Canadian Polar Bear in Blue

Some time ago, an ad for a Mural Mosaic project popped up on my Facebook feed. It refers to a collective project, in which participants paint an image on a small, 6x6" tile, in assigned color scheme. Once finished, they each submit their image to Global Roots Team (project organizer), which then assembles all images into one large mural. That mural (just one among many different ones) gets installed in one of the cities/towns around the world. To get a better idea of what I am talking about, please visit the Global Roots Mural Mosaic website here.
    This type of project felt right up my alley, because I do enjoy being a part of something larger and collective in nature. So, I signed up for an available Canadian project - "Nature's Bounty". A short while later, I received a package with instructions, a 6x6" canvas board, some acrylic paint, and a little easel. My assignment was to create a light blue tile, which means that the overall image must come across as light blue, but can include other colors, if they make up less than 20% of the overall picture area. I wanted to create an image that reflected Canadian nature and went well with the color scheme. I figured that a polar bear would fit the need. However, because polar bears also live in other parts of the world, I decided to add an image of a Canadian flag. Due to world events, which took place well after I signed up for this project, the flag has taken on additional significance. Since Canadian flag is rather intense in color and contrast (red and white),  I decided to drastically tone down the red, so that it would fit the color scheme better.
    Overall, this was a very enjoyable project for me. It is also a great idea for group/family projects, where kids and adults alike can spend some creative time together.
    All the tile images have been submitted by now, and the Global Roots Team is working on assembling them together. The unveiling of the mural should take place sometime in the Fall of 2025 - the location hasn't been announced yet.
    Below I included a couple of photos from the painting process.

 

 

The finished bear:

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Summary and Conclusions

 

Drawing Challenge -
Summary and Conclusions

 

The drawings below were done as part of a drawing challenge in Ian Roberts' "Mastering Composition" course.  For general information and explanation, please refer to the Foreword section of my Day 1 post here.

So, here we are, 30 drawings later... I must say that the challenge was definitely worth my time and effort. I definitely noticed that the process of drawing became easier and faster as time went on. Most of all, I found that it was much easier for me to visually express what I wanted. It is kind of like learning to write. After a lengthy process of practice, one no longer thinks about or pays attention to forming individual letters and words. Instead, one just uses them automatically, in order to communicate thoughts and messages.
    It was a great and rewarding challenge, and I highly recommend something of this kind to all, who want to up their creative game. Of course, there are is a great variety of art challenges out there, from individual, short ones, to ones done with a group of people and for longer periods of time. This article from Artful Pursuits not only lists some of the benefits of art challenges, but also gives a few examples of different types.
    If you followed my posts throughout these past 30 days - thank you so much for joining me on this journey. Your support and presence means a lot to me, and I really appreciate you stopping by. In the nearest future, I plan to take one more Ian Roberts' art course, to push myself artistically even further. See you in future posts. Wishing you a beautiful day.

*** Because I might use some of the images for future work, I kindly ask that you do not copy or use my drawings as ideas or reference for your own work, or re-post them elsewhere.

Link to my Instagram page here.

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 30

   

Cedar Path 2

 

This artwork was done as part of a drawing challenge in Ian Roberts' "Mastering Composition" course.  For general information and explanation, please refer to the Foreword section of my Day 1 post here.

 

I drew this from my own photo, which I took in Tooley's Mill Park, Courtice, Ontario. (Graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Smooth, 300 series).

 

*** Because I might use some of the images for future work, I kindly ask that you do not copy or use my drawings as ideas or reference for your own work, or re-post them elsewhere. 

Link to my Instagram page here.

 

 

 

 

 

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 29

   

A Bridge In The Woods

 

This artwork was done as part of a drawing challenge in Ian Roberts' "Mastering Composition" course.  For general information and explanation, please refer to the Foreword section of my Day 1 post here.

 

I drew this from my own photo, which I took in Tooley's Mill Park, Courtice, Ontario. (Graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Smooth, 300 series).

*** Because I might use some of the images for future work, I kindly ask that you do not copy or use my drawings as ideas or reference for your own work, or re-post them elsewhere. 

Link to my Instagram page here.

 

 

 

 

 

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 28

  

Forest Path

 

This artwork was done as part of a drawing challenge in Ian Roberts' "Mastering Composition" course.  For general information and explanation, please refer to the Foreword section of my Day 1 post here.

 

I drew this from my own photo, which I took in a wooded area in Southern Ontario. (Graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Smooth, 300 series).

*** Because I might use some of the images for future work, I kindly ask that you do not copy or use my drawings as ideas or reference for your own work, or re-post them elsewhere. 

Link to my Instagram page here.

 

 

 

 

 

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 27

  

Trees

 

This artwork was done as part of a drawing challenge in Ian Roberts' "Mastering Composition" course.  For general information and explanation, please refer to the Foreword section of my Day 1 post here.

 

I drew this from my own photo, which I took in a local park. (Graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Smooth, 300 series).

*** Because I might use some of the images for future work, I kindly ask that you do not copy or use my drawings as ideas or reference for your own work, or re-post them elsewhere. 

Link to my Instagram page here.

 

 

 

 

30 Day Drawing Challenge - Day 26

  

Country Road

 

This artwork was done as part of a drawing challenge in Ian Roberts' "Mastering Composition" course.  For general information and explanation, please refer to the Foreword section of my Day 1 post here.

 

I drew this from my own photo, which I took in Prince Edward Island, Canada. In the background is Confederation Bridge, an 8 mile long structure, which connects PEI with New Brunswick . (Graphite pencil on Strathmore Bristol Smooth, 300 series).

*** Because I might use some of the images for future work, I kindly ask that you do not copy or use my drawings as ideas or reference for your own work, or re-post them elsewhere. 

Link to my Instagram page here.