In addition to her own painting and blogging regimen, the indefatigable Karin Jurick (who I have written about previously here, as well as in my posts on “painting a day” painter/bloggers here and here) has a new project in which she participates, guides and hosts a collaborative painting blog based on a simple but fascinating concept: multiple artists’ interpretations of the same scene.
Different Strokes from Different Folks starts with the premise that multiple artists paint a painting from the same photograph. Jurick provides the photograph and gets the ball rolling in each case with her own interpretation, leaving subsequent submissions open to any artists who wish to participate.
She emphasizes that the intent is to paint the scene and not the photograph, which is basically a digital stand-in for the physical impossibility of all of the artists painting on location together. Each artist looks for their own composition and interpretation of the subject.
Each session starts on Wednesday evening and is open for a week. The results are posted on the blog with links to each participating artist’s web site or blog. The original photograph is posted first, followed by Jurick’s starting piece and followed by subsequent submissions in sequence.
Those interested in participating should read the instructions on the blog’s sidebar carefully. Submissions are limited to traditional media, must be sent directly to her email address, with a specific subject line, as a JPEG file (not as a link and no blurry photos) and accompanied each time by the artist’s name and web site or blog address (regardless of previous submissions).
The result is a fascinating look at how different artists interpret the same scene in paint, and once each session has ended they participating paintings can be viewed as a group, as well as in the blog post (weekly results links on the sidebar).
Jurick also posts her own painting, and often a composite poster of the others, on her own blog.
As of this writing, the subject is the Cloud Gate sculpture (locally known as “The Bean”) in Millennium Park in Chicago.
(Image above: left column: Karin Jurick, Emma Pierce, Dean Haven, Nancy Rhodes Harper; right column: Alice Thompson, Tommye Easterlin, original photograph)
I just wanted to say thanks for including me in your article about Karin’s Different Strokes Blog. She is one of my favorite artists and also a favorite person. I think she is so generous to include other artists in this venture. I enjoy your website so much.
Mr Parker, you should join in a DSFDF weekly challenge and show us how a webcomics/cartoonist/illustrator thinks.
I would love to see what you can do!
I am always proud to be mentioned on your blog Charley - and thank you for featuring the Different Strokes Blog. I have come to realize we are all starving for motivation and subject matter and this weekly challenge seems to give many the push that’s needed - and that’s a good thing.
Hey Charley,
I just came from checking Karin’s blog out, to see what you had posted today, and was surprised to see Karin’s work again. She does interesting paintings with beautiful brushwork. I love her museum portraits, and I’m always psyched to see if she has anything new up on her site. I haven’t participated in the Different Strokes project, but it’s a really fun idea. I’m glad someone is coming up with more ways for us to build a community and share.
Hope all is well
Thanks for the input, Colin. Yes, it’s a terrific idea. I’ll be writing an update post on Karin’s work in the next month or so.
Karin’s doing some pretty cool stuff and the “Different Strokes” idea is another “stroke” of genius on her part. I might have to try one of her challenges myself yet.
I am amazed at how Karin can attend so well to so many artistic tasks. She is a top ranking talent. Thanks, Charley, for the inclusion of my painting in this article. DSFDF is a great motivator.
This is the first time I participated in Karin’s blog and am very excited to see my work mentioned on your blog. It was a lot of fun painting the “Bean” and I’m looking forward to see what her challenge is for next week. Thanks again. Erma Pierce
Over the past few weeks, I have visited the websites and blogs of artists who have posted their paintings to Karin’s new blog, Different Strokes. I wrote Karin that this latest endeavor is a stroke of brilliance on her part. Wittingly, or unwittingly, she has raised the bar for many of the artists who are participating. They seem to be producing paintings of a higher caliber and better quality than much of their previous work. And that’s no small thing.
I congratulate all of you artists who are participating in this new venture. Those of us who follow the art world extensively are taking note.
Karin always comes up with fresh ideas, from her “alphabet” series, to the books of her daily paintings to now, the “Different Strokes”
blog.
I don’t know when she has time for it all, but she loves to challenge herself and those around her.
I am going to join in one of these days to paint my own “different strokes.”
Kay Crain
Charley, great post and plenty of content in your blog.
Thanks also to Karin Jurick for her stimulating blog. There are great things happening in the blogosphere. So exciting.
I was thrilled to find the weekly challenge. Just tried my first one (NYSE) and cant wait to see what Karin has for us next.
Kathleen
interesting, interpretation is certainly in the eye of the beholder