bugoy1

This challenge is a focus on the unsung heroes of ThinkDraw - the backgrounds. I think we've all been relieved to find the right color or contrast from getting just the right background for a picture. I've always been curious about how one of my pics would look if I had chosen a different background. So for this challenge, I'm going to require a series. We are going to make the same (or similar enough) drawing but submit it with three different backgrounds to show the difference a background can make. That means we have the same pic submitted three times using the same palette but a different background each time. (I warned you, Fangzzz!) The nice thing is that after the first one, it will just be a matter of copying the way you did the first.

Since this requires three times the drawing effort, we will have more time to submit our ideas. I propose the end of submissions be the 13th of December by midnight (ThinkDraw time). I will announce the new winner on Sunday the 14th.

Good luck! Let's get drawing!

bugoy1

Here are my example drawings:

#1 http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207024
#2 http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207028
#3 http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207029

It is interesting to see what a difference the background makes

Normal

You do know that you can file through the various backgrounds AFTER you've made the drawing, but BEFORE you hit submit?

So you DO know how it would look with a, or any, different background.

This sounds like excess work to me, but I hope you get some participants!

bugoy1

Yes, Normal. I take the word "challenge" very seriously.

You are right that you can flip through backgrounds before you submit, but that doesn't let me see the different looks. I am curious about the results. Besides, I think the idea of making the same pic three times is a great challenge by itself.

I hope it isn't too daunting. I like to see everyone rise to the challenge.

bugoy1

Should I change the requirements to be two pics? Twins with different backgrounds?

bugoy1

Well, since nobody responded to the question of changing from 3 to 2, I'm going to keep it as 3. Just like the example set I did, we are going to do three similar images with three different backgrounds.

I think it's fun to see how dramatic the differences can be.

clorophilla

I'm quite busy this year and my time is less, but this is intriguing, I'll try to take the challenge seriously (me too).
Would you allow some variation on the pics, although mantaining the same subject? i.e. different time of the day, different perspective and so on - This is because the fact that the background also impacts in some way on the process of drawing itself...

bugoy1

Clorophilla, sure, why not? A little variation is fine. The whole goal is to highlight the importance of how background alters the mood , contrast, and setting of an image. Go for it!

Also, Mum23 has now entered the challenge. It is a lovely composition. Here are her three:
#1
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207120
#2
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207121
#3
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207122

mum23

Thanks for an interesting challenge, bugoy.

I often try out different backgrounds just before submitting a picture, and a number of times have wished I could submit more than one, because the difference in the mood and look is so striking.

These doodles were done concurrently, deliberately using mostly the most transparent pieces, and I was surprised at how hard it was to keep it so that they all looked okay. There were things I tried that looked really good with one background, but didn't work at all for one or both of the others. A worthwhile exercise!

Hope you get some more!

Fangzzz

I'm glad for the longer deadline - finals going on the next two weeks and prep for Thanksgiving, but promise something for this.

bugoy1

You didn't need much time, Fangzzz.

Here are the pics Fangzzz created.

#1
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207184

#2
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207185

#3
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207186

clorophilla

Here they are my three.
Take a glance!
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207198
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207197
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207199

clorophilla

In fact, Bugoy, the most amazing example of this experiment happened for chance some time ago.

Here it is the original topic: http://www.thinkdraw.com/forumPosts.php?topicId=1051

Please read the story there. The link to the "fortuitous" picture has changed, and I added a new one now.

And it's noticeable also that Chelydra suggested exactly a challenge like yours!

bugoy1

Chelydra suggested it? Well, you know what they say about great minds...?

bugoy1

Though a few of us have done the challenge the hard way, there is a new option. Rachel Lee contacted me in an email letting me know that she can change the background of an image for you. Here are her words

"I just noticed the background challenge pictures. In this case, I feel bad as changing the background on a picture is very easy from my side. If you have any pictures you would like to reproduce with different backgrounds, please let me know."

When I asked if I could share that information here on the board, she replied, "Yes, if anyone sends me a picture they have done and let's me know which background they want to see it with, I can send a link to the new version."

So if you were considering doing this challenge, but didn't know about doing 3 images, there is an easier way.

Hope this helps.

Fangzzz

Love it. Thanks Bugoy1

clorophilla

thank you Bugoy and thanks so much Rachel!!
This cut off the boring side of this challenge

I have just a couple of attempts in one version, not submitted, b/c I found no time to redo the same pic three times...

clorophilla

Here it is. I was looking for a palette with two plain background colours (i.e. black, white) and two pieces that could be hte same colour in ough to disappear blending in the backgrounnd itself. I found there is not a palette wich has all that! just beads, with yellow and light blue, although one could achieve to the same colours with pieces just using many overlayers of transparencies; and gothic (grey and black, although the backgrounds are with grid the one, and dark blue the other).

Anyway this is my attempt: the same picture change the gestalt when the background changes, concealing and enlighting different parts of the drawing!

One sees spiders,
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207293

and the other sees butterflies
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=207302

clorophilla

thanks Racher for making this possible!

clorophilla

Thanks Rachel for making this possible!