The Summer of Color 2012!

"Everyone likes pie. But people like pie a la mode even better. 

In the pie of life, arts is the ice cream."

- Peter Krause

I scream, You scream, We all scream . . . for The Summer of Color . . . .

Ready or not, here we come - 6 weeks of color prompts, beautiful giveaways, creative connections & a rockin' community - make room for The Summer of Color 2: Ice Cream Inspirations!

What's that you say?

Beginning today - and every Monday throughout the event - we will focus on and create art based upon the luscious colors of our favorite ice cream flavors. We'll explore various color combinations working in our preferred mediums and share what we produce here. There will be weekly linking opportunities, subsequent blog hops, and a weekly giveaway open to all those who participate. 

What kinda art will we do?

There are so many ways to participate in The Summer of Color. You can create anything you want, as long as it's based upon the "flavor" of the week. You may choose to develop a body of work using the same materials each week, or mix it up and create something new each time. It's entirely up to you.

What kinds of things will we be seeing?

Last year we saw jewelry to journal pages and everything in between. If you're not sure what you want to do, check out the following links for inspiration:

Altered Books

Art Jewelry

Art Journaling

Assemblage Art

Artist Trading Cards

Canvas Art

Digital Art

Greeting Cards

Inchies

Moo Cards

Photography

Poetry

Postcard Art

Scrapbooking

Of course, there may be things you're considering that I haven't mentioned here. The thing is, if you have an art form you love, go for it. If you've always wanted to try something new, now's the time. We will learn and explore together. 

What will you be doing?

I'll be creating right alongside you, working in the same color combinations as you are. I've decided to make a decorative banner (like the one shown in the picture above) using canvas material, and will be painting a new triangle or "point" each week. If all goes according to plan, I'll have a completed banner to hang by the end of the event.

Tell me more about the colors?

We will create new art each week based upon the ice cream "flavor" I announce here. In other words, we'll all be working on the same colors in the same week. Unlike last year where we focused on one specific color, this year, we will be working with color combinations. The color prompts are for inspiration only: you can vary the hues, play with textures or throw another color in the mix should you desire. For example, if the prompt is "Rocky Road," you can use all or some of the colors depicted. You can play with the textures represented or keep it smooth. And if you feel like your piece wouldn't be complete without a pink polka dot, then I for one am not gonna stop you . . . 

So how does this work?

Thanks for asking. Every Monday, I will provide a color prompt here. You will then have a week to complete your piece based upon that prompt. You can share your work through your blog or via Flickr and then copy and paste that direct post (or Flickr feed) here. Mister Linky will be up as of next week. There will also be giveaway each week for those who participate. This year, the winners will be selected at random (using a Random Number Generator) from the link list. The winner will be announced the following week.

Anything else I should know?

A little. You are welcome to share your work at anytime. However, in order to qualify for the weekly drawing, you must link your post or Flickr feed by 12:00 noon Pacific Standard Time on Sunday. Also, this is meant to be fun. No pressure. If you are away or can't participate every single week, don't worry about it. But you can always check in to see what others have created in your absence. Having said that, only those who participate may enter that week's drawing. Lastly, this is an international event. Should your name be selected for a drawing, I will happily mail it to you, no matter where you live.   

What about Facebook and Flickr?

There is a Facebook page and Flickr pool created especially for the event. In addition to our blogs, we can also post our work and do a little chit-chatting there. You do not have to belong to Facebook or have a Flickr account to play along, but if you want to totally immerse yourself into The Summer of Color, I highly recommend you check it out. The Facebook page in particular is a lotta fun.

Did you do this by yourself?

Hardly. Please allow me to thank a few people who make all this possible. Thank you to Trisha Trixie for putting together our Facebook page and helping me run the group, thank you to Michelle Wildman and The Fair Blogmother for all of our pretty Summer of Color buttons, banners and badges and thank you to Daniele Valois for being my sounding board and photography consultant (now that sounds fancy, doesn't it?) in the weeks leading up to the event. Oh, and on personal note, a big thanks goes out to my Dad who reads every single post, every single comment and who even held all of the ice cream cones as I was photographing them in 100 degree weather . . . .

On with the show!

Let's start this off right with a tiny token of my affection. For this, the opening week, I would be more than grateful if you'd help spread the word about The Summer of Color. Since the whole idea is to foster creativity, community and connection, the more people who come out to play, the better. And for helping me spread the word, I'd like to offer one randomly selected person this hand stamped vintage spoon from Kerrie Hunziker-Balma of the Wooden Hive:

"My Ice Cream Spoon"

{Special note:When I bought this spoon for you, I told Kerrie what it was for, and she kindly offered a 10% discount in her her Etsy shop to anyone who is interested. 

Use code ICECREAM10 to redeem yours}

This week only, the winner will be selected from the comments section and announced here next Monday.

Speaking of Next Monday June 11th:

Are you ready for your first color prompt? The color combination we will be working with for Week One is . . .

Rainbow Sherbet!

Bold oranges, pinks, yellows and a touch of white

You may link your work inspired by Rainbow Sherbet as of next Monday, June 11th. The Rainbow Sherbet giveaway (and you know it will be fabulous ;) will be shown at that time as well. The post will go up midnight, PST. 

So get those taste buds going and paintbrushes moving . . . our Sweet Summer has just begun!

Kristin xo