We are only six days away from finishing #The100DayProject for 2025! And I’m on track to finish! If I had to pick a theme for my projects this year it would be “Get Creative Getting Creative.” This year without really intending to, I ended up using a lot of supplies I already had lying around the house. OK, I did buy some new oil pastels, but other than that I used paper, journals, paints, etc. that I’ve had for a while.
The last time I did this project I mostly made digital art which was fun and a great way for me to learn to use my, then new, iPad. But this year I wanted to focus on using things I already had and being flexible with my projects and my time. I love participating in a challenge, and sometimes I love it a little too much to the point of obsession or freaking out if I can’t participate to the fullest. There’s an old saying that “perfect is the enemy of the good” and that can often be too true for art. I can get in my own head about having the perfect supplies, the perfect lighting, the perfect outcome and the list goes on. And usually what happens is that while I’m waiting for things to be “perfect” nothing actually happens. This year I was gentle with my goals and with myself and here is what worked for me:
- Anything can be art if you want it to be. Doodling = art. Coloring in a coloring book = art. Taking pictures of wildlife on a walk = art. Great bathroom selfie with accidentally excellent lighting = yep it’s art too!
- Bad art is also art and you need to make more of it. Making bad art is actually good for your mental health (Breaking Free from the Fear: Why Making Bad Art is Good for You).
- Comparison is the thief of joy. If you are chronically online it is easy to spiral out about your own talent when you are only seeing curated pictures from artists. Chances are they are spiraling about their own posts too.
- Step away from your art. I am my own worst critic and when I’m working with something too closely I only see the flaws. Try taking a pic of your art or stepping away from it for a bit or better yet show it to someone you love! It’s not as bad as it seems.
Anyways, lessons were learned, fun was had and art was made over these 100 days! Take a peek below for some of my samples from this year’s challenge. Have you created any art during the last 100 days? Feel free to send us a pic at teen@dbrl.org
