Embarking on the 100-day sketching challenge has been an incredible journey of growth, learning, and self-discovery. Here's a summary of what I experienced and learned throughout this challenge:
1. The Importance of a Deadline and Milestones
Having a specific deadline, such as the sketch tour in Dinkelsbühl, was crucial in keeping me motivated and committed to the challenge. Knowing that I would meet other artists and need to showcase my improved skills provided a significant push to continue, even when it became difficult. This milestone was a key reason I did not give up.
2. Join a Supportive Challenge Community or Go Solo
Next time, I would choose a well-organized challenge that emphasizes planning and support. Alternatively, I might undertake the challenge solo to take full responsibility. This year, I joined the challenge spontaneously and discovered the official account only after some followers started posting their results. Unfortunately, I did not receive any engagement from the organizers. For me, a key aspect of such challenges is community building, which was lacking in this experience.
3. Strictly Adhere to Time Limits
Maintaining the time limit is crucial. Although setting a 30-minute limit helped me stay on track, I often exceeded it. For instance, while Week 2 took about 2 hours, Week 7 consumed over 5 hours. Since this was a side project, the time investment sometimes felt overwhelming, reducing my motivation. In the future, I would enforce the time limits more strictly to balance it better with other projects.
4. Avoid Treating It as a 'Side Project'
It's important not to underestimate the time and mental energy required for a 100-day challenge. Considering it a major commitment helps maintain focus and motivation, even when other opportunities arise.
5. Plan Ahead
Planning is essential for a long-term project like this. Coming up with 100 ideas spontaneously is challenging, so having a rough plan from the beginning is beneficial. I learned quickly that planning at least a week ahead, including preparing references and ideas, was necessary. Often, I worked on the project late at night when I was already tired, making it hard to brainstorm. Proper planning would alleviate some of this stress.
6. Embrace Flexibility and Simplicity
I realized that flexibility and simplicity are key. While I started with ambitious goals, simplifying my approach and being flexible with my plans would have made the challenge more enjoyable and sustainable. Adapting to unexpected changes and keeping the sketches manageable within the daily time limit is something I would prioritize next time.
Here I selected different sketches from my 100-day challenge to give an overview, what themes and styles I touched during this long journey.
Reflecting on this challenge, I realize how much I've grown as an artist and how valuable this experience has been. From learning to manage my time better to embracing mistakes and recognizing my progress, each day brought new insights and improvements. This challenge has not only improved my sketching skills but also taught me important lessons about dedication, flexibility, and the importance of community.
Thank you to everyone who followed my journey, provided feedback, and supported me along the way. Your encouragement has been invaluable. I look forward to continuing to share my art and progress with you all!
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