Featured: Ruth Kiel's @ruth.kiel challenge painting, #wnzchallenge23
26-30 August 2024
An easy way to keep your brushes wet and colour flowing this winter days.
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Do a watercolour painting a day for five days
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Time yourself: 30 minutes maximum painting time for each painting
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Paint fast and loose! Find inspiration everywhere around you
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Photograph or scan and share your painting with others
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Post on Instagram with hashtag #wnzchallenge2024
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Follow #wnzchallenge2024 to see all of the paintings each day
If you are keen to play, email for details
bookings@watercolournewzealand.nz
Subject line: 5 day challenge
How to photograph your painting
Find a place where there is even light, with no direct sunlight or deep shadows.
If you are using a camera: lay your painting flat. Take a stable stance so you can look directly down on the painting. Position the lense above the middle of the painting. Zoom in. Ensure the edges of the paper line up with the edges of the screen, to avoid tapered edges. Hold the camera still while you click.
If you are using a mobile phone: place the painting vertical perhaps tack to a wall. Locate the lens on the back of the phone and position opposite the centre of the painting. Hold the phone parallel with the painting to avoid tapered edges. Hold still when you click. You may wish to use an app e.g.
How to share your painting
You may not wish to share via the Internet. Instead, how about sharing your daily paintings with a friendly neighbour or family member, or sending to an artist friend for mutual comment.
Instagram
Well share on Instagram with the hashtag
#wnzchallenge2024
, Please add this hashtag, this will ensure your painting is found and featured.
Register
for an Instagram account if you dont have one yet. If youve never used Instagram, start by downloading the app. Instagram is available for smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Launch the app, and create an account in one of two ways:
Option 1: Sign up with your email address or phone number, and then enter a username.
Option 2: If you have a Facebook account, you can log in with the same information and link the accounts.
Already have an Instagram account?
Just sign in, and start uploading.
Note that images on Instagram are square by default, so you can click the expand arrows or pinch the image in the lower left to fit the whole picture on Instagram.
After upload click next & GIVE THE PAINTING A TITLE AND ADD YOUR NAME.
You can also share a description and some notes.
If you are photographing your painting on your phone and uploading direct Then the above is all your need to know!
Watercolour New Zealand Five Day Painting Challenge Reviews
Artists appreciated the opportunity to participate:
Sarah Godfrey @sarah.godfrey.art
Thank you to @watercolournewzealand for this challenge. It gave me the freedom to just give watercolour a go and see what happens. It has become a new tool for my sketches. What others did in the 30 min time allocation was amazing. There are some very talented watercolour artists out there!
Loved the challenge. Cant wait to do another
@capturedimpressions
this has been such a fun challenge, and my art has really benefited from trying a different approach
Beth heatlie @bethheatlie
This challenge was a learning curve of planning, preparation and concentration.
Sharon @pixyminxy Been having fun times playing with watercolour painting 30 minutes a day for 5 days for #wnzchallenge
Janey Lovell-Smith @j.lovellsmith_artist Its been a delight to take part in this as the idea of fast and loose has always been appealing in this wonderful medium.
Anya Godwin @anyagodwinartistry "Ive really enjoyed this challenge and I think Ill keep it up a few more days."
Kirsty @kirstymfaulkner So good to be challenged to paint quickly and then move on.
Judy @judyp583 "I just want to keep painting now thank you wnz for challenge! Judy."
Some of those new to Instagram experienced hiccups with the technology. On the other hand, tech savvy member Neli Chaneva posted time lapse videos showing the process behind her striking 30 minute portraits.
Explore previous years entries
Hope it motivates you to give it a go next year!
