Challenge #30 - Sky

Draw, paint, collage a sky (sunny, clouds, night time, realistic, doodled, abstract, fantasy...) and add any elements you like.
Have fun and don't forget to post a photo of your art on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy and be inspired.

Challenge #29 - Back to Childhood!

Interpret this any way you like!
You can draw children (family or imaginary ones), journal about a childhood memory, collage about your childhood, childhood stuff like toys/films/TV shows... You name it! The sky is the limit!
For tutorials on how to draw children, check the following:

• On YouTube search for drawing children
• www.dragoart.com, category people.

Have fun and please share your creation(s) on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. Happy creating! :-D

Challenge #28 - Markers Only!

Easy one: just use markers/felt tip pens only on your page for this challenge (I love Sharpies, but anything will do). The rest is all up to you!
Just enjoy and please share your page(s) on our Facebook page. Happy creating! :-)

Challenge #27 - Flowers

Realistic flowers, doodles, paint strokes, collage, finger painting, there era just so many ways to create flowers. With collage, you can crumple your paper so that your flower can be 3D.
Search on Pinterest for inspiration and check out the following links for different techniques on how to draw flowers:

• www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Flower shows you 9 ways to draw a flower
• www.dragoart.com/flowers-c391-1.htm, loads of different types of flower tutorials to choose from
• www.dragoart.com/flowers-for-kids-c410-1.htm, great for beginners
• On YouTube, from HowToDrawAndPaint, How to Draw Flower Step by Step - Blue Daisy Drawing Lesson MLT
• Search for doodle flowers on google
• If your flowers are big enough, you can fill in your doodled flowers with zentangles. Check Joanne Fink's gallery on her blog at www.zenspirations.com in category Floral Fantasy.

For this challenge, just draw flowers, any way you like, no restrictions.

Just have fun and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy! :-)

Challenge #26 - Borders

Borders can be used around a photo/drawing as a frame, or around text (title, quote, journaling).
Doodles are a great and easy style for borders, but you can also use collage to make your frame, as well as paint strokes/dots. Anything goes.
Check on Pinterest for inspiration; there are some fantastic examples for you to choose from and get started.
Also, watch Joanne Fink's awesome video on borders and frames on her blog; it gives you so many different options. The video on Patterning Techniques is also very useful on ideas on how to fill in your frame for your border, and the video on Dangle Designs gives you a more unusual and original style of border.
Have fun bordering and experimenting, and don't forget to post a photo of your page(s) on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy! :-D

Challenge #25 - What's in Front of You?

Now this one is pretty self-explanatory. Just sit down and create a page about what's in front of you. You can draw it, paint it, collage it, journal about it, mix it up... Totally your call! Drawings can be as realistic, or as abstract, or as doodle-like as you want. No limits!
Don't think too much, just go with the flow and remember to share your art on our Facebook page. :-)

Challenge #24 - Speech Bubbles

Do any page you like, using any supplies and materials you want, all you need for this challenge is at least one speech bubble on your page (drawn, painted, printed from the computer, cut out from a magazine...). The rest is all up to you.
Search speech bubbles on Google and Pinterest for inspiration.
Your speech bubbles can be as simple or as fancy as you want them to be. Just have fun and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. :-)

Challenge #23 - Yourself

This project is all about yourself. Use any media you want, present it any way you like.
Just a few ideas, but by no means exhaustive:

• Self portrait (draw/paint yourself)
• Choose a word that defines you and illustrate around it
• Collage of photos, draw words, doodles, things that say something about you, what you like.
• You can present it in grid composition, Art Journal page, comic strip style, front page magazine style, speech bubbles filled in with words, doodles or/and photos, anything you want.
• You can paint, draw your background.
• You can use a mixture of these.

Anything goes!

Have fun and please share your self portrait on our Facebook page so we can get to know you. :-D

Challenge #22 - Christmas Paper/Card

Design your own Christmas paper or card. You can use ink stamps, drawings, collage, embellishments, paints.... Well, anything that you can get your hands on; don't be scared to get out of your comfort zone, it's always fun to experiment; it helps you grow and shows you what works for you and what doesn't.

For inspiration, have a look on Pinterest, and check out the following tutorials:

• www.dragoart.com, in categories, click on seasonal -- Christmas
• On YouTube, from doodle academy, look for How to draw a Christmas tree simple drawing tutorial for beginners
• On Google, search for Christmas drawings step by step.

If you are making wrapping paper, you can use kraft paper in a roll; at least you know you'll have enough to wrap bigger presents. If the present to gift-wrap is small, you can just use normal white cheap printer paper, paint background colour and decorate it using your chosen media.

You can keep it or give your card/use your paper for someone special, but before you do, don't forget to take a photo and post it on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. :-D

Challenge #21 - Animals

Animals are really fun to draw, and bring a really cute touch to your page.
Check out the Dragoart website for awesome tutorials (I love this website!); in categories, click on For Kids and Animals for Kids. These are great for beginners. They also have amazing tutorials for more advanced levels; just browse their categories.

For this challenge, just pick an animal and draw it. Doodled, realistic, abstract, black and white, colours, you choose!
You can use a photo or a picture of your chosen animal and use tracing paper for the basic features, then just build on it (if you do, you HAVE to colour it in, otherwise it's cheating!! ;-) lol!!!)

Have fun and please share your creation(s) on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy!!! :-D

Challenge #20 - Your Favourite Colour

For this one, just go free style! Pick your favourite colour and use only this colour on your page. Create different shades of your colour by adding white to lighten, and darker shades as well for contrast. All the rest is totally YOUR CALL.
Have fun and don't forget to post your page on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy and be inspired. :-)

Challenge #19 - "Chill"

An easy one: create a page about what you do to chill. Words or not, colour or not - you choose.
Use any media you want, no restrictions, just express yourself.

Have fun and don't forget to share your creation on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy. :-)

Challenge #18 - Event Poster

For this challenge, you need to design a poster to advertise your event (real or imaginary). Make it catchy to capture people's attention. Lettering style is going to be important to grab attention while still passing on the information easily. Not to many styles, visible letters, font size are a must to make your poster effective.
Draw, paint, use collage, mix them up, anything goes, but always keep in mind Information and Eye-catching.
For inspiration, have a look on Pinterest, or google for images of event posters.
Once completed, please share your art on our Facebook page for everyone to enjoy! :-)

Challenge #17 - Faces

For this challenge, I'd like you to focus on faces. It can be quite daunting for beginners but once you grasp the basics (size and position of each feature of the face), you can easily draw a pretty decent face.
Check these tutorials for the basics, they give really fab tips and instructions:

• www.wikihow.com/Draw-Human-Faces
• www.dragoart.com, on categories, select For Kids -- People for Kids -- tutorial 42 How to draw a face for kids.

On your page, draw a face or a collection of faces, colour in or not, realistic or doodled - your choice!

Have fun and don't forget to share your art and check out other people's creations on our Facebook page. :-)

Challenge #16 - Quote

I LOVE quotes, they can be so inspirational.
For this challenge, choose a quote that speaks to you/defines you/makes you smile, and illustrate it in any way you like. You can use different lettering styles, colours, collage, photos, paint, doodles, mixed media style background, anything that will make your page interesting, but make sure that the focus is on the quote.
For a great selection of inspiring quotes, check out the following links:

• www.goodreads.com/quotes
• www.brainyquote.com
• www.wisdomquotes.com
• Pinterest (also great inspiration on how to illustrate your quote)

Have fun and please share your art on our Facebook page.

Challenge #15 - Lines

This challenge is all about going linear. Black and white, coloured, text, arrows, collage, mix, up, down or diagonal - interpret it anyway you like and express it any way you want! The only rule is that your lines must all go in the same direction (no criss cross!!! Lol!).
Go bonkers, have fun and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page. :-)

Challenge #14 - A Goal To Keep You On Track!

For this challenge, choose a goal and create a (mini) poster to put up on your wall, fridge... to keep you on track. You can have it any size, format you like. Colour it in, decorate and illustrate it any way you want. All supplies go. Art Journal style works well with this but you are in no way restricted to this. You can use doodled borders, speech bubbles, collage, the sky's the limit!
Remember that this is to keep you motivated so make it attractive!
Good luck!
Again, have fun and share your poster on our Facebook page.

Challenge #13 - Landscapes

For this challenge, just use any supplies you like, create any landscape you want (outside your window, fantasy, your happy place, make it up, holiday, copy from a photo or painting, you name it!).
For useful tips on how to organise your landscape composition, check out this link.
Again, you don't have to create a realistic landscape for this challenge. It's your call: you can go traditional or totally crazy. All you need to do is have fun with it. Whatever works for you!
Don't forget to post your page(s) and check out other people's art on our Facebook page.

Challenge #12 - Still Life

This challenge is all about drawing an object or a selection of objects.
For tips on how to draw still life, check out the step by step tutorial on www.wikihow.com/Draw-Still-Life. This gives you great instructions on how to draw a realistic still life composition. It's a perfect place to start but, for this challenge, please do not feel restricted by this (even if this tutorial will help you grasp the basics and give you a place to start); your page does not have to be realistic; you can have it abstract or doodle-like if you wish.
Have fun and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page.

Challenge 11 - Big & Bold

For this challenge, anything goes. Big and bold is the word for shapes, lines, colours, letters, mix and match. Interpret it any way you feel like.
Enjoy and don't forget to share your pages on our Facebook page.

Challenge 10 - Black & White

Create anything you like, just no colours. BLACK & WHITE only. You can use black on white paper or white on black paper, black and white photos...
Have fun with this challenge, and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page.

Challenge #9 - Art Journal Page

The definition of Art Journaling is "to combine art and words to express yourself. No rules, it's all about self expression" (debbiehodge.com). You can actually write your story (an event, feelings...), or use a quote, a title or just one word, whatever message you want to pass on. You can use drawings, paint, collage, ink stamps, to name but a very few, in combination with the words. Mixed Media techniques are very often used for the Art Journal pages, but they are not restricted to this art style. You can have your page as simple or as elaborate as you want.
For inspiration, you can check the following:

• www.daisyyellowart.com: go on the Home page, scroll down and click on the right hand side on the image Daisy Yellow Art Journaling 101 - Start an Art Journal
• www.daisyyellow.squarespace.com/abstract/art-journaling-101-for-kids-teens-beginners.html
• Pinterest 
• www.createmixedmedia.com

Have fun art journaling (you might catch the bug when you see how easy it can be!) and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page

Challenge #8 - Mixed Media

Mixed Media art is an extremely popular and trendy form of art. It is a technique involving the use of two or more artistic media, such as ink and pastel or painting and collage, that are combined in a single composition. Anything goes and perfection is not the object. It usually involved building layers of media, which means that you will have to use a thick paper or canvas for this style.
YouTube offers a vast array of impressive videos showing how to create a mixed media composition. The following, I think, will be extremely invaluable in showing you all the possibilities offered by this amazing form of art:

• From artistsnetwork, Easy Mixed Media Techniques for the Art Journal with Seth Apter. Instead of using fluid acrylics, a cheaper option is to use kids paint, which can be watered down if you want the paint to be more translucent.
• From Christie Tomlinson, Christie Tomlinson Mixed Media Collage: She Art (tease to the She Art Class) & Somerset Studio Project
• From EphemerasGarden, A Little Rain - Mixed Media Canvas by Debbie-Ann Parent
• From MixedMediaJenn, Mixed Media Art Journal Page #4. Instead of Modge Podge and Aileen's Tacky Glue, you can use PVA Glue.
• From Rach0113, 2 amazing videos, which make Mixed Media look so easy, Mixed Media Journal Page - Dance In The Rain, and Mixed Media Painting - Elements of Magic.

Now have fun: paint rough, glue newspaper bits, crepe paper, tissue paper, printed paper serviettes (remove all layers and only keep the printed layer), use crayons, blend, scribble, spray paint, doodle, use glitter pens, gel pens, splatter paint, glue photos, letters printed from the computer, journal, stamp, anything goes. Just get MESSY!!

You can create a messy background and build on it by adding layers. Each layer you add will make your Mixed Media page more authentic, unique and personal. Make sure you let each layer dry before starting a new one.

Grab what you can find around the house to use as stamps, stencils or make your own.

To make spray paint, drop a splat of paint in a clean spray bottle (garden spray, household, cosmetic, I use travel spray bottles for mine) and add a little bit of water. Shake well and spray to test. Add more water if it is too thick.

You won't necessarily need a canvas for this challenge but you will need a thicker weight paper (HomeBargains/The Works). 

You can print elements from Word clip arts or Internet images. Copy them into Word/Publisher so you can resize them easily. You also have the option of printing these in grayscale, to have black and white images contrast with the colours you will use, or even colour them in (in full or partly).

As you can see, there are just no limits to what you can do with Mixed Media.

So have fun, go crazy, and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page.

Challenge #7 - Collage

All you need for collage is glue and paper, essentially. However, you can make things a lot more interesting by adding a variety of other materials, like fabric, cardboard, glitter, scrapbooking embellishments, buttons, ribbons, to name just a very few.
Watch the video on collage ideas for kids (always a great place to start, especially if you are a beginner). You can also google and check on Pinterest for images on collage. And you can find an interesting tutorial on Tissue Paper Collage from a Wordpress blog. Another great video on the use of collage is the Mixed Media Collage Technique from Diane Marra on YouTube; it links perfectly with the next challenge, which will be Mixed Media. In the video, the artist uses Matte Medium to glue the paper, but you can easily use PVA Glue instead as a cheaper alternative.
I hope you enjoy this challenge, glue along, and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page.
Happy collaging!

Challenge #6 - Patchwork/Grid Composition

Grid/patchwork compositions are very compartmented, which enables to use different styles for each box, creating a variation of colours and visual effects on the page. You can make it as easy or as intricate as you want, that's the beauty of it.
Check on Pinterest for inspiration, and watch the video from the Daisy Yellow website about Grid Composition. It will give you loads of ideas on what you can do with this kind of composition.
For the challenge, you can use the example on the video, or draw a grid on your page (it does not have to be regular) and fill in all the boxes with doodles, words, photos, collage, colours, anything you can think of. You can stick to one type (e.g. colours) or a mixture of the above.
Have some fun with it, and don't forget to share your page(s) on our Facebook page. Your art will always bring inspiration to others as other people's will inspire you.

Challenge #5 - Negative Space

In art, negative space is the space around and between the subjects of an image. It can be objects and/or words. To make it simple, if you write on white paper with a black marker, all that is white on your page is the negative space.
Great tutorial for kids on www.teachkidsart.net/tag/positivenegative-space/. It shows you different options with what you can do with negative space.
You can also google for images of negative space art, there's quite a few really good examples, but don't search on Pinterest as I found their results not very enlightening.
Have fun playing with negative space and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecreativechallenges50 .

Challenge #4 - Lettering

Our fourth challenge is lettering styles. There are so many around us everywhere.
Lettering styles make the message on a page stand out. It can be formal, whimsical, fun, elegant, modern. So many options to choose from.
For inspiration, go on Pinterest and search lettering, alphabets, fancy alphabets. There's plenty to choose from. Also, check www.thelilypad.com website. They are a digital scrapbooking website and if you check their shop, they have an impressive collection of alphas (select from the left hand side in categories). A lot of them are hand drawn and will inspire you no doubt.
For this challenge, you can create an alphabet or use a quote or lyric or title of a book/film/series etc, to show off your lettering styles. You can either keep to the same style or mix them up, your call.
Have fun and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecreativechallenges50
Happy lettering!!!

Challenge #3 - Zentangles

Zentangles are an amazing way to relax. It consists of drawing repetitive patterns in each section of your page. It has been extremely popular for a few years, does not require any particular supplies apart from paper and pen, and is very easy. They do look very intricate, but they're not.
There are many teachers and artists over the world who have been conquered by this art style, but I've got to say, Suzanne McNeill is, for me, the best. I have a few of her books and her blog shows all the step by steps on how to draw the hundreds of different zentangle patterns you can do.
Go on her blog at www.blog.suzannemcneill.com and you can see all the step by step designs (there are over 100 on her blog so it takes a while to have a look at them all, but when you do, I recommend you print the easy ones and the ones you like as you go along, to have handy when you're ready to draw).
You can also search on YouTube for zentangles for beginners or zentangles Suzanne McNeill. 2 good and easy ones are, how to zentangle with Suzanne McNeill, and zentangling for beginners from PenToPaper14.
For this challenge, you can use any shape you like, you can even use block letters to fill in with zentangle patterns. If you don't have a fine marker, you can use a biro pen, but if you do, make sure you don't rub on your design or it will smudge!
Have fun and enjoy the relaxing properties of zentangling.
And don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecreativechallenges50

Challenge #2 - Starburst

Starburst pages can be very eye-catching, and there's so much you can do with this type of composition.
Get your inspiration from Pinterest for starburst drawings, there are LOADS. And watch this amazing tutorial from www.daisyyellowart.com. It is this simple!
The tutorial from Daisy Yellow is obviously an example. Your starburst can be as big or as small as you want it to be; it can be on the whole page or just an element on your page (it is easier if it's big though). You can use collage, paints, pencils, markers, or a mixture. Your call.
Please note that if you want to paint over your starburst after it's drawn like on the video, use a waterproof marker/pen or it will smudge like hell! Been there! Unviable Eye Fine waterproof/fade proof or Uni Pin fine line from Mitsubishi Pencil Co Ltd are my faves and can be found in WHSmith, or use a permanent marker pen like Sharpie (you will need an extra fine or fine).
Have fun and don't forget to share your art on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thecreativechallenges50

Challenge #1 - Abstract Portrait

Our first challenge is drawing an abstract portrait - of yourself, someone you know or make it all up.
No need to worry about realism, proportions and precision, here it's all over the place! You just can't go wrong with this one!
A little inspiration:

• Pinterest, just search Abstract Portrait
• www.daisyyellowart.com: on the Home page, have a look at the post from 19/09/2014 - Tangent No 6 - Quirky Girls, and click on {link to tutorial}. This is a great example of what you can do.
• Google, search images for Picasso abstract portraits
• YouTube: 2 fab videos. From Raeart, how to paint like Picasso abstract art acrylic painting; and from SakuraColorProduct, how to draw an abstract self portrait: fun art project for kids and adults.

For this challenge, you can use anything you want: pens, pencils, paints, markers, highlighters, collage. It's YOUR call!

Have fun!

Can't wait to see your page on our Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/thecreativechallenges50