Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Lorikeet colors

Today was the reveal of the latest Twelve by Twelve colorplay challenge. The theme was "Lorikeet Colors" proposed by Brenda Smith of Australia, who has beautiful lorikeets actually flying around her yard! I think we all loved the cheery colors when we saw the photos of the lorikeets, then had a difficult time making such bold colors work.

My initial response was the use a small amount of the challenge colors along with a lot of neutrals. While I really am pleased with this piece as a good experiment, it doesn't really fulfill the challenge.

 So I made another one using much more of the bold color.

I called this one "Night Garden." When I posted them this morning I was undecided about which piece would be my official piece. I was actually leaning more toward the first one. But when I saw it along with everyone else's it just looked dead, so I am going with the second.

An anonymous commenter on the Twelve by Twelve blog told me my colours were all wrong. They are not lorikeet colors. The spelling of the word "colours" makes me think perhaps the commenter is an Australian who knows her (his?) lorikeets. The commenter may be talking about both my pieces, but I am thinking it is the first that just doesn't cut it. I made a slight adjustment to it with the magic of Photoshop and the help of one of Brenda's lorikeet photos. Maybe it will pass muster now!

16 comments:

  1. I am so glad that you have a well-developed sense of humour - this is hilarious.

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  2. Lovely, sassy birds or no sassy birds. I would not have identified any of the three as your work, but the "Night Garden" certainly fits the 12X12 group the best.

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  3. I thought that was a really rude comment - by someone who wasn't brave enough to identify themselves. Isn't it up to the artist to interpret the colours however they will? But I love the humour of your response!

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  4. Marcie4:13 AM

    I really. really like the first one - even without the lorikeets!

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  5. Thank you for making my morning! What a gracious and hilarious response to criticism! I instantly loved the first version and completely got the bits-of-color-in-the-landscape reference without explanation. But adding the birds is soooo funny! I just about spit out my tea.

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  6. Excellent response to the artist's plight... everyone is a critic!

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  7. Your slight adjustment is really funny.

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  8. MtnBarb8:51 AM

    I personally like the first one. I love simplicity. The other with the birds is too funny. As the song goes "You can please everyone so you gotta please yourself!"

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  9. Love the addition to the first. This is funny. I am glad you chose you went with Night Garden. It feels to me as if you had fun out of your comfort zone.

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  10. I have been following this group and enjoy all of it. I did read that "comment" by anonymous and now visiting your blog and seeing your reply it is too funny! Great response.

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  11. Your response is just hilarious! And, as someone qualified to comment, may I say that I love the colours (note the spelling ) in your first piece, because that's the way lorikeets are mostly seen - aas a flash of bright colour against the muted colours of the trees and landscape.
    Maybe that person's monitor needs adjustment - along with their attitude...

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  12. Hee hee hee, I'm still giggling. :-)

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  13. I'm with Kristin! hee hee hee.....

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  14. Another "love it!" from me.

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  15. Anonymous4:05 PM

    HiLarious! Love it!

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