The 100 Day Project – Background Information
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’s 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 quite sketch heavy, however along the way I fell in love with drawing in ink and adding some watercolour so it’s kinda gone that way now. I’ll go with the flow and see where it takes me.
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 also share how I’m feeling and what I’m noticing in each post.
I’ve now passed HALF WAY!
Here’s the round up posts already published if you haven’t seen them:
and here’s days 47 to 60.
Day 47
Day 47 – Percy Pig
Day 48
Day 48 – Quirky Photo Montage. This was done at art mentoring class where I get to taste test different art mediums and styles. This is not really my cup of tea but it is always great to learn and be aware of different kinds of art as they make me feel more well rounded as an aspiring artist and I pick up things I might like to incorporate into what I do.
Day 49
Day 49 – Bumble Bees & Lavender
Day 50
Day 50 – Orangutan Mum & Bub
I specifically drew Orangutans on this day because it happened to be International Orangutan Day.
Day 51
Day 51 – Beach Heart. We visited our daughter at the Gold Coast on this day and this was the only bit of creativity I could squeeze into the day.
Day 52
Day 52 – Bunch of Daisies
Day 53
Day 53 – Splatter Dragonfly
Day 54
Day 54 – Felicity Flamingo (named after my Mum)
Day 55
Day 55 – Illuminated lettering. Another Tuesday, another art mentoring class. A taste of illuminated lettering in limited time.
Day 56
Day 56 – Pepe the Pug
Day 57
Day 57 – Ava. My favourite dog for International Dog Day – my dog, Ava!
Day 58
Day 58 – Doorway. All was going well until I made a boo boo (you’ll see it!) and tried to cover it but made it worse, so this one really bugs me!
Day 59
Day 59 – Pathway to the seaside.
I’ve been using up heaps of watercolour paper doing this project and it’s expensive so I decided to tear an A4 page of watercolour paper into six and start doing some mini paintings occasionally. It will be a lot more economical and also save me some time.
Day 60
Day 60 – Wheelbarrow full of flowers
How I’m feeling and what I’m noticing?
- I’ve struggled a bit during this period. I’m not wanting to be a negative Nelly – just honest. My mood & energy has been in a bit of a slump. I think it’s the drain of the whole Covid situation here in Australia, what’s happening in Afghanistan and the devastation in Haiti, etc. So much bad news! There’s also been the passing of another friend from cancer and some worries that have been weighing me down. I still have two kidults living at home too, so it’s quite a busy household to run around here still. This is why I wrote a post last week announcing that I’d be reducing how often I post here on the blog for a while. My energy has been low and fitting in some creativity each day has been possible but I’m not getting much done around the house! lol
- On days that I have art mentoring class (Tuesdays), I use what I did in class that day as my creativity for the day, regardless of whether it’s any good or not. Class goes for 2 hours but we usually only get around 1 hour to create. Sometimes I finish it off once I’m home if I have the right equipment/supplies, etc.
- I’m not loving what I’m producing so much lately. I think it’s because of how I’ve been feeling and that is reflected in what I’ve produced. I like what I create much better when I’m relaxed and time is not an issue.
- Having said that point above though, I have to give myself credit for what I have produced in limited time, and having to produce something every day is teaching me a lot!
- I’ve noticed I can overwork the watercolour element to my ink drawings. I always seem to want it to look exactly like the photograph I have used as inspiration but on reflection I think it often (not always) would be nicer to do a lighter wash and allow for more negative space. Poetic licence – that’s something I need to get better at.
- As you’d have seen, I’ve decided to start doing some mini-paintings to be more economical and to save time too (more about this written after day 59).
- I’m realising that it is impossible to produce perfection/good quality art when you’re pumping out something every day. I need to relax, lighten the expectations on myself and stop worrying so much about what other people might think. Again, good lessons here too.
No blog post next week but I’ll be back the week after with Days 61 to 74.
Wherever you are in the world, please take care of yourself and stay safe.
Ciao for now,
Linking up with Denyse Whelan for #LifeThisWeek
26 Comments
The pig and the dogs are fabulous!! #Lifethisweek
Thank you Lydia – I love knowing which ones people like the most and it always amazes me how different they can be!
I’ve been trying a similar challenge (though no class, just my total lack of skill haha) and there’s definitely something to the challenge of creating (especially a new skill) when things are otherwise a bit bleak. Good on you for keeping on – and thank you for making me want to carry on with it.
Thanks Vanessa! So good to hear you’re doing a creative challenge too! It is amazing what it brings out of you. I have been shocked at what I can do that I never knew I could do before! The challenge I’m doing is separate to the classes I’m going to. The classes aren’t teaching me to do any one thing in particular – just a great way to taste test lots of different art styles and techniques etc. Good luck with your challeng and I hope you share your creations!
Beautiful art work, Min. I’d frame the Ava one since she’s your beloved pet. How do you keep your finished art (e.g. in a portfolio binder)? Thank you for sharing. #lifethisweek
Also thank you for linking up with #weekendcoffeeshare. Have a great week, Min!
My pleasure Natalie – I don’t always remember but did this time. It’s lovely to discover bloggers from all parts of the world at your link up! Take care and you have a good week too! xo
Thank you Natalie! You know, funnily enough – I’m not all that happy with the one I did of Ava. I was not in a good head space that day. I’d do it quite differently now. I’ll sit on it. I might do it again one day actually. I’m keeping all the finished art in plastic sleeves in a folder. Some of the first ones I did were just in a notebook!
I think your art is going from strength to strength Min. I particularly love the last couple of tiny ones you’ve done – just gorgeous and you definitely have a talent for watercolours.
Thank you Leanne! I love knowing which pieces people like so thanks for sharing that with me. I love watercolours and I love working with ink and I’ve discovered gouache too which is very handy and works in well with watercolours. I want to start playing with nib pens and an ink pot – just need to buy some.
Hi Min you must feel so proud of what you are achieving daily and feeling more confident in your creative talent. I’m loving all of your work. I do have a soft spot for the native animals but enjoy looking at your daily offering. xx#lifethisweek
Hi Sue – thank you! I’m pleasantly surprised by myself. I didn’t know I could do what I’m doing. This is the beauty of this project/challenge – it has brought it out of me and it’s flushing out what I like to do and what I don’t like to do and what I’m good at and what I’m not good at. I’m loving it! I know you love the native animals and I’ll do more but I thought I needed to try a variety of things to keep it all interesting and test the waters etc. Hope you have a great week! xo
Min, you are going so well with your art! I especially love the lavender and bees 🙂
Thank you Debbie – and thanks for letting me know which one you like the most – I love knowing! I must say I love my bumble bees too! xo
Way to go! I enjoy these creative practices. I’ve been seeking opportunities to do anything creative whether it’s simple as blogging, making food, journaling, etc. I feel it keeps me sane during the pandemic plus post-partum.
Thanks so much Julie and I completely understand the need for creative endeavours to keep us sane during this pandemic. It really helps to take the mind off all the doom and gloom! The blog and my art keep me nice and busy – always something to do!
Min, what a fabulous artist you are. I’m connecting through Denyse Whelan. My big project has been trying to blog each day in response to certain Photo Challenges. I’m up to day 61 with the main two challenges being Tree Squares and Flower of the Day. I’m so sorry about the passing of your friend. COVID and Afghanistan has everyone down. Friends of mine in CA both have had two vaccines and they are very ill with COVID. That’s so discouraging. So is being locked down. We are very fortunate (I think) here in AZ not to be in a lockdown state. Bad as it is, I think it is devastating and depressing for everyone to lock down constantly. We are living with the unknown and that’s always unnerving. I hope you have a great week. You are a very talented artist. I envy your wonderful ability.
Hi Marsha – so lovely to meet you (well on the internet) via our lovely friend Denyse and thank you for your kind compliments of my art! Lovely to hear you’re doing photography challenges. I’ve done heaps of those over the years. In 2014 I did a Diploma in Professional Photography. I thought I’d make a career of it but that was a mistake – I soon discovered it was a creative outlet, not a career. Trying to make a career of it made me lose the passion. It might come back one day. Meanwhile I dabbled in crochet and now art. I seem to need creative outlets! I’m so sorry about your friends who have had two vaccines and still very sick with COVID. It’s very upsetting hearing stories like that. Yes the lockdowns are soul destroying when they go on and on. Like you, here in Queensland we’re lucky to not be in lockdown at the moment but we feel for Sydney and Melbourne who are. Thank you again for your compliments and encouragement – it’s so very appreciated. Stay safe and have a wonderful week!
Love this project. I think I came across another of your updates a few weeks ago too. The idea of mini paintings is truly amazing.
Thanks so much Astrid! The mini paintings came about because watercolour paper is SO expensive and I’ve been going through so much of it! Have a wonderful week!
I too feel weighed down with all the news – it’s truly heartbreaking. I’ve found dog cuddles, walkies and sunshine a great antidote, I think being creative is yours! I love everything here, you really are a dab hand at the watercolours and although I love all of these, the pink door is my favourite and it’s the one you’re least happy with! I think you’ve got a real talent and I love that no matter how busy life has gotten, you’ve carved out a little Min Time. Go you!
I agree with your dog cuddles, walkies and sunshine as antidotes to the continual bad news! Creativity also helps me to focus my brain on other things and stop the mind spin! Thanks so much for the lovely compliments Sammie. Love knowing your favourite – it’s amazing how it’s different for everyone, and yes that one bothers me cos of where I stuffed it up but other than that I do love the rest! xo
Min, your artwork (watercolours esp) are stunning. I am gobsmacked that people can be so talented and it seems to come so naturally to you. What a gift you have.
I know you say you’ve been feeling low and I can related to the meh feeling about blogging, but perhaps art is your creative pursuit now?
Thank you Deb. I’m a bit gobsmacked too! Sometimes we can shock ourselves with what we can do. I didn’t know I could do this. I knew I enjoyed creativity and hoped that by going to the art mentoring classes it would help ‘unlock’ some creativity within me … and it seems to have done just that! xo
I am so pleased you are easing up on yourself Min. Big change. I used to think my art needed to be photography like now I know, for me, that is almost an impossibility. I used to always think I had to show other people what I was doing and relied on their comments.
Now, more in the last year of so, I do what I want..for me…and in different media as I feel like it. Sometimes I know I need more direction but then I turn to say art journalling. The thing that has changed the most for me is getting ideas from other people if I need to but then interpreting them for just me.
I am happy you are sharing too.
Thanks for sharing the post for Life This Week. Loved reading yours. Next week’s optional prompt is Self Care Stories. Hope to see you there too. Denyse
Thanks Denyse – yes I need to lighten the load at the moment as it seems that with the drain of all things Covid and bad news in the world on my sensitive self I’m unable to cope with too much all at once. I’m loving this challenge I set for myself but it’s become a focus point in my life right now and so other things need to take a back seat for a while. I won’t be posting or linking up next week but I will be the week after. Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead! xo