Miniature

Painting Challenge

Your New Year of Artistic Growth Starts NOW!

WINTER SALE

Challenges Start January 1

*RECOMMENDED* 52-Week Challenges

1 year of professional painting lessons for less than $5 per lesson

NEW: Paint Canada With Brian Buckrell

$450 $249

Discover freedom as you Paint Canada with professional artist, Brian Buckrell. Quick studies, bold brushstrokes, splashes of color. Capture the Canadian landscape with a Master.

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Jed Dorsey's 52-Week Challenge

$450 $249

"The Original"

The 52-week adventure that started it all! You'll love painting your way through the year with Jed Dorsey as your guide.

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Dianna Shyne's 52-Week Challenge

$450 $249

"All Things Beautiful"

An inspirational journey with an award-winning artist! Paint all things beautiful: from birds & flowers to apples & kittens.

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Aimee Erickson's

52-Week Challenge

$450   $249

"Let Your Brush Sing"

Join acclaimed artist, Aimee Erickson, on a 52-week exploration of creative expression. You'll discover joy in painting everything from landscapes to still life & everything in between!

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Jed Dorsey's

52-Week Challenge

$450 $249

"50 Inspiring Landscapes"

Join Jed Dorsey for a virtual art trip through all of the United States! Discover beautiful vistas, waterfalls, beaches & so much more as you journey across the country!

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Dianna's Portrait Painting Series

Dianna Shyne's Portrait Challenge #1

$350 $129

"The Basics"

Dianna teaches the fundamentals of portraiture in this incredible 7-week portrait painting class. Get started here!

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Dianna Shyne's Portrait Challenge #2

$350 $129

"10x10 Portrait Challenge"

Dianna expands on everything she taught in the first portrait course and applies them to ten 10x10 canvases. 10 weeks.

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Dianna Shyne's Portrait Challenge #3

$350 $129

"Children in the Light"

Dianna brings all portrait concepts home while capturing the innocence of childhood with light and shadow. 10 weeks.

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Other Fundamental Challenges

Short, 8 week courses on foundational topics

Dianna Shyne's Simple Shape Challenge

$199 $69

Learn how to turn ordinary household objects into gorgeous works of art. 8 weeks of joy-filled teaching.

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Dianna Shyne's Cloud Painting Challenge

$199 $69

Fill your skies with dynamic clouds brimming with emotion, color, and juicy brushstrokes. 8 weeks of beautiful skies.

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Dianna Shyne's Flower Painting Challenge

$199 $69

Bring your favorite flowers to life as you paint along with Dianna. This challenge is 8 weeks.

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Draw-To-Paint With Angela Bandurka

$350 $129

Look over Angela's shoulder as she teaches about drawing for the purpose of painting. Layer paint onto your sketches and have fun! 8 weeks.

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3/4 Still Life With Aimee Erickson

$350 $129

Learn to paint a variety of charming still life subjects like the masters: clementines, dahlias, a red kettle and more. 8 weeks.

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Wild Animal Portraits With Hannah Webb

$350 $129

 Journey with Hannah into the jungle! Create colorful, abstracted animals with an experienced guide. An 8-week adventure.

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The Miniature Challenge:

By The Numbers

14



CURRENT NUMBER OF CHALLENGES

3,300+



MINIATURE CHALLENGE PARTICIPANTS

18,550+



PAINTINGS CREATED

264,000*



JOY-FILLED MOMENTS OF ART

*estimated :-)

Discover the Secret of Painting Small...

Multiply Your Artistic Growth & Dazzle Your Friends as You Flourish Creatively!




Why paint small?

The most common reason people don't paint is a LACK OF TIME. The second reason is the NOT KNOWING WHERE TO START.

Another struggle is FEELING OVERWHELMED.


Enter the Miniature Painting Challenge.

These are specifically designed so you can

overcome those obstacles and more.


They are SHORT, which means they are doable and can fit into YOUR schedule.

They are BEAUTIFUL, which means you don't have to find a great subject on your own.

They are DELIVERED WEEKLY, which means you can simply get in a rhythm and create.


Why Is The Miniature Painting Challenge Great For A Beginner?


Are you a beginning artist who's unsure of where to start? Do you find yourself staring at a blank canvas, feeling intimidated by the thought of creating something big and complex? Fear not, because the Miniature Painting Challenge is the perfect solution for you!


Painting small allows you to experiment with different techniques, materials, and subject matters without the pressure of creating a large, complicated piece. It's a low-risk, high-reward way to build your skills and confidence as an artist.


Small paintings also offer a more manageable time commitment. Instead of dedicating weeks or months to a single piece, you can complete a small painting in a matter of hours or days. This means you can try out different ideas and styles more quickly, and see the results of your efforts sooner. And if you start and finish multiple paintings rather than just one in the same amount of time, you will MULTIPLY your growth!


And let's not forget about the financial benefits. Small paintings require less materials, so you can experiment with different mediums and techniques without breaking the bank. 


So if you're a beginning artist who's unsure of where to start, jump into one of our challenges. You'll gain valuable experience, build your confidence, and have fun in the process. And who knows, maybe the small paintings you start with here in the Miniature Painting Challenge will lead to big things in your future art. Because we know you'll GROW BIG. We've seen it happen many times!



Why Is The Miniature Painting Challenge Great For An Experienced Artist?


Have you been feeling uninspired and stuck in your artistic practice lately? Are you an experienced artist who's looking for a way to break out of your creative rut? The Miniature Painting Challenge is for you!


Painting small allows you to break away from the pressure of creating big, complex pieces, and to focus instead on experimenting with new techniques, styles, and subject matters. It's a great way to shake things up and reinvigorate your artistic practice.


Small paintings also offer a more manageable time commitment. Instead of dedicating weeks or months to a single piece, you can complete a small painting in a matter of hours or days. This means you can experiment with different ideas and styles more quickly, and see the results of your efforts sooner.


And of course, there are still some great financial benefits. Small paintings require less materials, so you can experiment more and not worry. Plus, if you decide to sell your work, small paintings can be more accessible to potential buyers who may not have the space or budget for larger pieces.


But perhaps most importantly, painting small can help you to rediscover the joy of creating. It's an opportunity to play and have fun with your art, without the pressure of a big project looming over you. And who knows, maybe those small paintings will lead to bigger and better things in the future!


So if you're an experienced artist who's feeling stuck and in need of a creative boost, give a Miniature Painting Challenge a try. You'll gain valuable experience, discover more of what you love about art, break out of your creative rut, and have a ton of fun in the process.




Miniature Challenge FAQ

  • Are the Miniature Challenges good for beginners?

    Yes, yes, yes! 


    We are happy to say we've had many people with little to no experience come through our instruction! We will walk you through each step of the painting process, starting with what supplies you want to have and why. You will be able to see paintings come together from start to finish and never miss anything because you can pause, stop & rewind as much as you need!

  • Are the Miniature Painting Challenges good for experienced artists?

    Absolutely, yes! 


    Not only will you be able to be refreshed in the foundational practices that are of great help to every artist, whether beginner or advanced, but you will get fresh inspiration delivered to you weekly for the duration of the challenge. As an experienced artist, you probably know every artist goes through seasons where we get stuck in a rut. These small lessons will help you avoid that, and they will also be your gateway to your own new creative breakthroughs as you gain insights from each lesson.

  • What supplies will I need?

    Each challenge comes with access to a detailed supply list that will give you all the information you need - specific to that challenge. You will also have access to videos with helpful information about which supplies to buy and a link to an online art supply store where everything can be purchased. As each challenge is different, and each instructor uses slightly different materials, the challenges all come with a supply list that will give you the specifics. But generally, this is what you will need:


    -Paint

    -Palette

    -Brushes

    -Canvases

    -Rags/Paper Towels

    -Water/Liquid Containers


  • Do I need to be a "techy" person to participate in a Miniature Painting Challenge?

    You do not need to be a "tech wizard" to participate in our courses. We built The Miniature Painting Challenge on a very user-friendly platform that anyone can navigate. And if you ever have questions or issues, you can contact us at support@acrylicuniversity.com. We are here to help.

  • Do I need to use acrylic paints?

    The short answer is no. The vast majority of what we teach is foundational to all painting mediums. So, if you wanted to use oils, for instance, you would find most of the main principles are totally applicable to you, but there would just be some differences in technique as the mediums have different properties.


    The longer answer is that while you COULD use a different medium, there are SO many reasons to paint with acrylics!

    1. Water Cleanup: Acrylic paints clean up easily with water. You will never need to expose yourself or others to special solvents or thinners when you are using acrylic paints.
    2. Fast Drying: I love the fact that I can touch my paintings after a short time and not worry about getting wet paint on myself or what's around me. This makes it much easier to store and transport paintings without all the headache you'd have if they were still wet. Also, when I want to make a change to a painting I can do it quickly.
    3. Super Versatile: Acrylic paints can be applied to almost any surface because they adhere so well. They can also be applied very thin and transparent or very thick and impasto-like without having to worry about rules like "thick over thin" because of their quick drying properties. Acrylic paintings are easy to frame because they don't need to be protected with glass.
    4. Cost Effective: Acrylic paints are fairly inexpensive when compared to other mediums. This means that you can paint and practice with freedom without being too concerned about cost.
    5. Travel Easily: Because they are non-toxic and don't require fancy thinners, you can travel the world with your acrylic paints and never worry about boarding a plane with hazardous materials.
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