What does spring mean to you--besides flowers, that is. Flowers are fine, but artists are far too creative to "root" themselves to one subject, don't you think? For the Spring Nonfloral challenge, convey a sense of springtime through color, subject, atmosphere or any other means--as long as its not flowers. Fresh ideas encouraged.

Here are the details:

• To enter, you must be a registered user of the Artist Network forums. To register, click on the word "Register" toward the top of this page and on the right. If you're already a forum member, just make sure you're logged in.
• Your artwork is to convey a sense of springtime or convey what spring means to you--without depicting flowers.
  
• Your artwork may be any style from trompe l’oeil realism to somewhat abstract (objects must be identifiable).
•  All media are acceptable, including collage—just keep your work basically two-dimensional.
• New work only please.
• Include your artwork's name, dimensions and medium when you post it. A sentence or two of background information about your artwork is encouraged, but not necessary.
  
•  Click here for posting instructions. Do not use the "Quick Reply" area to post art. Instead, click on the "Add Reply" icon. You'll find it on the left after the last message. Look for a green pencil on a yellow background.
• Those who have won an All-Media Paint-Off challenge within the past year may post their art, but they are not eligible to win this challenge. If you're unsure whether you're eligible or not, email me at artistsnetwork@fwmedia.com
• Multiple entries are permissible, but no more than one entry by the same artist will be selected as a finalist.

Springtime means to me the return of the green.  My painting is entitled Misty Spring Morning.  It was done in water soluable oil paints on canvas. Its dementions are 24 x 16

 ' Marbles" ....Watercolour , 6 X 9 on arches paper

Where I live,  one of the first signs that spring is well on it's way  is when the school yard is full of children squatting in a circle playing a game of marbles.

Dust storms are signs of a West Texas spring.  Depending on the wind speed the sky can actually be a sepia color.  Windmills become the silohutte on a dusty  horizon.

Jo Beth Gilliam

The Canada Geese have been coming back this week and honking that spring is coming at long last .

"Spring returnees"

19 w X 11 h app.  Ref photo by Dave Rollins .used by permission .

Subject: Spring Non Floral;  

Shoveling eleven inches of "partly cloudy" off the walk.

9" x 12" Watercolor

This was a line in a letter from my late Aunt who lived in Milwaukee Wisconsin.  The letter was dated in the 1960's.  I thought it would make a great "Spring Non Floral" painting subject.

Ron Raasch

With the snow on the decline the birds are arriving in droves.  I thought this picture was a good match for the spring theme challenge.  We have been very busy with our bird books and bird feeder this winter and spring. Our bird feeder is set up in the branches near the fence and our new neighbour's cat has discovered it. At first she would come over and move along the ground under the feeder but that proved very unsatisfactory and of course our little dog would see her and chase her away. Then she discovered the fence!! Now she can get very close to the feeder and best of all she realizes that the dog cannot touch her up there. He of course is very upset about that. She now gets very close to the trees and the feeder but as yet she has not figured out how to make her move onto the branches. The birds are aware of this and will flit and flirt about just out of her reach and tease her something terrible. Watching all of this has been very entertaining for us. www.artbywendysblog.blogspot.com  www.artbywendy.com