The 100Day PRoJECT 2016-2018

Another 100 day project complete! (2018)

I love a good project and this one has become one of my favourites. I have participated in the project for three years now and it has always been a positive experience for me. It comes with it's challenges, however, I have adapted it to my needs and wants and while I sometimes question my sanity, each project has led to something good! 

Below is a little recap of the past three years.

2016 was about paper cut collage and illustration. This project was completed in collaboration with Tracey English , another paper collage artist from the UK. We developed a list of illustrations we wanted to complete in 100 days and then encouraged and inspired each other along the way to get it done daily. Having a partner in this project is very helpful and a nice push to do it daily.

2017 was all about my Sketchbook Studies. I wanted a place to play and experiment with new ideas and mediums. I didn't want the project to have a lot of structure so I actually gave myself no time limit nor did I number the days. It ended up being a year long project, but it was very beneficial for me to be able to get in the habit of using my sketchbook for the collection of new ideas I was interested in trying in the future.

This year, 2018, was all about hand painted papers and collage. I had been interested in creating some different hand painted papers for use in my collage work. I wanted to play with some new mediums - alcohol ink, pastels and even crayons. I also wanted to try some new colours and new compositions.

I found this my toughest year yet. I think it was because I had a few other work projects on the side that demanded my creative attention, but also because making papers takes time. I may have been able to make that a stand alone project!

At one point I also ran out of ideas. I mean just how many ways are there to cut and paste paper? I am happy with the number of new techniques I tried though from illustrative to abstract. There were definitely some ideas that resonated with me that I am excited to go forward with and explore.  

Are you thinking about your very own 100 Day Project? I can’t say enough good things about just starting. Yes, it seems daunting, but even if you only finish 25 days that is Something. As I always say it is better to create Something, than Nothing at all.

Here are a few thoughts of mine on The 100 Day Project

Tips & Tricks

1. Keep it small. It helps make the project manageable and easy to complete in a sitting. You can use these "thumbnail" images later as a starting point for bigger work. Working small also gave me a better idea if my idea was something I was interested in pursuing further or just a passing fancy.

2. Go in with a game plan Prepare yourself. Map out a loose weekly plan and have a sense of how you plan on getting through 100 days.

3. Keep notes along the way I created a 100 day journal with all of my ideas, colour choices, thumbnail sketches of compositions, thoughts and tidbits to share. Immerse yourself in the project. As a creative you know just how many ideas we can come up with! This was a perfect spot to put them in for use during the project and for later on. I included this journal as one of my days as it showed people how I was keeping my ideas in place.

4. Vary the mediums used Play! Try new techniques and new medium/substrates. Trust me that after 50 days you will be in need of some new art supplies! 

5. Creative Process Use some days to form your ideas and show the creative process behind your finished piece. Photograph the mediums used or even how you frame your finished piece. It's always interesting to see how a piece gets from the working stages to a finished piece. 

6. Video Show how you go about making your marks. (I need to get better at this!)

7. Captions The hardest part for me was coming up with a caption everyday for each piece. Something would often pop into my head when creating so I would often use that or if I thought of something during the day I would pop it into my creative journal for use at another time.

8. Work in Series I broke my weeks into different series. I tried landscapes, I tried abstract, colour blocking, botanicals...you name it. I played with lots of ideas all based around cut paper, but tried to concentrate on them in series to see if I could expand on an idea.

9. Collaborate Grab a friend that works in a similar manner and do the project together. It's a nice little push of encouragement and an interesting way to present different creative viewpoints. It's also helpful to have someone to play ideas off of.

10. Don't be too hard on yourself Take time with your project to get the most out of it. No one said it has to be consecutive days:) Also if 100 days is just too daunting then start smaller. Try a 30 day project! A month long project is a great commitment and will have value for you.

I hope that helps. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask! 

Once again I would like to thank everyone for their support! I love when people take time out of their busy day to support and encourage others. I was so inspired by all the people who left nice comments.Thank you!

For more information on the 100 Day Project go here

Keep Easy,

Julie