I was thinking the same thing.

It kind of misses the whole point of the project though, which is to have everyone interpret the same prompt. If you're picking and choosing between mermaids and unicorns, it's no longer the same prompt. That's my only issue with it. Does that make sense?

The point is to have the same exact jumping off point and have everyone interpret it. When I said I was choosing between mermaids and unicorns I meant in my head I'd been deciding whether the prompt would be about mermaids OR unicorns, not that we were doing both. I apologize if that was unclear.

Ok, I'd like to post the project guidelines/my vision BEFORE we start hashing out details. I'm going to do that at 5AM because frankly I'm a little cranky about all the comments and questions when I specifically asked people to please wait until I posted the project. I'm also on my period, so please excuse my lack of more patience LOL. I'm gonna work on the project right now and get it up ASAP but will probably take a while to type up.

I will *NOT* be posting sign ups yet, to let people speak their minds but I also feel too many cooks in the kitchen can be a bad thing better than a good thing but I also know we've been a democratic thread so I will CONSIDER other points of view before finalizing the project for sign ups.

MY VISION
 

***MERMAID PAINTING EXTRAVAGANZA***

This project was born out of a personal project I did myself during the month of May with another online art group. The fabulous mixed media artist Jane Davenport started a project called "Mermay" and the idea was this: It was centered around mermaids, hence it being "Mermay". For every day of the month of may she issued a prompt for the day for everyone to interpret in their own way with the only restriction being that it had to be a mermaid. For instance one prompt was "Spectacles and tentacles" one was "Hello sailor" and another was "Musical scales". I did do a mermaid every day for the month of May and Gemme followed this on Facebook, which brings us here.

She said she enjoyed seeing my mermaids every day and would like to see a project where everyone interpreted the same prompt, like I did for Mermay, in this thread. So I of course jumped on it and said wow, I'd love to wrangle that. Perhaps I did so prematurely, but stick with me folks until the end before we discuss the project.

Now, what made Mermay fun is that it was a Facebook group of 20,000 people interpreting the SAME prompt every day and coming up with such diverse works of art. You wouldn't believe some people's ingenuity. I'd love to do that here.

The idea for our project is thus: create ONE painting for your partner interpreting the prompt/challenge I issue to the group. For this project I would like to introduce the prompt of creating a mermaid with FRECKLES AND SPECKLES in mind. This can be interpreted in any way you see fit. Use your imaginations! (Again, the whole point being seeing how people interpret the same prompt). Everyone will create their painting for their partner, which will randomly be assigned by me. I will NOT be personally be pairing people together to be fair. It will be more of a pick names out of a hat type of dealio. In the event of an odd number of participants I volunteer as wrangler to partner with the extra person as well and make two paintings. I'll end up getting two paintings in my possession in the end, which may not seem fair, but I will also be putting forth twice the work not to mention wrangling so that's my way of dealing with an odd number of participants.

THE PAINTING: should be 5 x 7 inches in size to allow enough room to do a proper painting but still be easily mailable. PLEASE be thoughtful in your process as everyone will be working very hard on this and wants to receive something as special as they made so bring out your bells and whistles! It's not a contest about ability, anyone can join, but just be sure to put your best foot forward and put time and thought into your painting. Please make sure the painting is the correct size and flat enough to mail reasonably. I like my embellishments as much as the next girl or guy, and you can use some but please don't try and send something through the mail that's 3D or super heavy.

I suggest everyone cut a piece of watercolor paper down to size instead of using cardstock, as cardstock tends to buckle when anything wet is introduced. So if you want to use paint or even Mod Podge, please consider this suggestion. If you are using only dry media, such as colored pencils or crayons or fabric, cardstock should suffice but good quality paper is always a nice touch. That's just my plug.

THE TIMELINE: I suggest 8 weeks to complete this project. It's involved and I want to allow people to really use their imaginations and create something that showcases their best ability and effort. The sign up (once I post it) will be up for one week, then the 8 week period will commence. If anyone out of the country feels they need extra time to allow for longer mailing periods PLEASE mention it at the front end of the project when you sign up and we will add an extra week (I think this is what we decided) for you. All rules and regulations apply to this project but I'm not going to ass the blurb now.

Ok, feel free to discuss: the mermaid vs. unicorn dilemma (knowing I STRONGLY feel it should just be mermaids), size of project, timelines, etc. I will try to check my impatience and be open to suggestions and what the majority of the group wants. The one thing I will NOT budge on is my prompt of SPECKLES AND FRECKLES.

AWESOME idea!!!
 

I agree with everything CCB. The only thing I ask that you add is Gemme's suggestion of posting pics of our artwork after we have received them. It feels very unfair (!) and also misses out on an important aspect of the project if only you get to see all the artworks and different interpretations, and we each only get to see one. I realize this is also asking you to do extra work, but I would personally appreciate it very much. One alternative I can suggest - everyone could send in their original artwork, and enough photocopies for everyone else. That way, each person would receive one original artwork and photocopies of all the others. (This is just an alternative idea for everyone's perusal, I am equally open to either the pics in the gallery or photocopies.)

Thanks for your input clay, Gemme, and GeorgiaMa'am.

I agree that an esstential part of the project is lost when you only get to see one person's interpretation of the theme. I like GeorgiaMa'am's idea of submitting enough photocopies with the original for the other participants so everyone gets to see what everyone else did!

I won't be able to participate in the next group art project, but I like mermaid art and will look forward to reading about ccb's latest group artwork project.

Also, I just want to express my appreciation to all members (past and present) for the genuine commarderie among everyone and to say also, that I am proud of everyone for expressing their views and assisting in negotiating for equity among members of the art group, and for clarity and application of rules for member participation.


--K. :bunchflowers:

I gots NATURE!!!!
 

Great idea, Ga!!
 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for all the precious ATC art I received today in the mail!!!

Each ATC was an joy to see and I loved the personal notes and cards that came with them. :stillheart:

What an group of amazing artists we have in our community!

I treasure each one and I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart.



--K. :hk2:

CCB, first (and I put this in rep but mentioning here too), you and I were posting at the same time, so I missed your post reminding folks to wait on the input and gave input! How embarrassing. My apologies!

I'm good with mermaids. I'm good with 5 by 7. I'm good with photocopies. I personally prefer photocopies because I am a little more private with my art and like to keep it amongst the group, but that's just me.

I have some questions / clarifications:

1) If I am understanding correctly, it can be a watercolor painting but alternatively the participant is allowed to choose a different type of paint or dry media only (pens, pencils, crayons, markers). Is this correct?

2) Is collage another option, and if so can it all be collage, and if not, what is the ratio that generally could be collage? I am thinking along the lines of something like tiny torn paper collages, that kind of thing. With a 5 by 7 background of course.

3) Will we know who we are making the art for once the sign-up has closed and you have had time to draw the names from a hat? I am hoping yes, as I like to use that individual as a muse while I work on the art.

4) Is it okay to integrate words into our projects?

1) It does NOT have to be a watercolor painting, I was just saying watercolor paper usually makes the best base. You can color pencil, crayon, marker, acrylic your little heart out. There are NO rules as to what can be used.

2) Collage is absolutely an option. I'd like to keep it to the 5x7 size, but that's the only constraint. What you described sounds perfect.

3) I will announce the partners as soon as I have assigned them so you can know who you are creating for. Using one another as muses is exactly what I want,!

4) Of course :)

Also, no worries about posting a question while I was reminding people to wait, it happens and it was mainly out of my own crankiness anyways, which I apologize for.

I really have ZERO rules or exceptions as far as what materials be used as long as it's notunusually heavy or thick. I don't think that would be a problem with anyone but just keep in mind it does have to be mailed.

I hear you on keeping the copies of art within the group. I think color photocopies is the way to go.

Thank you very much, CCB. Very excited for the project!

I will wait to post final details and sign ups until we have heard from nanners, as she said she was coming back. Also allow others to chime in with questions or concerns.

What does it mean that it is postmarked 6/7/18? That it wasn't mailed until the date of 6/7/18? My apologies for not knowing all the mail terminology :blink:

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