Observations from #the100DayProject

Can 100 days of making art kill you?  Evidently not!  I made it -- a few days late, but I completed all 100 days.

 My Klee paintings, Days 96 - 99/100

Artist and fellow Skillshare teacher Elle Luna started the idea of making art for 100 consecutive days.  Anyone on Instagram could contribute and follow along by using the hashtag #the100dayproject.

Photo courtesy of Elle Luna

Originally, I created the hashtag #100DaysOfLittleInspirations because I thought I could use the daily discipline to create more art for my Little Inspirations series for Art-o-mat.  This was not the case all, however, as I never created any particular design specifically to use for this series.

My Miro' paintings, Days 93 - 95/100

In fact, I created some finished art for my Mini Masterpieces series for Art-o-mat.  The little Miro's above and the little Klees at the top are some pieces that doubled as daily paintings for this effort and for my Skillshare workshop in July.  

(Side note:  Check out my Klee class on Skillshare for free with this link, and my Miro' class for free with this link.)

Observations from this project

The project most likely helped me solidify my next potential projects for my next Skillshare classes.

I enjoyed the freedom to explore some favorite Celtic and other cultural designs.

I worked out some design problems in finished pieces first in these daily drawings before committing the final project to canvas later.

Some days I had no rules.  Sometimes this worked, sometimes it did not.

The project gave me an excellent reason to look through my old sketchbooks and reflect on continued themes of interest.  Any artist who keeps sketchbooks considers them personal treasures, so this was a very pleasant side benefit of the project.

I studied other artists' work on a deeper level than perhaps I would have previously.  The daily prompt demanded that I find inspiration on days I did not have it naturally.  Finding other participating artists via the hashtag was an easy and instant way to be inspired.

I took some risks -- for instance, I found I had a lot to learn about painting on river rocks.  I may never have had the courage to pursue subject matter out of my comfort zone had I not had the demanding and seemingly relentless prompt.

The project pushed me to create works quicker than I ever had previously.

The project made me view everyday subject matter, like flowering weeds, in a different light.  Because I was constantly contemplating a new drawing, I noticed mundane details and immediately elevated them to things of beauty.  It's nice to think that the project potentially trained my eye to see a greater quantity of compositions even though I have not traveled to a different location nor experienced any other external creative change.

The project prompted me to remember anything of significance -- favorite song lyrics, for instance -- as an opportunity for art making.

Quantity.  Quantity. Quantity.  I tell my students that the BEST way to grow quickly as an artist is to paint again and again and again.  I believe that quantity leads to quality.  When I saw this project this year, I felt called to pursue it because it was an opportunity for me to "practice what I preach" to my students.

The project gave me the opportunity to pursue art supplies and materials that I use frequently now, but perhaps in a style I would not have traditionally migrated to...

and to renew my acquaintance with favorite art supplies that I had not used in many years.

One last observation

 This project had some pressure associated with it.  If I went for a few days without creating a sketch or painting, I began to worry about not ever finishing.  

However, making art is its own form of therapy.  The creative release spilled over into making life more enjoyable no matter where I was - I doodled at meetings and took my sketchbook with me everywhere.  (Thank goodness I am used to working small in a little and highly portable sketchbook.)

If you would like to see all of my art from this project, you can find them on Instagram at #100daysofLittleInspirations.  

If you are an artist who participated in this project, please let me know your own insights into your work by leaving a comment or reaching out over social media.

Special thanks to Elle Luna and all other artists who created a supportive community of artists on Instagram -- all of whom were dedicated to developing their skills.

Happy art making!