them wonderfully familiar + lovely.

and i've come to just love them.
do the colours of a piece of art ever inspire you?

.........................................
so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art." study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it. leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!

in one week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as 1st our collective *ekphrastic response.* just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks!

so show me your *brueghel-y*, nicies!
can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the ekphrastic challenge *revealed* : part six

:: row 1 :: RouDesigns : skinnerstudio : VerreEncore : vadjutka 

:: row 2 ::  theshagbag : ThePeachTree : buckscountyframes : 
chelsea3349

:: row 3 :: IKABAGS : elliven : sharlee39 : ettaandbillie

:: row 4 :: slightlyaskew : wildhare : asilart : sidhe filz

 

wonderful imaginings, nicies!here's what you all came up with, inspired by lawren harris'
beautiful *winter landscape with pink house* painting.  

love the tones and hues you all incorporated in this 6th round of the ekphrastic challenge! 

don't you just love great art inspiring other great art!

gorgeous! just gorgeous!

wishing you a day filled with gorgeous tones! 

have any colours inspiring you today?

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the ekphrastic challenge { part six } : harris

:: lawren harris' beautiful *winter landscape with pink house* painting ::

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bravo, superstars!
the 5th round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!

so as requested: round #6!

today we're frolicking thru the snowy canadian forest on a bright & sunny blue skies february afternoon in lawren harris' beautiful *winter landscape with pink house* painting.

oh how it reminds me of the landscape near and dear to me here right now. such pretty hues, the snow resting so prettily & so gently on strong tree boughs. i love this time of year. 

.........................................
so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art" ,  study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . 

leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones!


in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 6th collective response. 

---> just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette of this piece! thanks.


so show me your late winter lovelies, nicies!


can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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the ekphrastic challenge *revealed* : part one

xan-a-du!
you nicies sure love to rise to the creative occassion and i just love you for it!

as you might recall, last monday we started a fun new challenge here: suggest handmade works that are ekphrastically inspired by the colour pallette of a famous piece of art. for our first session, i chose the wintry *return of the hunters* by pieter brueghel!

well well well! the response was wonderful!
and i just loved seeing what you came up with... without further ado...

row one
DirksenDabbles
SHAbang
candied fabrics
chakrapennywhistle

row two
plushroom soup
TamsyTrends
We Blog Artists
vadjutka

row three
LucindasNiceThings
irenesuchocki
emmsgems
elliven
allisajacobs

row four
Jammersage
fluur
laurart
twillypop
tubbytabby

row five
jewelzodonnell
fiveforty
nancy wallis designs
alex keller
kikiandpolly

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what lovely tones, superstars!
as an extra special mention, i am THRILLED that the wonderful vadjutka designed a special piece just for the challenge - and isn't it a beauty?

*return of the hunters* necklace by vadjutka

good heavens!
i just love it!

and bravo to everyone who took the challenge!

tune in again soon for a brand new round of the ekphrastic challenge!
here's to being inspired by all you lovelies!
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the ekphrastic challenge { part seven } : albers

josef albers, homage to the square - orange, 1964

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the adobe colorswatch palette for homage to the square - orange.

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bravo, superstars!
the 6th round of the ekphrastic challenge was met with fabulous nominations and suggestions! i just loved seeing your artistic interpretations of the art & the tones that create it!


so as requested: round #7!


today we're adoring a landmark work by one of my favourite geometric abstract artists (& colour theorists!) josef albers : {side note: partner of textile superstar anni albers!  i have such a longtime crush on this geometric supercouple!} ... today's focus is josef's  "homage to the square - orange." : part of the hundreds of paintings & prints that make up the brilliant, BRILLIANT series *homage to the square*


love the geometric style craze these days? then you're sure to love albers' brilliant art!


and if i had to choose just one of his works, this one's my fave. 
it's orange orange orange and relishes that favourite shape of mine: the glorious square. 
perfection? i think so.

.........................................
so, here's the challenge for you:
.........................................

using the idea of ekphrasis , a "graphic or artistic description/representation of a visual work of art" ,  study the colours of the painting above, and/or the colour palette generated to match it (see above) . 


leave a link here to a handmade item of yours, (or another's) that is inspired by these colours + tones + shapes!


in about a week, i'll compile the suggestions and post them as our 7th collective response. 

---> just keep in mind, i'm looking for handmade works that fit the colour-palette AND geometric stylings of this piece! thanks.


so show me your orange square inspirations, nicies!

can't wait to see what you come up with!

and may your day be filled with gorgeous tones!

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congrats and an update!

wow.
wow + wow + wow!
i am delightfully overwhelmed by the amazing array of talent nominated in the 2010 handmade olympics!

the nominations closed last night, and as i prep the lists for the judges in each category - i am just amazed at all of the brilliant work and shops and blogs suggested in each event! WOW!

i've found pages of new faves and new-to-me designers, shops and blog! thanks so much for that!

it sure will be CRAZY difficult for those judges! but i know they can do it!

thanks so much to all of you who nominated work by yourself and others, those who spread the word twittering and blogging and facebooking and emailing your crafty pals! i'm delighted to say that we had well over 1000 entries and what entries they are!

so... to get us up to date:
--> nominations for the handmade olympics are now closed.

--> next monday (feb.8th) i will reveal the judges' shortlists in each category, at which time VOTING will begin on your faves! yay! can't wait to see those shortlists!

but before we get to that next week, and all of THOSE amazing prizes, first we need to celebrate all the nominees! so as promised, a fan prize goes out today to one of the entries.

thanks to random.org, entry #512 is our fan prize winner... YUMMY & Company shop! just love their lovely jewelry work! beautiful stuff - yummy & company, you've won yourself a $50 shopping spree in my own little shop: rikrak! yay! so thanks to everyone for playing!

come back later today for the newest round of the ekphrastic art challenge here on the blog! yay! (the first one was such a brilliant success!)

..... and be sure to tune in next monday for the judges' short list reveals! fabulous work, nicies! yay handmade! Pin It