Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Nominate the Best Art (Portrait/Figures) on an Art Blog in 2011

You are invited to NOMINATE an artwork on an art blog for
The Making a Mark Prize for Best Picture - Portrait / Figures 2011
This prize aims to celebrate and highlight excellence 
in portraiture and/or artwork predominantly involving figures 

Today the nominations open for the Making A Mark awards - starting with a call for entries for The Making a Mark Prize for Best Picture - Portrait / Figures 2011

This post covers:
  • eligibility of the artist 
  • eligibility of the artwork
  • who can nominate
  • how to nominate

SHORTLISTED IN 2010
by Antti Rautiola (Antti Rautiola)
100 x 70cm, 2010 
Previous winners of this award include:
Will it be another female artist who wins in 2011?

PLEASE SHARE THIS LINK WITH OTHERS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED

Eligibility

Tell us all whose artwork involving portraiture or figures you appreciated in 2011.

Eligible artwork (drawings / paintings / prints):
  • 2D artwork is eligible - artwork can be a painting (in any media) or a drawing (in any media) or a fine art print (using any method)
  • artwork must have been completed in 2011 and appeared on on an art or illustrated blog in 2011 and prior to 5th December 2011
  • Work is NOT eligible if it appears to be be one or more of the following:
    • was not completed in 2011
    • has not appeared on an art blog in 2011
    • over-reliant on a photograph not taken by the artist
    • subjected to lots of digital manipulation/tweaks (over and above that needed to make it read 'true' on screen)
    • a photograph
  • For the artwork to be shortlisted, the nominated artist must agree in writing to their work being displayed on this blog as part of the shortlist (you can seek their agreement after the nomination)
Please be careful to check the date of the artwork and when it was posted to ensure eligibility.

Eligible artists
  • In 2011, any artist creating portraits or artwork predominantly involving figures - real or imaginary - and posting their work to their personal art or illustrated blog can be nominated.
  • An artist who has not won this prize in the last three years (ie 2008-2010) - as listed at the top of this post
  • Only artists with independent art blogs operating in 2011 are eligible. (The awards exclude all corporate blogs and/or paid blogging.)
  • An artist can be nominated more than once - by different people - for different works
  • An artist can be nominated more than once - by different people - for the same work
  • No canvassing is allowed 
    • Artists can announce the awards on their blog and/or the fact they have been nominated 
    • Artists can reference on their art blog only
      • the fact they have been shortlisted and 
      • the post on this blog where the vote is taking place .
    • Neither the artist nor the person nominating can canvas for votes - canvassing will result in disqualification.  (Canvassing = repeated mentions and/or touting for votes on other sites)
Who can nominate
  • An artist can nominate their own work 
  • Nominations are only accepted from people with an art blog.  In order to nominate you must have an art or illustrated blog and be capable of being identified by me.
    • Anonymous nominations are not permitted.  (This is purely to stop spammers as I link to the blogs of all those who have nominated in a later post summarising the nominations!)
  • All nominations must be in English
How to Nominate

To nominate - just COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POST providing all the necessary details (see below) BEFORE 24th December 2011.  Nominations received will be posted on 24th December.

Your nominations MUST identify:
  • the title of the piece
  • the name of the artist,
  • the size and medium (if possible)
  • the name and URL of the blog (eg The Art Blog - http://artblog.blogspot.com)
  • the date, title and URL of the blog post in which the artwork appears (please provide a link)
  • SAY WHY YOU LIKE THE WORK - this bit is really important so please do the best you can. Remember that nominations are open and transparent and that it's good to share a genuine tribute to a piece of work you like
  • You need to ask the artist if their work can be posted on my blog - and let me know what the answer is.  This can happen after the nomination and BEFORE 24th December.
  • An artist can nominate their own work.
What happens next

  • Nominations close just after midnight on 23rd December 2011
  • On 24th December, a list of all nominations is posted - including a link to the person who nominated 
  • I will then select a shortlist of three works from the nominations 
  • The shortlist and the invite to vote for your favourite artwork for The Making a Mark Prize for Best Artwork - Portrait / Figures 2011 will be posted on 26th December 2011
  • This winner of the category prize is also eligible for the overall Making A Mark Prize for The Best Picture on an Art Blog in 2011.
  • The winners will be announced on this blog on 30th December 2011
  • Read Making A Mark: End of Year Review 2011 and consult the links below (to be posted) to find out more about the other Making A Mark Awards.
Please also NOMINATE for other MAKING A MARK AWARDS 
calls for entry will be posted this week and next

Invites to nominate for the remaining different categories associated with the Best Picture Award are listed below. The order of call for entries for the remaining nominations is as follows:
  • 8th December - Best Landscape
  • 9th December - Best Still Life
  • 10th December - Best Nature (botanical, natural history or wildlife) 
  • Nominations for the other awards will follow in the week commencing 12th December 
    • Making A Mark Nominations: Generating Art - 12th December
      • The Painting a Day Stickability Shield 
      • The Best Art Blog Project Virtual Challenge Cup
      • NEW IN 2011 - The Best Art Society Blog
    • Making A Mark Nominations: Getting Out of the Studio - 13th December
      • The Painting Plein Air Plus Prize 
      • The Travels with a Sketchbook Trophy 
      • The Going Greener Gong
    • Making A Mark Nominations: Learning about Art & the Art Business - 14th December 
      • The FAQs and Answers Really Useful Medal 
      • The Make Me Think Gong 
      • The Best Book by an Art Blogger Blue Ribbon
    • Making A Mark Nominations: The Home Front - 15th December 
      • “The Moose” - the award for the best animal in an illustrated blog
      • The “Tales from the Frontline” Amusing Musings Trophy
      • The Most Gorgeous Mouthwatering (MGM) Studio of the Year
Links - Making A Mark Awards 2011

16 comments:

  1. I'd like to nominate Taryn Day's piece "Leah at Sea" (oil on panel, 6in x 6in). Her blog is Awake and Painting .

    The original post is Leah at Sea .

    Taryn's handling of the paint seems to reflect Leah's personality. You immediately understand that Leah is confident and adventurous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. title: #136 • Laughed Ray
    artist: Tilen Ti
    size and medium: 12" x 24" oil painting with palette knife
    name and URL of the blog: Tilen-artplanet - http://tilen-artplanet.blogspot.com/
    date, title and URL of the blog post: May 15, 2011, http://tilen-artplanet.blogspot.com/2011/05/136-laughed-ray.html
    SAY WHY YOU LIKE THE WORK - Brave + Bold + Bright

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is Casey Klahn's nomination which he posted as a comment to yesterday's post announcing the 2011 awards
    ________________________________________

    Here is an early response, but we are almost half the world apart by time zones.

    It pleases me to nominate Antti Rautiola, for Best Portrait/Figure. His image, http://rautiola.blogspot.com/2011/03/girl-with-lambs.html
    62 x 90 cm
    Oil on canvas 2011may be found here: http://rautiola.blogspot.com/2011/03/girl-with-lambs.html

    Mr. Rautiola, of Helsinki, paints his three daughters as subjects, and the results are intimate, and at the same time they have an "everyman" aspect. The angular lighting of his scenes adds to this effect.

    The loose application of his paint keeps these otherwise personally important scenes at the viewer's level, and so there is no barrier between the viewer and the ideas the artist is presenting.

    Simply wonderful.

    This Girl with lambs painting adds a herd of domestic animals to the child scene. The lambs are as attentive to what the girl brings as I am to what the artist does!

    Tuesday, December 06, 2011

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Katherine

    I'd like to nominate the wonderful portrait "Scarlet" (oil, 24"x 24") by Zachary Proctor on zacharyproctor.blogspot.com.

    It was posted on October, 21 2011, and is part of an ongoing series of what is to be 100 portraits.
    As the artist stated: "These paintings (sketches) are all 24"x 24" and are completed for the most part in one session. My goal is to do 100 and have a show with all of them."

    Link to the blog post:#46 Scarlet

    I like the painting nominated because – apart from being very well executed – Zachary Procter manages to paint a very pleasing portrait of a child, catching her sweetness and innocence without drifting into 'overly sweet and kitschy'.
    As with all the portraits in this series, Scarlett is shown face-on, no surroundings, single-colored background. Nothing is taking away from the whimsical, contemplative expression on Scarlet's face.
    It's also worth looking at all the portraits in this series – unique individuals portraits with insight passion.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The title of the piece: Black Sun
    The name of the artist: Dirk Dzimirsky
    The size and medium: Graphite on paper, heightened with white ink
    25.6" x 20.5" (65 x 52 cm)
    The name and URL of the blog: http://dzimirsky.blogspot.com
    The date, title and URL of the blog post: http://dzimirsky.blogspot.com/2011/09/black-sun.html

    SAY WHY YOU LIKE THE WORK:

    Firstly, this piece is a huge achievement showing Dirk's amazing drawing skills and his patience. The tonal variation is remarkable and he has approached this portrait with sensitivity and wonder.

    When I look at this piece, I feel sad, but I also feel thunderstruck at how amazing and inspiring life is. The contradiction of these feelings leaves me feeling puzzled which means I look at the portrait again and again for longer and longer until I feel lost in it. The piece has a timeless quality to it. It's simple and not fussy. I would gladly have this on my wall, even though I don't know the man depicted. It's busting with life, even though there is no colour and no movement. From the shiny eyes to the little bit of spittle on the lips -there is a mood of anticipation in this piece. I can't help but wonder what the man is thinking about? What he wants and where he's been? Who he's loved, who he's lost...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Is is bad to nominate myself? I feel I have continued to grow this year and would like to share.

    title- Nick
    artist - Maria Kovalenko Leysens
    the size and medium- 18 x 22 pastel on Wallis paper
    Name and URL of blog- Maria Kovalenko Leysens-http://mklart.blogspot.com/
    Posted - August 7, 2011- Finished Pastel Portrait of Nick
    http://mklart.blogspot.com/2011/08/finished-pastel-portrait-of-nick.html

    SAY WHY YOU LIKE THE WORK -This is Nick. The painting shows who he is not just what he looks like.

    Feel free to post and use on Making a Mark.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Title- ''ANASTASIA''
    Artist- Maria Villioti
    Size- 41cmx51cm
    Medium- colored pencils on claybord
    blog- ''Art breaths''(pnoes texnis) http://pnoestexnis.blogspot.com/
    post- May 14, 2011 http://pnoestexnis.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_7951.html

    ReplyDelete
  8. title-''Bill on the beach''
    artist-Maria Villioti
    size 41cmx51cm
    medium- colored pencils on pastelbord
    blog-''Art breaths''(pnoes texnis)
    http://pnoestexnis.blogspot.com/
    post-May 26,2011
    title of the post-''The years of innocence''
    http://pnoestexnis.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-post_26.html

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd like to nominate the artist
    Rosie McClelland and the work
    .."Raccoon"..
    Medium..Oil on canvas.
    Size..60cms x 100cms.
    Name of the blog..
    Rosie McClelland Art
    http://rosiemcclelland.wordpress.com
    Tile and URL of the post..
    http://rosiemcclelland.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/raccoon/

    This portrait is of a young Belfast actor. The painter has made great use of complimentary colours. The stance executed by her in the painting shows a young man looking to the future with determination and hope.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'm only allowing one self-nomination per category ie the award is for "Best of" and I expect an artist to know which of their works is "best"! :)

    I've corresponded with Maria Villioti and she has decided to make Anastasia her sole nomination

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Katherine,
    Johanna Spinks is a portrait artist that I admire very much. She works from the model, is comfortable to paint with a crowd watching and blogs in a pleasant and chatty sort of way.

    URL http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8ytckW-Szk/Ti-gb1W9pCI/AAAAAAAACyg/T2AdfeYohLg/s320/spinks%2Badd%2Bpurple%2Bveil.jpg

    POST http://portraitpaintingbyjohannaspinks.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-paint-eyeswhat-was-i-thinking.html

    NAME of ARTIST Johanna Spinks

    NAME of PAINTING "Veiled"

    MEDIUM: Oil on Linen Panel

    SIZE: 10" X 10"

    NAME of BLOG Portrait Patter with Johanna Spinks http://portraitpaintingbyjohannaspinks.blogspot.com/

    The spontaneous works often have an Old Masterly feel to it. I get the impression that this artist does not ever rely on photographs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Marie...I so appreciate the nomination. www.johannaspinks.com

      Delete
  12. I'd like to nominate David Boles for Best Portrait/figure for his drawing Candlelight II on his blog Cobalt Blues.

    http://dboles.blogspot.com/2011/09/candlelight-ii.html

    David uses silverpoint and in this piece, a touch of gouache. His drawing is so technically sound, something that is seen less and less these days, that it becomes eye catching. His depiction of texture and values using silverpoint is masterful.

    Preserving drawing abilities is crucial to all artists and highlighting a piece that shows the technique at its finest helps bring it to the forefront again.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I have no idea how these things work, but Antti's blog gets a malware alert when I go there. This has begun after my link in my comment, so I wonder if we took it down, perhaps the "short circuit" might end for his blog. Perhaps this malware adviser is actually responding to a link in a comment field, although I now see that the alert has narrowed the identity of the problem.

    Anyway, perhaps if we just take down my comment with the link, then this comment field will suffice, and we could see if poor Antti's blog gets the alert resolved.

    And now I will go and make another nomination.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd like to nominate Natalie Italiano who is doing a daily painting on www.dailypaintworks.com of teenagers. It's a great project and she has a wonderful style, capturing varied personalities.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Penny - check the details of how to nominate. I need the title and URL of just ONE artwork/portrait.

    Sounds like a project which might be eligible for best project - which is where I'll file it for now.

    ReplyDelete

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