Hello Krita Artists 
It’s time for a new art challenge!
Congratulations to everyone who participated in the November challenge by submitting wonderful art, and also to our members who took the time to vote.
@Elixiah won the most votes and has created the theme for this month’s challenge and she invited @edgarej to design an optional component.
The word is an artistic term for the use of strong contrasts between light and dark to create dramatic effects and the illusion of 3D. Often, in art and photography, the use of light is what really sets a painting or photo apart from others. It gives it the “wow” factor. Caravaggio and Rembrandt were masters of chiaroscuro.
It can be a real challenge to add contrasting light and shadows to your subject matter, which is why I have chosen it for December’s challenge. I see many new Krita artists on the forum asking for advice on how to improve their work, and many times, all it needs is some interesting light and corresponding shadows. Good reference examples will help until you get a feel of directional light and shadow.
You may use any subject matter you like… figurative, still life, landscape, animals, portrait, abstract, anything. Black & white, grayscale or color. But decide on your direction of light… whether it’s from the side, above, or below, and create strong contrasts with corresponding shadows and backgrounds.
Tip: Using the “Multiply” feature on a brush or a whole layer can help create good contrasts. Some of the other layer blending modes are fun to experiment with as well. I am still learning too!
Optional Challenge
Make it a Chiaroscuro Christmas/Holiday theme illustration like so…
Above photo isn’t quite chiaroscuro… I could have darkened some of the areas more…. but you get the idea, Christmas themed chiaroscuro.
Please post only artworks and discussion related to submitted artwork in this thread. There is a WIP thread for each monthly art challenge in which you can ask questions and post your works in progress (WIPs).
Monthly Art Challenge WIPs and Discussion Thread – December 2025
Rules
- The composition should be your own and not an exact copy from someone or somewhere else. If you are using a reference photo taken by anyone other than yourself, please ensure the license allows for its use and include a credit to the photographer with your submission.
- Artwork should be done in Krita. Submissions must be done from scratch in Krita, no paint-over or tracing allowed. Photobashing is allowed only when explicitly specified in the topic.
- The topic changes every month. Your submission should be somehow related to the topic. If possible, please add a few lines explaining your idea and image.
- No AI-generated images are allowed, not even partial use of AI and paint over. It is unfair for those who are drawing from scratch.
- You can post a maximum of 3 entries and also edit the entries until the deadline. All your entries will be clubbed during the vote and you only get one vote. Reply with your entries to this post in this thread. All entries must appear in a single post. Please do not post your submissions in any other category on Krita-Artists until voting has closed and the winner is declared.
- In order to have the image featured, the entries need to be safe for work so please avoid any NSFW or controversial content. The moderators can use their discretion to disqualify the image from the contest with prior notice. Of course, the artist will be given the chance to submit an alternate image or change it.
- Submissions will be accepted until 2025-12-26T18:00:00Z, at which time the topic will automatically close. You can check how much time is left at the bottom of the thread.
We will hold a poll at the end of the challenge period. The artwork with the most votes will be the winner.
Prize
- The winner will be featured on this website in the featured artwork row.
- The winner will have the privilege to set the next topic of their liking. If the winner is not available or reachable, then the 1st runner up will be asked to provide the topic and challenge.
- The winner will also be awarded the Monthly Art Contest Winner badge.
Please spread the word about this art challenge by posting your artwork on various social media websites with the hashtag – #KritaChallenge. If possible, include a link to the forum post.
I hope we will enjoy this exercise so let us begin.
P.S. Note we can change the rules based on the feedback on this contest and modify the format. Any suggestions are welcome. To submit feedback, please create a new topic in the Site Feedback category.
