One Hundred Days of Painting
For the past year I have been itching to challenge myself as an artist. Because I was also completing my final year of homeopathy school, I had to save any big commitments for 2023.
One challenge I’ve wanted to embark upon is painting every day for 100 days in a row. I officially started my journey on January 2, 2023 and I am already learning so much more than I had anticipated this early in the game. Whether you’re a fellow artist, or a fan of my work, I thought some of these little nuggets might be applicable to any of us starting something new.
Total Peace
The first shift I started to notice after only painting a few days in a row was that I started to relax. Because the last 6 months or so have been so busy, I haven’t taken the time to paint every day as other tasks had taken precedence over my practice. When I sit down to create and I haven’t done so in a while, the blank paper or canvas can feel like pressure. A bit like walking onto an empty stage to perform. No, no one was watching me, but I was more aware of my mistakes. About three days into this practice, when I would sit down at my desk to paint, I felt this sense of peace on every level of my being, from my body to the depths of my soul. It’s felt much easier to move into that blissful flow state and float away.
There is Always Time
One of the excuses I made a lot through the past year when other tasks were becoming a higher priority than painting was that “I don’t have time.” I’ve found this to be completely untrue. The truth is, you can make time. In the last 10 days, I’ve had moments where I have arrived at the end of a very jam-packed day and painted with my evening tea. Or on my hour-long lunch break between my homeopathy patients, I have taken space to put down the first wash of a sky, or create something more minimalistic. This challenge has already shifted my mindset around time, and around making time for things that are important.
Looser Strokes
My technique is changing. I’m starting to notice my movements becoming less mechanical and more embodied. Painting every day has actually pulled my focus outward. Rather than getting every detail just right, I feel as though I’m looking at each piece through a wide-angle lens. There is more ease in each stroke, less obsessing, and I’m working through feeling rather than with my mind.
The Challenge of Boredom
Yesterday, I told my partner I was getting bored with some of my pieces, and he looked at me and said “maybe it’s time for you to challenge yourself.” So, since I had an open evening, I did. At around 8pm, I trudged down to the end of our driveway and snapped a couple dark, hazy shots down the road to try and see if I could paint a dark and dreary scene, with only headlights and streetlights casting shadow and color. I’d never painted anything like it and though it was difficult, I loved every minute of it.
I am so excited to continue painting every day through April 12th — assuming I don’t have to skip a day…This challenge is already teaching me so much about the limitations I place upon myself and how to push through them.
If you’re interested in following along, please follow me on Instagram! The majority of my journey is posted there via photos and time-lapse videos. Thank you all for your support and cheers to the next 90 days!
Available for Purchase
Yes, the pieces I’ve created in the first few days of this journey are available for purchase! Unlike the items in my shop, they are unframed and not matted so you can display them as you wish. Please email me below if you are interested in purchasing any of them!