On 30 June I announced my plan to do a #The100DayProject – starting on 1 July, and explained a bit about what that is. For me, it is a plan to do something (anything) creative for 100 days.
As it turns out, my art group decided to do a 30 day sketching challenge during July, so the beginning of my 100 Day Project was likely to be very sketch heavy, however I’ve fallen in love with drawing in ink and adding some watercolour so it’s kinda gone that way a bit!
I decided I’ll do a ’round up post’ once a fortnight for the duration of my #WOTMThe100DayProject to share the creativity I’ve done for that period and I’ll also share how I’m feeling and what I’m noticing in each post. The first round up post covers Day 1 to 18.
So let’s have a look at Days 19 to 32, though you’ve already seen a glimpse in the image above!
Day 19
Day 19 – Kevin Kangaroo (named after my Dad because this Kangaroo looks to have a beautiful quiet nature like my Dad)
Day 20
Day 20 – Wonky Wombat (cos I stuffed up the painting of this one & there was a bit of pencil still there from my rough sketch and it smudged when I painted – oops!)
Day 21
Day 21 – Peekaboo Possum
Day 22
Day 22 – Kookaburra (this guy hasn’t got a name – what would you like me to call him?)
Day 23
Day 23 – GumNuts
Day 24
Day 24 – Yellow-Eyed Owl
Day 25
Day 25 – Denise and Min.
On 13 July I lost a long-time friend to cancer – Denise. We used to work together back in the early 80’s. I’ve known her since I was 18. We caught up regularly for lunch. On the morning of the celebration of her life I drew this and popped it into a frame (see it at this post on FB) and gave it to her husband and daughters. I’ll miss her so much.
Day 26
Day 26 – Empath Emu (cos he looks to be feeling all the feels!)
Day 27
Day 27 – ZygoCactus in ink & watercolour pencils (busy day so I used a drawing I did around Day 9 that I didn’t like so drew another one)
Day 28
Day 28 – Lady&Luggage
See my Facebook post that tells the story behind this sketch.
Day 29
Day 29 – Esme Echidna (nosey little thing like Esme Watson from ‘A Country Practice’)
Day 30
Day 30 – Cheeky Charlie Chimpanzee
Day 31
Day 31 – Zentangle Pattern. I wasn’t feeling well on this day. I think delayed side effects from my 2nd AZ jab a couple of days earlier. So I did a quick Zentangle pattern I’d seen on YouTube. It’s wonky but it’s something creative!
Day 32
Day 32 – Lockdown Larry the Lion. We’re in lockdown again as of 4pm yesterday afternoon. Lockdown Larry the Lion says “Roarrrrrrrrack off Delta”!
How I’m feeling and what I’m noticing?
- I’m still loving the ink and watercolours but finding it very hard to produce quality drawings every day (it’s very time consuming), so I think I’ll need to break it up with quick and easy things in between to give myself a bit of a break and so that the quality doesn’t drop due to exhaustion!
- I feel that I’m too heavy handed with the watercolours – so need to be more mindful to paint lighter and more translucently on the ink drawings etc.
- I can feel my inner critic rearing it’s head all the time. I pick every piece I do to bits and it’s very draining. Being a perfectionist is exhausting!
- I am amazed though at how easily I can glance at a photograph of an animal and translate that into a drawing. I will give myself that!
- I had my second AstraZeneca jab on Wednesday 28 July (day 28 of this challenge) and was fine until Friday night and Saturday when I didn’t sleep well, had some aches and a temp (nothing too bad). Feeling tired still but much better at the time of typing this (Sunday).
- I’m loving the journey that art is taking me on. I thoroughly enjoy my art group’s monthly coffee mornings where I meet up with like-minded women and am so inspired by their talent and enthusiasm. Luckily we got our July meet up in before lockdown (from 4pm Saturday).
What do you think I should call Day 22’s Kookaburra? I’d love to hear suggestions!
Wherever you are in the world, please take care of yourself and stay safe.
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan for #LifeThisWeek
16 Comments
I’m loving the journey this is taking you on too! I think you’re finding your “thing” – although tell that inner perfectionist of yours to sit down and shut up!
I hope this is my ‘thing’ Jo cos I’d like to settle and fine tune and finesse and become good at something rather than always dabbling and flitting from one thing to another. The perfectionist thing is a pain in the butt! I will keep telling it to shut up!
These are lovely. You’re really very talented. I’m sorry for your loss. This is just such an awful time and those ‘normal’ losses seem so much worse. I guess they always are, I just don’t have much resilience left. Take care. #Lifethisweek
Thanks Lydia. Yes losing my friend Denise has hit me hard. It’s much harder on her husband and daughters and family but she’s been part of the fabric of my life since I was 18 and I am going to miss her more than I ever imagined. You take care too!
I really like your ink and water colour combos Min – I think they’re your “thing” because they just flesh out the drawings and give them a more 3D look. I think the challenge is definitely inspiring your artist side 🙂
Thank you Leanne. I’m hoping they’re my thing because I’d like to settle and become good at something and stop floundering about dabbling here and there. Fingers crossed!
Hi Min, so in awe of your talent. Love all the combinations and I will say it again (I think this is the third or fourth time) you should hold an exhibition and I would love four of the native animal prints for my grandsons. I’m serious. #lifethisweek.
Hi Sue, thanks so much for such a lovely compliment! If you’d like four of the animals for your grandsons then how about you DM me which ones and I’ll see what I can do but I’m not quite ready to sell anything formally just yet so it might be a little while off. You see I didn’t set out with that the intention – it was just a challenge. I didn’t know I could do this! For that reason, some of these drawings have been done in a notebook (my 100 day project challenge notebook!) and also I think if I’m going to start selling them I’d want to investigate having my originals also made into prints so that once they’re sold they’re not gone forever. There’s a few things I need to sort out first. I may end up exhibiting one day, you never know. Baby steps so I don’t get so overwhelmed I shut down (which has happened in the past with photography, crochet etc). Thank you so much for your support & DM me the ones you like and you can be first cab off the rank when I get sorted! xo
I love these! They’re amazing! You need to quieten that inner critic and be kinder to yourself. I’m so sorry to hear about the death of your friend. Sending you lots of love. Good to hear you’re fully vaccinated. Hope you have a lovely week ahead.
Thank you Sanch and yes I’m trying to shut that inner critic up but gee she’s persistent! Thank you for thoughts for my friend. It’s hit me very hard losing her. Hope you have a great week ahead too – despite lockdowns and rona crap! xo
Your artwork is amazing, Min. Crush that inner critic pronto! I’m sorry to hear about the death of your friend. I lost a close friend a few years ago. I still miss her and know I’ll continue to miss her. I’m glad to hear you’re fully vaccinated. Stay well and keep up your art journey. #lifethisweek
Thanks so much Natalie. I’m trying very hard to crush the inner critic. She keeps appearing and I keep telling her to go away. I’m sorry to hear you lost a friend too. It’s so hard. I’ll always miss my friend too. Stay safe and well. xo
Oh Min, I love your creativity! Esme the Echidna made me laugh as I remember Esme from A Country Practice so well! Not sure what to call your Kookaburra, maybe Karen the Kooka – due to the rise and fall of Karen’s in these weird days!! I’m sorry about the loss of your friend, it’s just so hard at times but your drawing was so cute. Keep going with your artwork, you seriously have a great talent and tell that inner critic to go away in no uncertain terms!
I love “Karen the Kooka” Deb … so Karen she is! Good ‘ol Esme Watson – I used to love watching that show! My wombat was inspired by Fatso the Wombat from the very same show. The drawing for my friend was a very last minute thing I decided to do – so only time for a cartoon kind of thing. One day I might just draw her from a photo. The inner critic within me is a nasty beast but I’m trying to ward her off all the time. Thank you!
Your post is so joyful in its images and then…I read about that Inner Critic getting in the way. I hope, over time, that you can tell her, thank you but I am doing well. I hear that is a good strategy.
I am pretty sure you can’t see (yet) what we, the ones who look at your images are telling you. They are excellent and you have a gifted eye.
I am sorry about your friend’s passing. A beautiful tribute to her…
Thank you for linking up this week for #LifeThisWeek. Glad you could join in. Hope to see you next Monday. Cheers, Denyse.
Thanks Denyse! I do have a battle on my hands with my inner critic and self sabotaging ways. A recent drawing of a platypus I did certainly set her off. I’ve had to take a break from drawing since till I can get her to quieten down. It was all because I stuffed up the watercolour painting of it. I was interrupted mid paint and lost the flow. It’s certainly made me realise that this is a real issue I have (it all stems from perfectionism) and I have to take care in how I manage it. Other than that though – I am pleasantly surprised with how I can draw and I really do want to make something of it, eventually but with baby steps! xo