Malinda Prud'homme @ ART BATTLE 66

On Tuesday September 24, 2013 I competed in ART BATTLE 66 at the Great Hall in Toronto!!! Just being invited to take part was an incredible honour, being in it was a dream come true. 

Some of you may not know that I grew up in a smaller town called Val Caron on the out squirts of the small city of Sudbury in Northern Ontario. Though I'm told they are just now starting to build an art community, growing up in Sudbury was not very inspiring. I always felt that even though I was a talented artist being an artist professionally was not a realistic option. It was as if being an artist was a little girls dream ... something that could never be accomplished. It wasn't until later, when I took a Visual Art minor in North Bay, ON in order to improve my chances at landing a teaching job, that I realized I had something worth sharing and that if I put all of my passion and effort into it I could make an income doing it.

I followed that dream to Toronto, where I had always wanted to live. It was the first few weeks that I had been living there when I noticed fliers for an art battle.  I was working as a receptionist at the time and had put my artwork on back burner; doing it only for pleasure or small commissions from family and friends. I still felt being a full time artist was something unachievable. I attended the advertised art battle with an immense amount of excitement. At the end of the night I mentioned to my friend that it would be like living a dream taking part in that. I wondered if I would ever have the skill to be invited to take part in something so exciting with all of those people watching.

So when I say that taking part in ART BATTLE 66 was a dream come true, I truly mean it. I practiced for weeks, a shared my progress with my fans, and though I thought I had built some courage, I was very nervous! But when the timer started I got in the zone and the brushes/knifes just went! Though I did not win the battle I am thrilled with the results of my painting. I hope you like it too!

Please continue scrolling to see photos from the event! (Click on photos to see a larger view)

Watch my 20 MIN Art Battle speed painting come to life in this VIDEO!

Enjoying a Strongbow in my studio before the Art Battle!

Feeling curvy in my new jeans. :P

Being interviewed before the event! It was so nerve racking!

Darren and I before the Round 1 Artists began.

 

Setting up my palette. I decided to keep it simple. I didn't want the paint to get muddy.

My easel set up for Round 2!

My spot all set up! Feeling the nerves!

My palette just waiting to get dunked into. I chose the colours of fire. :)

Heart pumping but very happy. Brushes in hand.

3 ... 2 ... 1...

GO!

I decided to go with a variety of aspects from my practice pieces.

I went with a cute face similar to that of my practice piece "Sangria".

Focusing on the eyes.

Beginning the hair.  A similar technique to the hair in "Sangria" but a little more drippy.

Scraping in the colours.

Adding curls with a large round brush.

Almost done and feeling great!

There were a lot of fans that enjoyed the practice piece "Tears" as swell as my new series "Seeing Into The Soul" so I decided to add tears to this piece in the fiery colours of red and yellow.

The time is almost up! Adding the drippy effect to the hair.

And time is UP!

I had so much adrenaline! I grabbed my water bucket and brushes and went straight into the crowd.

My first look back. :)

Some people really enjoyed it and even wanted to take pictures!

It was so nice to see those ballots going into my box. Thank you to all who voted for me. :D

Through the crowd.

I'm thrilled with the results. It looks exactly how I had wanted it to look.

For me, it wasn't about winning. It was about creating something I could be proud of. Mission accomplished. :)

Waiting to be bid on.

Artworks from Round 1.

Artworks from Round 1.

Artworks from Round 1.

My artistic competition in Round 2.

My artistic competition in Round 2.

My artistic competition in Round 2.

Final four contestants in Round 3. Keita Morimoto.

Jillian Hermansen.

Puneet Kahli.

Nora House. The nights champion!

My lovely creation. :)

 

 

 

Thanks for looking!