Empire Challenges | December 2019

Welcome to The Empire Monthly Challenge!

Now actually monthly?!

You are all welcome to stretch your artist legs. Get out of your comfort zone or artist block, and unleash your full potential!

There are no winners or prizes, it's all about challenging yourself. The deadline is purely to indicate the start of the next challenge, if you need more time to finish up that's okay.

This month's challenges come with a festive tint!

As the weather gets colder and the new year approaches you can't forget to visit grandma and show her some love! From little antique trinkets, strange early 20th century architecture to jazzy wallpaper from the 40s, a lot of older houses offer a plethora of interesting props to model, and colours to compose. Make it feel cosy, and like someone has lived there for a while!

Feel free to pick a reference that most suits your time.

The holiday season isn't the same without some good snacks! However, not all snacks are meant to be eaten! Gingerbread houses are a good blend of structured yet organic shapes. It’s all about knowing where to reuse parts or what needs unique textures. Follow the reference or get creative and make your own custom house, make it delicious!

Used to make things such as stoneware vases able to hold liquids glazing gives surfaces a glossy finish, but still shows some of the porous cracked stone underneath. Capturing the variation in shapes, colours and subtle lines is the key to make it look believable.

‘tis the season! No Christmas tree or house is ready for the festivities without some beautiful lights or decorative wreaths. Either focus on creating the complex tangled shapes and emissive lights of the Christmas lights, or the more organic needles, volume and shapes of the garland.