Boo!
Did I scare you? Maybe a little bit? . . . No?
Well, I could tell by the entries we received this time around that you guys were not scared off by this admittedly difficult and technical challenge, but bravely tackled it head on. In fact, I was delighted by all of the different ways you interpreted this challenge. Dare I say, you showed me many unexpected perspectives on perspective! (Say that ten times fast!)
Before I get to showcasing the range of incredible entries that we had for this challenge, let's first talk about the winner of our big prize! As in all of these challenges, we chose one entrant completely at random from among all of the challenge entrants to receive a prize. (Remember, the more times you enter the challenge, the greater your chance to win!) And what IS this prize, you may ask? Well, it's a grab bag of goodies (estimated value $100-plus USD) donated by Cookie Connection host @Julia M. Usher. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, gang, I was traveling at the time of this blog posting, and failed to take photos of the grab bag, but trust me . . . it's an awesome collection of stuff picked up on my recent Cookie Cruise, which includes a mini cookie turntable, a task light, and other decorating tools! ~JMU]
And the winner of our prize for Practice Bakes Perfect Challenge #36 is . . . @PUDING FARM! Congratulations!
@PUDING FARM submitted two fabulous entries for this challenge, but our judges' favorite was this one:
Birch by PUDING FARM
We were impressed with the contrast between the leaves in the foreground and the hazy trees, ground, and sky in the background, and how so much distance was represented on such a small cookie. Those large, textured leaves in the foreground that decrease in size until they are nothing but small dots, and then fade into the painted background, are brilliant. And I really like how the tree trunks and branches, which are so detailed in the foreground, disappear into blurry patches of gold and blue. On top of it all, what a lovely fall scene it is!
Now, without further ado, let's get to the rest of our spotlighted artists!
Oregon - Linear Perspective by Elke Hoelzle
Continuing the autumn landscape theme, @Elke Hoelzle created this stunning entry. As one of our judges summed it up: "This cookie is simply amazing - for the perspective, the textures, [and] the techniques she used. She nailed the perspective with the two vanishing points (the end of the path and the beginning of the stream), giving the cookie an incredible depth. The leaves get smaller and smaller and lead the eye toward the end of the path, which you know is not the end, and that it continues on the left. Once there, there's more to see though, and the eye gets lost following the stream to the right." Finally, I will add that this cookie is just a feast for the eyes with such glorious fall colors and textures. I know it is supposed to depict Oregon, but it really reminds me of the gorges and streams of Ithaca, New York!
The Dungeon by Ryoko ~Cookie Ave.
This entry by @Ryoko ~Cookie Ave. is a masterful example of single-point linear perspective. The shades of grey really set the tone for this ghoulish scene where every single item in the room is drawn with perspective in mind. As one of our judges put it: "Ryoko's precision in this cookie is astounding! There are so many lines and angles converging on that back wall - so many lines that could have gotten wonky and led our eyes astray. But they all line up perfectly. I don't even notice the geometry - just a spooky basement." I also want to add that I am extremely impressed with how Ryoko created that side room with the staircase. Although it is a separate room, notice how even the door frame and stairs are drawn to converge on the single focal point on the back wall of the adjoining room. Clearly, a TON of planning went into this entry, and the result is spectacular.
Greece - Aerial Perspective by Elke Hoelzle
In this second entry by Elke, she has gone with more of a focus on aerial perspective, though because of the buildings in the foreground, she got to work a bit on her linear perspective skills again. I love how the fine details of the buildings in the foreground, where you can even see the individual bars of the gate, recede into the distance where the sea, land, and sky are mere splashes of pastel color. Upon closer inspection, you may also notice that Elke used royal icing transfers for the brown stone wall and blue-domed church, which help to create additional dimension and perspective. This cookie is just impressive, and the more I stare at it, the more I am ready to catch the next flight to Santorini!
Catch! by Kim Damon
Okay, so I must admit that I am a baseball freak, and every year at this time I spend every possible moment absorbing every last minute of baseball that I can. The perspective of this entry by Kim Damon is so expertly executed that I feel I could literally put on my mitt and catch that ball! I love how you can count the stitches on the baseball in the extreme foreground, that you can sort of discern the vague features of the pitcher's face in the mid-ground, and that the rest of the field and stadium fade to a blur of blues, browns, and yellows in the distant background. This entry is nothing short of a home run.
View from the Universe to the Earth - Aerial Perspective by Icingsugarkeks
I love this interpretation of the challenge. Certainly, it gives new meaning to the term "atmospheric perspective" (bad pun intended). We have all probably seen a view of the earth from the space shuttle, but how many of us have seen the view from beyond the shuttle? Perhaps this is an alien's view? Or God's?! One of the things I absolutely love about this entry is how important the photo-taking process was to the final creation. You can read all about how Gabi staged this cookie for the photo and all of her trials and tribulations in the comments to this entry.
Christmas from a Child's Perspective by Gingerland
This delightful pair of cookies is a reminder that perspective truly is in the eyes of the beholder! As one of our judges commented: "I can absolutely imagine myself as a child looking up in wonder to see a large snowman or Christmas tree. The perspective is a subtle shift from a head-on view, but its effect inspires me to see the holiday through a child's eye."
A Bird's Eye View by Kim Damon
I wanted to spotlight this second entry by Kim to show that you can also add perspective with an array or set of cookies. Certainly, each of the two cookies with the birds could stand alone as its own study in aerial perspective, but the addition of the two giant leaves really gives us the sense that we are seeing these two birds from a nearby branch of the same tree.
Tulip Field by Kanch J
This entry (one of FOUR made by @Kanch J!) is a terrific example of single-point linear perspective. Those rows of flowers so nicely converge on a single point to the right of the windmill. I also like how the flowers in the foreground are relatively large with a little of the bare earth between them, but, in the distance, the flowers are smaller and there is less to no visible earth between the splotches of colors that the flowers have become. The person in the foreground is also enchanting. I especially like that she is looking away from the very strong focal point by the windmill. It makes us think there is something very interesting over to the left if her gaze can pull ours away from those tidy rows of bright flowers.
Perspective by Tarryn Meiring
This entry by Tarryn is an ambitious multi-focal point linear perspective project! While I think I can figure out where the focal points are (one each to the right and left, perhaps?), I would LOVE to see the pre-cookie sketches for this entry. In any event, I applaud Tarryn for her sheer bravery in tackling this one, and think we may be seeing this cookie hanging in MOMA soon!
And that brings us to the end of another Practice Bakes Perfect adventure! Thanks to everyone who participated by making an entry or supportive comments about others' entries. One of the things I really love about these challenges is reading everyone's lovely and constructive comments. You are so supportive of each other!
Our next challenge will post in about a week, on or about November 3, 2019. I hope you all will join us!
Christine Donnelly began her professional baking career at 16, when she was hired on the spot at her local bakery to work the counter and decorate cakes. After detours to college and law school, she worked as a trial lawyer in Chicago for many years, ultimately leaving that career to become a stay-at-home mother to her two children. In her “retirement,” she continued to bake at home, at last finding her preferred artistic medium in decorated cookies. In February 2013, Bakerloo Station was born with a presence on both Facebook and Instagram. Christine makes cookies to balance her left brain, to inspire and share creative ideas, and to feed those needs that only art can satisfy.
Photo credit: Christine Donnelly
Note: Practice Bakes Perfect is a bimonthly Cookie Connection blog feature written by Christine Donnelly that poses inspiration or challenges to get you to stretch as a cookie artist - for practice, for prizes, and for fun! Its content expresses the views of the author and not necessarily those of this site, its owners, its administrators, or its employees. Catch up on all of Christine's past Cookie Connection posts here.
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