:::Our new address:::

Gothic Arches will start next Sunday, September 7th in our new home. I wanted to give everyone a good week to get settled and have their membership approved before posting there. It will have the same basic concept and similar layout – the challenge will be posted, and comments can be seen (by members) and you may follow each artists url to their blog.

http://gothicarches.ning.com

To register – click on sign up in the upper right hand corner of the site.

ETA: You will be asked for your email address…then your password (you think up one just for the ning account), then your date of birth (verifying you are over 18), then the spam password….

on the second page you will be asked:
You will then be asked for a user name (it can be your real name or computer screen name)
Next is your blog address – url or location of Flickr, Picture trail etc.

Final information will be your email address.

Each member will be approved and a confirmation email will be sent back to you.

In the meantime, enjoy our “End of Summer” theme this week – and be patient with the spam filter. I know it caught more than 20 of you last week alone 😦 one more good reason to move!!! 🙂 You are artists – not spammers! 🙂

questions can be sent to: gothic_arches at yahoo.com….

:::End of Summer:::

Our theme for our final week at WordPress is “End of Summer” which was selected by our hostess Nancy Dooren. Nancy made this beautiful arch paying tribute to the last warm and carefree days!
What do you think of with the end of summer drawing near? We want to see it here in gothic arch form!

A bit about our hostess:
I am Nancy Dooren. I live in Enschede, The Netherlands, with my hubby Wilfred and cat Sylvester. I am a dental assistant for a lot of years now. But, when I am at home, I love to be in my stamping room, making some art. This is a way of life for me! I love to be a host on Gothic Arches!

You may see more of Nancy’s beautiful work on her blog:
http://nancydooren.blogspot.com

:::Black, Red, & White Sampler:::

There were some AMAZING arches this past week! Beautiful work everyone! Thanks for playing!

We’re Moving….

Since we have had ongoing problems with WordPress blocking and placing participants in the spam filter each week – I have decided it is time to move. I do not take this decision lightly, afterall we have been here for a year now….but it is taking loads of time to unspam and approve comments. I have written WordPress repeatly and contacted their spam software company. The spam techs can’t figure out why many of you keeping getting caught (including myself)…as you can see I am at my wits end.

I debated on closing the site, I start back to work next week and will also be enrolled in college full-time. But, I really love our little place here and hope you all feel the same. 🙂

This next Sunday will be our last week of Gothic Arches here at WordPress. I will post the new “home” soon…you will each have to register…as it will be for members only..but that only consists of your user name, blog address and email. Once you have registered I will approve it. No more spam, or blocked posts! That is a GOOD THING!

Stay tuned…I will post it within the next day or so…that way members can be ready.

Thanks for understanding!

Nancy

:::Happy Birthday:::

Gothic Arches is celebrating it’s one year birthday this week! Thank you to all the artists who have supported and played along with the challenges featured here! We are blessed to have such wonderful art friends!!! 🙂

:::Black, White and a hint of Red:::

Our theme this week is “Black,White and a hint of Red” which was selected by our hostess Chrissy Rollins. She made this beautiful arch to inspire you. What do you think of with this theme? We wish to see it here at Gothic Arches this week!

A bit about our hostess:

I run an artist trading club whose members take on a monthly challenge and swap their Artist Trading Cards with other members and guests it can be checked out here:
http://chriss-rollins.blogspot.com

I am part of a crafting duo who put together an art and craft page each month for a local magazine encouraging the local community to get invoved with their creative side.

I have this fantastic stamp in my collection….’Don’t much care for reality I prefer ART’ and that just about sums me up. LOL

I am truely honoured to be hosting this weeks GA challenge thank you Nancy.

I have chosen the theme… ”Black, White and a hint of Red” Hope you like it have fun with your arches. I would like to wish GA and Nancy a Happy 1st Birthday.

You may see more of Chrissy’s beautiful artwork on her blog:

http://thepapergirls.blogspot.com

:::Renaissance Sampler:::

We had many brilliant and beautiful arches this past week! 🙂 awesome work ladies!!!

:::Renaissance:::

Our hostess this week is Tami Roth who has selected the theme of “Renaissance” as our challenge this week. Isn’t her arch just beautiful!? What do you think of when the word “Renaissance” comes to mind? We want to see it here this week in gothic form!

About our hostess:

Renaissance marks the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the Modern world. It represents a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries. Early Renaissance, mostly in Italy, bridges the art period during the fifteenth century, between the Middle Ages and the High Renaissance in Italy. It is generally known that Renaissance matured in Northen Europe later, in 16th century.

The term renaissance means rebirth and is used to mark an era of broad cultural achievement as a result of renewed interest in the classical art and ideas of Ancient Greece and Rome. The main idea of rebirth lies at the belief that through the study of the intellectual and artistic treasures of the Greco-Roman antiquity, inspired by Humanism, can be reached the artistic greatness, wisdom and enlightenment.

Thank you, Nancy, for the opportunity to be hostess for the gothic arch challenge this week! I chose this theme because of my love for the art and images from that time. “Venus” by Sandro Botticelli is probably my most favorite painting. I think of Botticelli, daVinci, Michelangelo, Vermeer, etc. I love the colors the artists used-so deep and rich. Renaissance means “rebirth” but can have so many meanings to different people that I hope everyone can go with their first instinct of what this means for them and have fun with it!

You may see more of Tami’s beautiful work here:
Tami Roth Picture Trail

:::Royalty Sampler:::

This past week there were many regal and royal entries! Beautiful work everyone! 🙂

:::Royalty/Crowns:::

This weeks theme is “Royalty/Crowns” which was selected by our hostess Kris Dickinson. Isn’t her arch just beautiful! What comes to your mind when you think of Royalty/Crowns? Kings and Queens? Fairy Tales? We want to see it here this week in gothic arch style!

A bit about our hostess:
Thank you Nancy for choosing me to host the Gothic Arch Challenge this week. I chose the theme Royalty/Crowns as I’ve always been fascinated with the kings and queens of Europe. In particular, The Romanovs of Russia. Such a beautiful and tragic family. I have chosen Nicholas II and Alexandra of Russia as my subject for my arch. For this challenge, please do not limit yourselves to just actual royalty. Alter a little king or queen or crown a bird, etc…I can’t wait to see what you create!

Kris Dickinson resides in Parker, CO and has been creating collage’ and mixed media pieces for many years. She is married and has a 9 year old daughter.

You can see more of her beautiful work at:
http://nostalgiccollage.blogspot.com/

:::Shades of White Sampler:::

The arches contributed this past week were gorgeous! Beautiful work everyone! 🙂

:::Gothic Arch Hostesses Needed:::

Thanks for the response! We are full until October!

:::Shades of White:::

Our hostess this week is Hermine Koster who has selected the theme “Shades of White.” She created this beautiful arch using white as her hue. What do you invision when “white” comes to mind in your artwork. We would love to see it here in gothic arch form!

About our hostess:

Thank you Nancy for asking me to host again. I have choose this theme because I really like to work ton-sur-ton, in white as well as in colour. Love to stretch a colour to the max. Made this arch using crackle medium and gesso for the background, sponged a little with distress antique linen to match this gorgeous vintage image. Then played around with some tyvek, really love the structure and the fact that you never know what you end up with, every time it is a surprise. Finally added some paper flowers and buttons as a finishing touch. Hope you like this theme as much as I do and looking forward to your artwork.

You may see more of Hermine’s beautiful artwork on her blog:
http://herminesplace.wordpress.com/

:::For The Birds Sampler:::

Wouldn’t our fine feathered friends be happy with the beautiful arches contributed this week?!
Fantastic artwork everyone!