Ann and John McDonald of Niagara Falls are a husband and wife team of filmmakers and artists. You can see more of their work on their website, Accidental Art!
Filmmaker and guest judge, Nick Mirka, had this to say about the winning film:
“I love this film. It was clever, it was quirky. From the first 10 seconds I was hooked just based on the character alone.”
Click here to see our official Winner Announcement video and learn more about the Competition!
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]]>Filmmakers took up the challenge to write, film, and edit a short film only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given three prompts that they had to be featured in their film. These included the theme – a defining moment; an action – unlocking something; a prop – a handwritten note.
This was a daunting task, as the filmmakers had to write their scripts, memorize lines, scout locations, shoot and edit their film before the deadline. But they were more than up to it! As the submissions came in, we were truly impressed away by all the outstanding films across genres, from haunted horrors to off-beat comedies.
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Short Film Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s guest judge Nick Mirka to reveal our winner!
Congratulations, Ann and John McDonald on their winning short film “Handyman Killer”!
Ann and John McDonald, are a husband and wife team of filmmakers and artists based in Niagara Falls. They describe “Handyman Killer” as “a documentary style narrative about an aging actor whose dreams of starring in a horror film may have passed him by”.
Click here to watch to “Handyman Killer” now!
To learn see more of their work, check out their website Accidental Art.
As the winner of the Short Film Competition, Ann and John will receive:
- $150 Henry’s gift card
- 1-on-1 feedback session with filmmaker and guest judge, Nick Mirka
- Film featured on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
Thank you to our partners Vaylin Entertainment, the City of Niagara Falls, and the 2022 Canada Games.
Thank you to all the filmmakers who took part and made the FINAL 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We hope they had as much fun making their short films as we had watching them!
Be sure to check our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe and keep filming!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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“COVID Time”, acrylic paint on canvas, 11 x 14 in (click to enlarge)
As part of the Visual Art competition, participating artists were given the prompt “TIME”. While Sherry Lynn’s work is stunning and evocative on its own, her description of the painting provides a greater insight into how she interpreted the prompt:
“For some, the concept of time has been dramatically altered by the COVID crisis. Before, many of us were on a fast track to nowhere – running from morning to night and a to-do list that was never done. Then everything slowed down as restrictions were put into place. We weren’t accustomed to this time for stillness – and anxiety and depression overwhelmed. There is so much happening in the world today, indeed the very survival of humanity and earth is threatened. Perhaps, with luck and grace, this has been enough time for greater wisdom and a gentler humanity.”
Our guest judges, Steve Wilson, artist and owner of the Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery, and Debra Attenborough, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery, had this to say about “COVID Time”:
“I get the feeling of isolation, we have all felt that. It’s well done. The absence of anything else in the room and her looking through the curtains reiterates the feeling and isolation and emotion.” – Steve Wilson
“I enjoy the evocative feelings of isolation and loneliness in this work. In addition the technical qualities are evident, and the composition – focussing on the figure and the window emphasize the theme without being overly literal about the prompt. To be able to convey the thought without a timepiece really elevates it beyond the others.” – Debra Attenborough
Sherry Lynn is a resident of Grimsby. She has always been creative and making art in different forms. With no formal art training she allows inspiration to guide her practice. In her Artist Bio, Sherry Lynn had this to say about her journey as an artist:
“I had to choose between a nursing or an art education when I was young and chose the first. Now I have the great privilege to be able to do my art any time I like – with my own studio space and all the supplies I want. This feels like a dream! I am taking classes, reading, connecting with other artists, anything I can, now that I finally have the resources.”
What a dream indeed!
“COVID Time” will be on display at the Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery, at 4425 Queen Street, Niagara Falls, from mid-August to September 4th.
To see our official Winner Announcement video, click here.
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]]>They put their creativity and skills to the test to create an artwork on paper or canvas in only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given the prompt: TIME. How they interpreted and represented the prompt was entirely up to them.
It was no easy feat, but these artists were more than up to the challenge. We received so many truly stunning works of art – from abstract oil paintings, to watercolour portraits, and even elaborate collage.
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Visual Art Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s Kateri Foreman to reveal our winner!
https://youtu.be/AVe2CzrL12I
Congratulations, Sherry Lynn on your winning artwork “COVID Time”!
Sherry Lynn resides in Grimsby and has always had a love for being creative and making art. In her Artist Bio, Sherry Lynn had this to say about her journey as an artist:
“I had to choose between a nursing or an art education when I was young and chose the first. Now I have the great privilege to be able to do my art any time I like – with my own studio space and all the supplies I want. This feels like a dream!”
To view “COVID Time” and to learn more about Sherry Lynn and the inspiration behind her work, click here.
As the winner of the Visual Art Competition, Sherry Lynn will receive:
- “COVID Time” displayed at Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery
- 1-on-1 feedback session with Debra Attenborough, Executive Director of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery
- Art supplies pack courtesy of the Niagara Falls Art Gallery
- Artwork published on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
But that’s not all! Our judges were so impressed with the artworks we received that they selected two runners-up, whose work will also be displayed at Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery!
2nd Place – “The Illusion of Time” by Astrid Akkerman of St. Catharines
3rd Place – “Time Waits for No Man!” by Christina Drummond of Fonthill.
Thank you to our amazing Sponsors – Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery and the Niagara Falls Art Gallery, and our Partners – the City of Niagara Falls, the 2022 Canada Games, and everyone at Vaylin Entertainment.
The winning artworks will be on display at the Steve Wilson Studios and The Gallery, at 4425 Queen Street, Niagara Falls, from mid-August to September 4th.
Thank you to all the artists who took part and made the third 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We hope they had as much fun creating their works of art as we had viewing them!
CREATE the Summer isn’t over yet. Registration is still open for our 48-Hour Short Film Competition, happening August 20th – 22nd. We’re also holding free Art Challenges every week! Be sure to check our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe and keep rocking!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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]]>Coleman was the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Short Story Competition. She can now add ‘Published Author’ to her list of achievements! “ti<” is a creative online journal, homed at Brock University’s Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture (STAC) at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, and is edited by Short Story guest judge, Dr. Catherine Parayre. To read Coleman’s fantastic tale in ti<, click here. You can learn more about Coleman and the Competition here.
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Artwork provided by Where Anger Lies
Where Anger Lies is a three-piece rock band out of Stevensville, Ontario. Dan Boyko, Matt Smith, and Chris MacPherson formed the band during the Covid-19 lockdown, and have been writing and creating music you can rock out to ever since.
You can follow Where Anger Lies on Spotify, Facebook and Twitter!
To learn more about the Competition, click here.
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]]>Musicians took up the challenge to write and record a song in only 48 hours! As part of the competition, participants were given a theme and lyric prompts that they had to include in their entry. Their theme was “It happened at midnight” and their two lyric prompts were “Root” and “Current”.
The musicians had a daunting task, but they were more than up to it! As the submissions came in, we were blown away by all the outstanding songs across styles and genres, from heavy hitting hard rock to soulful solo performances.
And now the time has come to announce the winner of CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Music Competition!
So, without further ado, here’s Kateri Foreman to reveal our winner!
https://youtu.be/bb5XM2U0cDU
Congratulations, Where Anger Lies on their winning song “Scream”!
Where Anger Lies is a three-piece rock band out of Stevensville. Dan Boyko, Matt Smith, and Chris MacPherson formed the band during the Covid-19 lockdown, and have been writing and creating music you can rock out to ever since. And we have to agree, Where Anger Lies rocks!
Click here to listen to “Scream” now!
You can follow Where Anger Lies on Spotify, Facebook and Twitter!
As the winner of the Music Competition, Where Anger Lies will receive:
- A professional album-style photoshoot, courtesy of our friends at Invittco
- 1-on-1 mentor session with Entertainment Manager, Matt Guarasci
- Song published on CREATE Niagara website and promoted via our social channels
Thank you to our amazing Sponsors Invittco, and our Partners the City of Niagara Falls, the 2022 Canada Games, and everyone at Vaylin Entertainment.
Thank you to all the musicians who took part and made the second 48-Hour Competition of CREATE the Summer such a success! We hope they had as much fun writing and recording these songs as we had listening them!
CREATE the Summer isn’t over yet. Registration is still open for our 48-Hour Short Film Competition, happening August 20th – 22nd. We’re also holding free Art Challenges every week! Be sure to check our website and follow us @createniagara for all the latest updates!
Stay safe and keep rocking!
– The CREATE Niagara Team
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]]>There are many important issues to take into consideration when it comes to photographing your art. This is especially true for new artists trying to establish themselves on a budget. If you’re hesitant to do it yourself, go with a professional. You can hire a professional photographer who specializes in taking high quality photos of fine artworks and will ensure a great result. However, this can be expensive and may not be an accessible option for many artists. As an alternative, you can always reach out to your local arts community to find a budding photographer looking to practice their skills and build their own portfolio. Win-win!
But if you’re taking part in our 48-Hour Visual Art Competition and on time crunch, or just want to do it yourself, keep reading!
Poor quality cameras and bad lighting are the main culprits behind bad art images. The last thing you want is a blurry photo that distracts from your skills, and ultimately gets your work overlooked by the judges. Taking good quality photos doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money if you follow these simple tips.
There are four key components to shooting a quality image: high resolution, well-lit, clear and in-focus.
Let’s get into it!
Tip #1: A good quality digital camera
To get a high resolution image you’ll need a good quality digital camera. When it comes to submitting work to juried competitions or festivals, we DO NOT recommend using a smartphone. The camera technology on smartphones is admittedly better than it’s ever been, and they’re a great option for easy sharing on social media, but they still fall short when it comes to taking photos of artwork for professional use. Auto settings meant for quick and easy use can over correct or dull colour and fail to capture depth in your work.
For CREATE the Summer’s 48-Hour Visual Art Competition, we require images to be at minimum 500 x 500 pixels and at maximum 1024 x 1024 pixels. Any smaller or larger could distort the quality of the image, making it difficult to judge the quality of the artwork itself.
A good quality digital camera doesn’t have to break the bank. But, if you don’t already own one, or a new one isn’t in the budget, you still have options.
- Borrow one from a friend or family member
- Speciality camera stores will also rent cameras and equipment at affordable daily rates
Don’t forget – If you can, use a tripod! It makes adjusting your angles, resolution, and set up a lot quicker and easier.
Tip #2: Well-lit
When lighting your work, you may be inclined to use a bright, direct light to make your work pop, but this can have the opposite effect. Ideally, you’ll want to photograph your work unframed in soft, natural light. It’s always best to avoid using flash or any direct, harsh light, especially if your work has a glossy finish or is framed. You can achieve this inside or outdoors.
Shooting indoors:
- Find a room with soft, even light
- Create a white backdrop to lay your work against – like a white sheet or pillowcase, depending on the size of your work*
- Put your work flat against a wall at a 45-degree angle to a window with indirect light
- If using an artificial light source, like a ring light, choose the softest light setting, and keep light at a 45-degree angle from the work
- If laying your work flat, use a step stool to give you more height and avoid shadows
*Using a white background will correct the white balance of your image and help stop your colours from being distorted. If you don’t have a white background option, once you’ve lined up and focused your image, take a shot with a piece of clean white paper in front of the lens for similar effect
Shooting outdoors:
It’s best to shoot outdoors on a slight overcast, cloudy day when the sun is diffused
Follow the same general guidelines for shooting indoors
Tip #3: Clear & In-focus
If you’re using a good camera in a well-lit room, you’re well on your way to taking a clear and in-focus image. Take a few test shots and review the images on your computer. Make adjustments to the lighting and focus as needed before submitting your final image(s).
Make sure to crop your image to minimize any background that may distract or distort your image. Having a clean white background, like discussed above, helps to keep your image clean and professional.
And finally…
Don’t go overboard with the photo editing. If you’ve done the work to get a high resolution image that is well lit, clear and in-focus, you shouldn’t need to mess around with photo editing software. If you aren’t familiar with this type of software there’s a good chance you’ll overcorrect or distort the image. Remember, you want your work to be hung and seen in real life. Judges want to see the most accurate true representation of your work, as it is.
Be sure to save your images as the file type and size required by the organization you’re submitting to to avoid any uploading issues. The 48-Hour Visual Art Competition requires:
- File type – .jpeg/.jpg, .png
- File size – max. 4MB
If you need to resize your files check out resizeimage.net and webresizer.com. For more tips on how to take the perfect professional photo of your art, check out this tutorial from Saatchi Online.
And that’s it! You’re ready to submit your art!
Let us know your fav tips in the comments!
Kateri Foreman
Event Organizer, CREATE Niagara
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]]>This week we want you to get outdoors to find your artistic inspiration. Maybe that means making a collage out of collected flora and fauna, or printmaking with leaves. CREATE’s Event Organizer, Kateri Foreman, decided to try her hand at making all-natural, homemade watercolour from beets! Check out her ‘How to Video’ and keep reading for the recipe!
@katformsart Natural Homemade Beet Paint ##createthesummer ##artchallenge ##watercolor ##paint @createniagara ##artfromnature ##diy ##fypシ ##foryou
♬ Try Something New (Holiday Mix) – Alex Arias & Alexander Julius Wright
Homemade Beet Watercolour Paint Recipe
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Mesh sieve
- Saucepan
- Small pots/sealable containers
Ingredients
- Water 1 – 2 cups
- Beets 3 – 4, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Roughly chop your veggies (no need to peel!)
- In a saucepan, combine 2 cups of water to 1 cup of veg
- Bring to a low boil
- Reduce temperature and simmer for about 30 mins to an hour – or until desired pigment is reached
- Use strips of watercolour paper to test
- Cool to room temperature and strain into pots
- Get painting! Use your pigments just like watercolours
Tip: Don’t forget to refrigerate your paint between uses, otherwise it will turn and start to stink pretty quickly!
Tip: You can use the same method with other veggies to make different colours! Yellow/orange – carrots, orange peel, celery leaves; green – grass, spinach, kale; red/purple – red cabbage!
Stay tuned for more homemade paint tutorials coming soon!
How to share your work:
Use the hashtag #createthesummer
Follow and tag us @createniagra on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter
Email us at hello@createniagara.com with the subject line “Challenge 7”
We can’t wait to see what you CREATE!
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