The 100 Days Project started in 2011 with New Zealand graphic designer Emma Rogan, who read about a class called ‘100 Days of Design’, run by Michael Bierut, at Yale School of Visual Arts.
The idea behind this is to build a creative habit and learn through continuity.
The project has since evolved into an online and worldwide challenge.
Every year, thousands of people all around the world commit to 100 days of creating. Anyone can participate.
The idea is simple: choose a creative project, do it every single day for 100 days, and share your process on social using the hashtag #The100DayProject.
The next round of the project will start on February 18, 2024- tomorrow
A couple of weeks ago, I decided to join the #100dayproject this year.
At first, I thought of doing one sketch a day
But very quickly I had to admit that this slow-mo will never be able to do 100 sketches in 100 days because it takes me hours to finish a sketch. Realistically I can’t sketch for 3 or more hours a day. Also, honestly; I don’t really want to.
So I was thinking maybe to commit to 15 minutes of being creative. But frankly, that’s just a cop-out. So I dismissed that instantly.
I also keep coming back to sketching as my challenge and I even considered attempting to do a visual journal again. I like the idea of keeping a visual journal and have tried on several occasions- but again I simply can’t keep it up because it takes way too long to sketch.
Having done a 30-day art challenge every March for the previous 3 years, where I just sketched every day for 30 days, I know that sketching first thing in the morning is relaxing and also helps me focus and be more productive for the rest of the day. I felt it was easier to keep up my evening routine and my early morning routine.
When I tried to do the 30-day art challenge in August last year to do a visual journal – I failed, only keeping up for 23 days.
As I was thinking about it, I realized that I haven’t sketched much since then.
So I took a step back and thought about why I wanted to do the challenge and what would I really like to gain from it. Basically, I would like to rebuild a daily habit of sketching and hopefully help me anchor my morning routine with it.
I don’t care about having a hundred sketches or a finished journal at the end of this. I want to enjoy this time of quiet and enjoy the small progresses, indulge ideas and inspirations and most importantly the joy and growth continuity brings.
So long story short:
I intend to sketch every day for at least 30 minutes for 100 days
I got myself a small sketchbook – because I like the idea of having a small portable journal to fall back to- but I will just see where this journey takes me. No pressure to sketch anything specific or in a specific medium or journal, just to make the time every morning and enjoy the journey.
Are you joining the #The100DayProject?