Wednesday, February 2, 2011

February Monthly Challenge

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent 
68.50 inch wide x 60.50 inch high

About the Art
Conceived under the most unusual of circumstances, and nurtured in a remarkable setting at Broadway, The Cotswold, England, this painting is overwhelmingly held out by the public -- then as well as today -- to be the most favored painting of all his work. It is universally believed to be one of his masterpieces. Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, the title lifted from the light-hearted lyrics of a popular song, is a triumph of John's use of light which would never be equaled in quite the same way.

About the Artist
John Singer Sargent was an American painter by birth-right. He loved his country yet he spent most of his life in Europe.  He was the most celebrated portraitist of his time but left it at the very height of his fame to devote full time to landscape painting, water colors and public art

He was born in Florence, to American parents  and traveled extensively throughout Europe. His parents never settled back in America, not stepping foot in the States himself until right before his 21st birthday to retain his citizenship. 

He was schooled as a French artist, heavily influenced by the Impressionist movement, the Spanish Master Velazquez, the Dutch Master Frans Hals, and his teacher Carolus-Duran.

His output was prodigious. Working dawn til dusk in some cases -- even on vacations, and sometimes seven days a week. Between 1877 (when his work really started taking off) and 1925, he did over 900 oils and more than 2,000 watercolors along with countless charcoal sketch-portraits and endless pencil drawings.  

He painted two United States presidents, the aristocracy of Europe, the new and emerging tycoons and barons of business -- Rockefeller, Sears, Vanderbilt; and he painted gypsies, tramps, and street children with the same gusto and passion. He hiked through the Rocky Mountains with a canvas tent under pouring rain to paint the beauty of waterfalls, and painted near the front lines during World War I to capture the horrors of war. He painted the back alleys of Venice, sleeping gondoliers, fishing boats and the dusty side streets of Spain. He painted opulent interiors and vacant Moorish Ruins.  He painted the artists of his time -- performers, poets, dancers, musicians, and writers --  Robert Louis Stevenson, and Henry James. He painted the great generals of the Great War, and the Bedouin nomads in their camps.  He painted grand allegorical murals, and his friends as they slept.  

Where others kept journals, John Singer Sargent painted his, and his life can easily be chronicled by these records in color and canvas. He loved people, yet was intensely private. And he loved his family deeply and devotedly, though he never had a family himself (was childless and never married). He was simply, a great man and a great Artist.

Challenge Color Palette:

The Prizes:
Winners will be randomly chosen from all the qualifying entries on March 1st.

Our sponsors this month: 
Miss Fickle Media and Natural Touch Beads please visit us tomorrow to see the prizes!

Featured Designer of the Week:
From all the entries during the month, an editor is going to pick their favorite design to be featured every Monday here on the ABS. We want to give our participants more time in the spotlight! Our Featured Designer will be this Monday, so get those entries in soon.
Blog Tour:
To have your entry included in the blog tour, leave a direct link to your challenge post in the comment section below.  Links must be post by February 27th to be included in the tour. 

How to enter the Monthly Challenge:
1. Create something using an art bead that fits within our monthly theme. We post the art to be used as your inspiration to create. This challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The art bead can be created by you or someone else. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork.
***Beads strung on a chain, by themselves and beads simply wire or cord will not be accepted.***

2. Upload your photo to our flickr group. Detailed instructions can be found here and click here for a tutorial for sending your picture to the group.

Please add the tag or title 
FEB ABS to your photos. Include a short description, who created the art beads and a link to your blog, if you have one.


Deadline is February 28th. Photos are approved by our moderators, if a photo hasn't followed the guidelines it will not be approved. You may upload 2 photos a day.

What is an Art Bead? 
An art bead is a bead, charm, button or finding made by an independent artist. Art beads are the vision and handiwork of an individual artist. You can read more about art beads here.

***A bead that is handmade is not necessarily an art bead. Hill Tribe Silver, Kazuri ceramic beads or lampwork beads made in factories are examples of handmade beads that are not considered art beads.
Beaded beads, stamped metal pendants or wire-wrapped components are not considered art beads for our challenge.***

p.s. If you have a blog, post your entry and a link to the ABS challenge to spread the beady goodness.

24 comments:

Jill Palumbo said...

Oh, I'm so excited about this challenge already! What lovely colors! I can't wait to see what everyone dreams up.

Malin de Koning said...

Beautiful painting!

Linda Landig said...

I LOVE the colors and the use of light in this painting. I can't wait to see what everyone creates!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous painting. I could stare at it for hours on end. This will be truly inspirational.

Ilenia said...

magic inspirations! This painting has a magical air and very special colors, i am too curious to see what wonders will come out!

beautifullybrokenme said...

What a beautiful inspiration painting - the use of light and color is mesmerizing! I'll get started right away!

I LOVE color! said...

I love John Singer Sargent my favorite painting by him is "Margret" a portrair of a small child all dressed up in white ruffles. It hangs in the Dallas Museumof fine Art. I had a portrait artist 'GregCartmell' do a weeks long seminar in my shop who's father studyed under John Singer Sargent, The work shop was awesome. Be Blessede

Dee said...

The colors are gorgeous, my mind is racing! Can't wait to see the results!

KristiBowmanDesign said...

Oh yes....ideas are forming. A beautiful inspiration!!

Maneki said...

What a lovely painting -- the colours are just so beautiful and serene. It's such a magical atmosphere.

Spirited Earth said...

magical painting..
i really like the color palette you've been posting with the inspiration piece.

Rebecca said...

I'm so excited by this painting! I think it might be time for my ABS challenge debut!

cindydolezaldesigns said...

http://www.cindydolezaldesigns.blogspot.com/

Cory said...

What a great painting...beautiful color palette.

elisabeth said...

LOVED this picture - blogged about it and my entry here: http://beadsforbusygals.blogspot.com/2011/02/little-girls-and-lanterns-february-art.html

rosebud101 said...

I blogged about this today. Here's the link.
http://rosebud101-fortheloveofbeads.blogspot.com/2011/02/art-bead-scene-february-monthly.html

Frank Zweegers said...

Beautiful work!

beautifullybrokenme said...

I just love this inspiration piece! I posted my entry here:

http://beautifullybrokenme.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-art-bead-scene-challenge.html

Thanks!

:) Molly

Cory said...

My entry is posted here:
http://art-with-moxie.blogspot.com/2011/02/abs-feb-2011-challenge.html

Stories They Tell said...

I blogged about my experience in interpreting this painting here:
http://storiestheytell.blogspot.com/2011/02/risk-and-reward.html

Sweet Willow Designs said...

I blogged about my entry here http://sweetwillowdesigns.blogspot.com/.

Holly said...

John Singer Sargent has always been one of my favorite painters. His use of light is just incredible!

I blogged about my entry here - http://silverrosedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/art-bead-scene-february-challenge.html

m.e. said...

WHAT WAS I THINKING ?
LOL!!!
You can find out out how my entry evolved in my blog post
http://beetreebyme.blogspot.com/2011/02/just-for-fun.html
m.e. :D

Mackin-Art said...

I blogged about my entry at:
http://mackin-art.blogspot.com/2011/02/night-garden.html