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Paint or draw

Send in pictures of your original artwork on a monthly theme to feature in our online gallery. No prizes, just prestige!

  • Are you a dab hand with a paintbrush or pencil?
  • Do you want to develop your skills or are you simply interested in the world around you and how to capture it in a piece of artwork? 

We are running a monthly challenge to encourage people to paint or draw a piece of artwork, then take a photo of their work and submit their pictures via our online form. We are going to be posting a different theme each month and inviting u3a members to submit photos of their creations on that topic.

This is not a competition and it is not about your artistic ability  – what we want from you are interesting pictures, possibly different perspectives on everyday scenes or objects, anything which has inspired you to paint or draw. Peter Akers, a member of the paint or draw network, has shared his helpful tips on Starting out in pastels, Sandra Foster has some tips on Acrylics and David Wrigley, another member, has shared some thoughts on Watercolours. We will be extending this network of members so please do contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to find out more. 

At the end of every month, we will choose and publish up to 15 photos of artwork on an online gallery for each theme to share the pictures with all of our members. Just upload your photo using the form below (you will receive an acknowledgement once submitted). Follow the links at the bottom of the page to view previous galleries. 

Please only submit one photo per person. Your photo of your artwork should also not include any recognisable people.

The theme "Not quite as it seems" is now closed. Thank you to all those who submitted photos of their artwork on this theme. This is just a selection of the fantastic pictures that were sent in. It was very difficult to choose as they were all brilliant and much appreciated. 

The theme for this month is: "The Old Town"

Deadline for submissions: 18 March 2026

Follow this link to submit your photos on our WuFoo form

This month's gallery: Reversed

"Is the deer crossing the road? Or the road crossing the forest?" by Jade, Torquay u3a

Lately I have been really into creating mini watercolour paintings, as they are quick to do, meaning I can still create something even if I don't have much time. My inspiration for this painting came from studying human impacts on the natural environment. For example: how roads divide habitats, restricting animal movement and disrupting ecosystems.

‘The Lobster Quadrille’ by Gabrielle, Farnham u3a

Lewis Carroll’s poem ‘The Lobster Quadrille’ re-versed in the language of paint.

'Reflections' by Janet, Bradford on Avon u3a

I was inspired to paint this painting by seeing reflections in the water. The picture is the same if reversed.

'Light & dark' by Shirley, Chesterfield u3a

Pastel on brown paper. Trying to reverse light and dark. Good exercise but head and hands found it difficult!

'Lockdown Walk With My Cat' by Ruth, Bridport & District u3a

I'm not sure if this is eligible as it is a handmade print, drypoint engraved into perspex, hand inked and printed, but it is basically drawn. I was concentrating on the image and forgot to do it in reverse- so the print is a reversal of the view! It's also a reversal of going out to the countryside for walks, I walked slowly in the enclosed back lane behind our terraced houses, and my cat was happy because she likes a companion when exploring.

'Image in water' by Salim, Harrow u3a

A reversed image in the water is always inspiring, especially in watercolour. 

'Iris' by Valerie, Camberley u3a

A few years ago I was fascinated by an article showing x-ray photographs of flowers. It inspired me to paint this Iris on canvas.

'Below the Surface' by Vyanjana, Barnet u3a

The theme itself actually inspired me to do something different.

'Glass ball' by Julie, Selby & District u3a

Pencil on cartridge paper. Referenced from a photograph using glass ball to reverse the image.

'Reverse Climate Change' by Dawn, Ilkley & District u3a

Reverse Climate Change before it’s too late. Materials used ink and water colour.

'Reversed Colour' by Ian, Witham & District (Essex) u3a

As my entry for the theme I have attempted to create a 'colour reversed' version of an (essentially) Red, White and Blue image of our favourite Aerobatic Team in action. The process involved replacing all of the original colours with their complementary colours and thus produce a 'Colour Negative' effect. So, for example, Red became Green, White became Black, and Blue became Orange (plus all of their various mixing shades, tints and tones etc). I chose to use a watercolour background, with acrylics and fineliner coloured pens for the foreground and detail. The small inset picture at the bottom left, shows my image 'photographically reversed' to recreate a 'positive' version of the original, for comparison.

'Dursley' by Elizabeth, Interest Groups Online

This is the historic market hall in Dursley reversed in a shop window opposite. It can be hard to know which is the original and which the reversal as the effect is so convincing.

'Boat reflections' by Annie, Pontyclun u3a

Reflections are surely examples of reversals, so I've submitted a water-mixable oil painting with boat reflections to represent REVERSED.

'Tiger's face' by Karen, Tenbury Wells u3a

This piece shows a tiger's face in the black areas of the tree bark.

'Role reversal' by Jane, Interest Groups online

Role reversal. Acrylic paint on paper.

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