Do you participate in challenges? I’m asking about Art Challenges where you make something, perhaps even post your efforts for let’s say . . . 30 days, 61 days, 100 days or even 365 days! Recently, it seems that I have gotten into participating in challenges even more than ever before.

Why do I participate? I think part of it is, that committing to the project gets me into a habit of thinking at least once a day, “I need to do my . . . Index Card, my abstract play, my daily photo, my drawing…” -whatever it may be! I find habits, especially creative habits, are usually self-fulfilling once you make the commitment and get started.

So . . . why don’t you try a challenge sometime soon, if it has been a while! I have found them to be a very positive experience. It makes me feel better, in more ways than one. Try it for yourself and see! The 30 days of abstracts is an open-ended challenge that you can start anytime on Instagram: Tracy Verdugo. I recently upload the results of this past summer’s ICAD (Index-card-A-Day) experience to my website. This is the sixth year I have participated (and completed) the ICAD challenge, whoo hoo! It’s really such a good vehicle for practicing your creative thinking. I highly recommend checking it out!

Tammy Garcia, aka Daisy Yellow Art is the organizer extraordinaire for the ICAD challenge - it runs every summer, June 1 - July 31. She is also one of the organizers of the 365 challenge I am participating in this year. Her September 9th blog post talks about doing challenges, gaining confidence and how she works through a big challenge. It is a great read with her inspiring art!

I had my doubts (a little) when I started the 365somethings2018 challenge in January. Could I finish it, would I get discouraged? I have no doubt now I will finish this project with 365 small pieces of art, each one to represent a day in 2018. The key for me was the way Tammy & Hanna designed the challenge. You do not need to work daily. You can if you want, but for me it’s best to work in batches, a little series. As I work through them, each one is assigned to a day on the calendar. It has worked so well for me, allowing me to accomplish my goal of staying on track. That feels good and I am getting a lot done which only inspires me more!

The only project of mine that has fallen by the wayside for the moment in my daily photo journal on Blipfoto. It has been about 3 weeks since I have posted a photo for the day and written a journal entry. I do not worry about it because I know I can jump back in at anytime. I have been active there since December of 2010, with 2,148 entries! I love the site, and know I will return. Sometimes, I take a break because I just can’t do everything I want!!

Thank you for your time, I hope I have touched on something of interest for you today. Again, please do not worry if you feel you need to unsubscribe. I plan on continuing to blog a few times (2-3) a week about my art, the creative process, creativity . . . I may even change the format of the blog, as I am working on tweaking things just a bit after my course with Susannah Conway. If you have anything you would especially like to see here art-wise, or hear me talk about, please leave me a comment below, thanks so much!

Yours creatively, Lenna