The 100dayproject Update
In February I started the 100 Day Project. This is a self-directed challenge to do something creative every day, for 100 days. So... how's it going? you might ask.
I made it! (half way)
I decided that I would work with watercolor during the challenge. I have no experience with watercolor and I'm a fairly poor painter in any medium, but it seemed like a manageable effort. The cost of materials is inexpensive, it's portable, and easy to start. In the beginning I was diligent in sitting down with my watercolors every evening. After about a week, my husband joined me. I enjoyed the activity, and he did too.
Dana
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| Week 5 collection |
And then - life got busy with other priorities and we stopped at day 49. Here are a few thoughts about the experience.
- The challenge was to do something creative for at least 15 minutes a day. Our efforts were typically an hour or more each evening.
- While traveling for a conference in early April, I tried to keep up my efforts. What I found, however, was I was just putting paint to paper to get something - anything - down. That seemed to miss the point of the challenge.
- I traveled again mid-April. I didn't fool myself. I left the watercolors at home :).
- I improved over time.
- I liked how my landscapes turned out and I liked doing them (probably because they were less embarrassing than my flowers or birds!).
- Almost all of my paintings were inspired by my photographs.
- My glass art landscapes will benefit from the exercise.
- In the end, I felt like watercolor was getting in the way of doing my "real art".
- 49 days means seven weeks. SEVEN WEEKS! (towards the end, I did miss a few days)
- I began to realize the many things I do that are creative, even though I might not generally think of them as such - preparing a presentation for a talk I gave, attending a meeting with other artists, taking photographs, or planting the garden. If I do the challenge again, I won't plan something so structured. My goal will be to "create" and whatever that looks like is OK.
- Once I gave myself a pass on the watercolor, I got back into my glass studio!
Even though I made it only half way through the challenge, I don't feel like I failed. Creativity in any form is fun. And, I have some colorful 4x6" paintings for my effort!
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| Day 49, Salt Creek Wildlife Management area Watercolor from the day's photo trip |
Dana
