Animal And Wildlife Challenge Dec 2025/Jan 2026

[Grapes]

Jade has used the back of an envelope, Grapes has used pizza boxes, Anne
has used whatever is handy. We have really creative members here ! How did these
work out ? Has anyone else occasionally used unusual bases for painting or drawing ?
Cheers
Patricia

When I paint with oils on cardboard like pizza box (needs to be frozen pizza) it usually works out well. If I add gesso on cardboard it's slightly better but I often don't have. I do quick oil sketches on these pizza box supports. I painted the following panda on very thin cardboard almost paper after adding acrylic layer on it first. I've had this paper for ages and decided to try it. It isn't working very well but can function for oil studies. I had to paint very thick like impasto on it otherwise it wouldn't have worked.
I guess I try any support material and after that decide if it works or not. Over 100 yrs ago the great painter Levitan painted with oils some of his pleinairs on paper and they are still fine. On paper supports/thin cardboards and without gesso oil can go through to the other side but the painting side stays ok.

There's happening a very weird thing: I saw on phone Anne's lovely squirrel but I don't see it anymore on my computer screen. Same thing is happening to a comment I left on Joy's bird - I see it on phone but not on computer. What in earth is happening?

Here's my next "Poor Panda" , oil on paper support, size: small

 

[Jade]

Beautiful Grapes! Love the holly too

 

[Grapes]

thanks Jade!

 

[Joy]

Grapes, I love the holiday effect you gave to the panda. Oddly enough, I just started the panda last night. And I can see all of your comments on both my Amazon Fire Tablet and my iMac desktop computer

 

[Grapes]

Joy, I'm glad the comments are there! Thanks for your kind words on my poor panda. I still want to paint the big cats
Good luck with your panda

 

[pcj]

Grapes - Lovely panda - he's wishing us all a Merry Christmas !

Thanks for the comments that you made on some of the unusual
supports that you occasionally use , it's very interesting.

I can see the comments that you made on Joys parakeet but I can't see
any comments that you made on Annes squirrel on either my desktop computer
or my android tablet.
Cheers
Patricia

 

[Joy]

Grapes -
I can see the comments that you made on Joys parakeet but I can't see
any comments that you made on Annes squirrel on either my desktop computer
or my android tablet.

Thanks for your observations. I went back and realized that I can see Grape's comments on my work, but not the squirrel. Maybe you didn't hit enter.

 

[ams]

Love your panda grapes.

I am seeing my squirrel and Joy's bird on my computer screen. I don't see your comment on the squirrel but there don't seem to be any responses missing (they are numbered) so Joy may be correct, that you didn't hit enter.

 

[Grapes]

Patricia, thank you for your comment. I'm glad the comments show to you. When I later today open my computer I'll check again. It must be just that my comp. is failing.

Joy, thanks for checking .. I need to think what to do in the future.

Anne, thanks for your comment! Very nice work on your squirrel he has a gentle look. Your right about my posting and there must be something wrong with my computer. Now using phone which is better.

I started planning the next one and have some outlines done this morning. The goal is an oil painting on better support than my panda (Fabriano Olio Tela oil paper).
In the final painting this lion will be accompanied by the lioness.

 

[ams]

Grapes, your lion is off to a great start. I'm glad you are using a better support this time. Your paintings are too nice to just be on a pizza box! Looking forward to seeing this progress.

 

[pcj]

Patricia, thank you for your comment. I'm glad the comments show to you. When I later today open my computer I'll check again. It must be just that my comp. is failing.

Grapes -
I think you misunderstood me . I can not see the comments that you made on Annes squirrel. So I don't think
there is anything wrong with your computer. Perhaps you forgot to press the 'post reply' or 'enter' button
[ I have done this several times ! ]
Cheers
Patricia

 

[Joy]

Grapes -
I think you misunderstood me . I can not see the comments that you made on Annes squirrel. So I don't think
there is anything wrong with your computer. Perhaps you forgot to press the 'post reply' or 'enter' button
[ I have done this several times ! ]
Cheers
Patricia

Yes, that is what I tried to convey, also. When I press "enter" I wait to make sure the post went through.Sometimes if you close out the window too soon, it will not post.

 

[TK H-H]

Patricia, thank you for your comment. I'm glad the comments show to you. When I later today open my computer I'll check again. It must be just that my comp. is failing.

Joy, thanks for checking .. I need to think what to do in the future.

Anne, thanks for your comment! Very nice work on your squirrel he has a gentle look. Your right about my posting and there must be something wrong with my computer. Now using phone which is better.

I started planning the next one and have some outlines done this morning. The goal is an oil painting on better support than my panda (Fabriano Olio Tela oil paper).
In the final painting this lion will be accompanied by the lioness.
View attachment 52885

I like the tone you put on the support. Almost looks a little like wood grain the way it went on. Looking forward to seeing this one progress!

 

[pcj]

Grapes- I love your lion. Great start. I'm looking forward to seeing how it progresses.
Cheers
Patricia

 

[pcj]

Grapes -
I think you misunderstood me . I can not see the comments that you made on Annes squirrel. So I don't [ do not ] think
there is anything wrong with your computer. Perhaps you forgot to press the 'post reply' or 'enter' button
[ I have done this several times ! ]
Cheers
Patricia

 

[Joy]

Here is my panda, who looks happy despite the fact that he is overworked and blotchy. Watercolor on Arches 140 CP, limited palette of Arylide Yellow, Rose Madder, Turquoise and Raw Umber.

 

[Grapes]

Joy, beautiful work! Your Panda looks good.

 

[Jade]

He's gorgeous Joy! Such a happy expression

 

[Grapes]

Wip continues ...

This is oils on canvas paper.

 

[Joy]

Grapes, great so far! I love the texture of the support.