Do you ever feel as though you might actually have several different artists with wildly varying ideas and skill sets living inside you?
I have felt like this a lot over the years, particularly in the early days. One day I’d be making a vibrant abstract landscape painting, the next a stylised portrait all in blues, and the day after that I might be experimenting with mixed media lettering. You could’ve lined them all up in a gallery and convinced people that each was done by a different {and frankly not very accomplished!} artist.
I’m all for experimentation and play, but there’s another side to learning how to make your own art that I often see people struggling with, and have certainly struggled with myself:
How do you make your art consistent, so that it all looks like ‘yours’, when you have a million ideas, want to try All The Things, and can’t seem to control what comes out of you?!
In part, there is a rather unsexy element of patience and practice that will start to bring your work together into a more cohesive whole. Persistence will inevitably reap rewards over time.
But there are also things you can do to encourage the process along right now. One very effective way I’ve found is to create in series. I resisted series for a long time because I get bored very quickly; I rarely want to make something again after I’ve done it once.
I thought it was a flaw in me, and it’s been frustrating at times, but since accepting that it’s how I roll, I’ve noticed even more consistency creeping into my work. One of the many paradoxes art likes to bring us! I’ve also discovered that the flip side of the repetitiveness of a series is the opportunity to go deep and long with a subject, which tends to be more fulfilling and interesting than the more surface scattergun approach.
And so I devised a challenge. It has now run twice, with some phenomenal outcomes for people, including an idea for a year long project, renewed passion and excitement, personal discoveries, and some truly beautiful series. Now it’s back, and I hope you’ll join us!
“Prioritizing creativity daily felt like permission to come home and be me. I filled in the lack, the gaps, and established a trust with myself I was lacking. I can say “I am an artist” now and know it’s true. Sometimes we just need a little push, company, and accountability. I got all of those things and more.”
Shalagh Hogan
What
Seven days to create art with a single focus. Got something you’ve been wanting to explore a bit more deeply? This is the perfect opportunity.
The challenge is open to all visual artists – you can paint, draw, knit, sculpt, sew, make jewellery, or whatever you like. I recommend keeping the concept and process fairly small so you don’t overwhelm yourself or make it impossible to keep going.
I’ve created a free worksheet you can download to help you decide on your focus. It makes a huge difference to a project when you start with some kind of specific intention or plan, and when the time frame is short that becomes even more true. The last thing we want is to choose something so vague and ambitious it overwhelms us and crushes the fun out of it.
I also suggest working with something that either already interests you or even that you’re already working on. The point is to have a specific focus for seven days and see where it leads. Let’s make it as easy as possible!
When
We’ll begin officially on Thursday 5th April; that’ll give you a few days to mull over ideas, share about it on Instagram if you like, fill in the worksheet and prepare your supplies so you’re ready to rock on Day 1. Then each day of that week you’ll receive an encouragement email from me to help you keep going.
Where
Mainly on Instagram, where we use the hashtag #mycreativetouchstones to find each other.
However, last year those not on Instagram joined in in my private Facebook group for Artnote subscribers and course alumni. If you’d like to join that group, you can subscribe here, or via any of the sign up boxes on this website {without obligation}.
How
- {Optional} Sign up in the box at the bottom of this post to receive the daily emails {this is also the sign up box to hear about Touchstone, however there’s no obligation}
- Download the worksheet and start percolating ideas
- Fill it in when you’re ready and pop your planned painting sessions into the calendar
- Get started on April 5th when the first email arrives!
- Photograph your creation each day and then come on over to Instagram to share it, using the hashtag #mycreativetouchstones
- Check out what others are doing, feel galvanised, and cheer each other on!
Hopefully I’ve covered everything here, but if you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.
“I did the whole seven days (over eight). It felt like a triumph to get by day four as at that point I was thinking I had no new ideas and then it occurred to me that I didn’t actually need a new idea just keep working with the movement and the colour and let it happen and it did. I’m happy with how the full set looks together and individually too.”
Sarah Pickering
I do hope you’ll join us! It turned out to be a very rich experience for many of us the past couple of years, and it’s deeply satisfying to reach the end of the seven days and survey your {perhaps first!} body of cohesive work. {See some previous examples here.} I think you’ll find it also provides proof that you already have a unique voice as an artist; it might need just a bit more focus to coax it out.
You may also be interested to know that Touchstone, my course about creating the artist life that aligns with who you are and the life you’re already leading, will reopen for registration on April 11th 2018. Signing up below enables you to receive the challenge emails and course updates without obligation.
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Dear Tara,
for those of us choosing to paint, is there a format you recommend? I’m still debating what medium to use, though I’m being pulled to watercolour for the first time in my life. I may just go easy on myself and stick to my trust acrylics though…
Cheers,
Nora
Hi Nora – I would suggest whatever feels most interesting and doable to you. If you haven’t done anything like this before or are feeling a bit unsure, it might be wise to start inside your comfort zone. However, if you feel you’d like the challenge of trying something new and won’t be beating yourself up if it doesn’t match what you’d hoped for right away, I’d try the watercolour! The focus is on exploration rather than ‘perfect’ outcomes. 🙂
You’ve done it again…hit my nail on its head! I’ve been seriously noodling the idea of painting a series for about a week and now here you are with a challenge to do exactly that! In January, I participated in your “21 Days in My Art World”challenge and it changed my life as an artist. I’m excited to see what I learn about myself in this seven-day exploration. Thank you, Tara.
I love the 7 day format! Really doable!
Oooh, exciting!
A great way to solve my painting mysteries. Paint small and often plus I can concentrate on problem areas like colour mixing and proper use of vaues. Being self-taught, I appreciate any advice you share.
You have described me! This is just what I need to focus in. Thanks!
This is so cool. I’ve been troubled about not having developed a signature style to my work for a while — I seem to dabble in this and dabble in that, all okay, and I’ve learned much about my materials in the process, but I never have pushed deep and recurrently into any one “way” that is mine. This past couple of weeks, some things — things I’ve seen, things I’ve done, things my artist-mentor-friend has said — gelled into an idea that won’t leave me alone. The idea involves both a specific set of media and a particular focus. So! Yes, this experimental project is sown into fertile ground. (A pregnant moment, hah!) I can hardly wait to get started, but I’m also grateful for a few days of planning — I think the pre-painting stage will help keep me in the groove once we’re really started. One issue I’ll have is that I’ve never used Instagram before, so I’m a little wary about screwing that up, but I’ll try to noodle it out for this project. Thank you for this sweet and timely challenge, Tara.
Ah those insistent ideas! I just wrote about that in today’s Artnote in fact! Sounds like the universe is conspiring in your favour to help you dig deeper into your work Mary. 🙂 If you’re not comfortable with Instagram you can do it in the private FB group for Artnote subscribers and course alumni {link to sign up in post in case you missed it}.
I would like to join this.
Excited!
Interested in getting more info on the 7 day challenge.
I like this idea. I will download the worksheets tomorrow and get started on them.
So excited to join in! Seriously so many ideas to consider, things that have been “pulling” on me…this will be fun!
Please count me in. Can’t wait
Yes, Tara, I’d like to do the challenge
Starting this Thursday. Please include me.
So do I need to indicate whether I’ll join in on
Instagram or Creative Fire or can I wait
And See?
You can do it however/whenever you like! I’ll be focusing on Instagram but I imagine several people will be doing it in the FB group.
Tara, I think I may not have received all the information for day two of the challenge in my email inbox. All it says is day to keep it simple. There’s no paragraph explaining it like on day one. And there’s no place to leave a comment to you even though it says leave a comment. I really enjoyed day one of playing with marks I do want to continue so am I missing something ?
Sent it to you again Sally.
Love this idea! Although I’m slightly terrified. As a procrastinator of epic proportions, I’m hoping this will be the gentle nudge I need to spark my creative fires.
looking forward to this……….
This sounds really interesting and it comes at a time when I’m grappling with acrylic painting, trying to combine still life and abstract. It’ll be great to explore that over a week. Thanks for the inspiration to actually do it!
Count me in please
Hi Tara, I would like to join, but I am not very technically minded and might battle to get it through to you guys. But I am willing to try. Kind regards,
Myra
Hello! Can’t wait to start the art challenge!
Looking forward to beginning this challenge
Is it too late to join in Tara?
Apologies – didn’t see this Andrea. It’s not too late to join if you haven’t already.
Hi Tara I downloaded the worksheet … waiting for the email .. will check my junk box too.. excited about this thanks .
Good afternoon, Tara! Excited about the 7 day challenge! I’ve downloaded the worksheet and thought I’d signed up, but I didn’t get an email today. Do you mind checking your roster to see if my correct email is listed? It is paint.n.pajamas@gmail.com
Thanks so much! ; ) Let me know if there’s something i need to fix on my end…
Just seen this although replied to your comment on IG so you should be receiving them now!
Well, I see some others have questions about not receiving the first day’s email. I didn’t either.
Hi Lynne – you actually unsubscribed from the list in January which is why you haven’t received the emails. I’ve added you and sent you the ones you missed. 🙂
My challenge was to sketch everyday. Inspired by another challenge (colormylife2018) and in combination with the100dayproject. My 7 days were ok, but I have to go on.
Good for you Jos! Cheering you on for the 100 days!