#The100DayProject
I’ve neglected to mention in previous posts that in addition to various Instagram daily art challenges, I have been participating overall in a challenge called #the100DayProject, hosted by @elleluna. This challenge ends on my birthday, July 27, and I think that was at first the only reason to do it, since it seemed quirky to me.
I really must say that I am glad I’ve been participating in these daily creative prompts as I feel, personally, that I have seen improvements in my artistic skills, especially where brush lettering is concerned. I still have a long ways to go with watercolor, india inks and colored pencils, but this project in tandem with other Instagram prompts has really helped in ways I couldn’t have previously thought possible.
I began #The100DayProject on April 19 and I’ve created something new just about every single day. There have been a couple breaks in there that were much needed, and a couple times where I was working on a creative endeavor that took me more than a single sitting to complete.
Now, here’s the catch. I’ve been doing something just about every single day, actually, since the beginning of February, when I stared participating in the #RockYourHandwriting prompts.
When I count all my photo shares on Instagram minus progress pictures and occasional re-gram shares and non-art photos, I have, to-date, completed 120 creative pages in my sketchbooks!
I am pretty floored by this.
I think I’ve suggested this in the past before, but again, I implore you – if you’re really wanting to build your creative muscles and practice your creative passions more frequently, do a daily challenge. Doesn’t have to be an Instagram challenge. Just do something daily.
What I like about what I’ve been doing in most of these challenges, as well, is I have been sticking primarily with just a couple of mediums. Yes, this means my beloved mixed-media art journaling has taken a back seat for the time being. Pushing myself to finish something new each day typically means keeping it simple and not pulling out half my art supplies in order to finish a layout.
Are you participating in a daily prompt at all? What does it look like for you? If not, is it something you might consider? What are your fears and reasons for withholding from it if you’re not sure you want to do one?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with a quote I find thought-provoking:
What is holding you back? Maybe it’s not your fear of failure, but your fear of success.
List of materials:
Contains affiliate links. See disclosure for more info.
Leuchtturm Hardcover Pocket Sketchbook
Sakura Brush Pen
Sakura Micron Pen
Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colours
Liquitex White Gesso
Odyssey Art 
I took on a personal daily challenge on 1-1-2015. My challenge was to journal every day (I’m a writer) for at leat 750 words. I am happy to report that even though I only committed to one year, I have kept it up now every day for 518 days. I’m pretty floored by that accomplishment, too. As a result I have posted almost 100 poems in the past 12 months and I can really see improvement. I so agree with you. Even if it is just a little something, that creative connection every day does wonders for your art as well as you whole approach to life. Thanks for posting this and asking the question.
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I’ve completed Day 7 of the 30 Day Monster Girl challenge today. I like how I can play with a subject I’m familiar with, the pinup, while compelling myself to do research for references and to broaden the scope of approaching a seemingly spare prompt. I also surprised myself by exploring melancholy themes, in fact right after depicting cheer and freshness.
My fear is indeed of success. For one, I don’t have a clear image of it, and another, the pale glimpse I do have is one of having a reputation that precedes me. I suppose it won’t be all fanfare and applause or rotten tomatoes and jeers all the time.
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