In recent months, I’ve felt a bit disconnected from my art practice. The urgency I used to feel to create when I was still working my 9 to 5 job is missing. I have spent time at the painty table, of course, but it’s more sporadic than what it used to be.
One of the reasons for this lack of urgency to paint is, I think, the dramatic reduction in my stress levels. Art was my way of destressing after a crazily insane work day. Another reason is because I’m in a different creative season, with my writing currently in the driver’s seat.
While I am enjoying the reduction in stress and the current creative season in which I find myself, I am also missing my almost daily art practice. Since the urgency to paint is missing, I need to build my habit muscle.
What better way to do this than with a 100 Day Project?
Though the “official” 100 Day Project started last week, I’m starting my project — 100 Days of Art Journaling — on 28 February.
I’m envisioning this as a process-oriented project, which means that I am not concerned with having 100 finished art journal spreads, but with showing up and working in my journals for 100 days.
I don’t have any plans or prompts. No constraints or subject matter that I want to explore. I simply want to show up and re-connect with the simple joy of splashing paint around on the page.
I plan to show up for a minimum of 15 minutes at the painty table for 100 days, starting 28 February {today!}. I’m aiming for 100 consecutive days, but I won’t beat myself up if life happens along the way.
One aspect of The 100 Day Project, especially among artists, is to share our project every day on Instagram {or another social media platform of our choice} as a way to build community. But I’m just not feeling it this year — social media, especially Instagram, has lost most of its charm, and Instagram has actively cut its community building tools {like hashtags}.
I plan to use a Notion database to track my progress and make notes and observations along the way. As for the social component, it is a good way to create some accountability, so I plan to share a weekly or perhaps fortnightly updates here. I’ll also film a few of my art journaling sessions for YouTube, and will post occasionally on Instagram and maybe even on BlueSky, if I remember to!
Would you like to join me?
I sent the invite out in a recent issue of Studio Diaries, and there’s already a lovely little community forming around this project.
We will have a community space off social media to gather together, share our progress, updates and photographs of our art journal spreads, and cheer one another on. I’d love to have you there!
Click the button below to get all the details and to join in — we begin on 28 February, but you can start at any time. If you want the community experience, you will need to subscribe to Studio Diaries to join the community chat space there. It’s all free!!
Day 1, let’s go!
Are you doing the 100 day project? Lemme know in the comments!
100 days of art journaling — project updates
I’ve been sharing regular updates on my 100 day project right here on the blog. Browse through the links below to take a look at all my art journal spreads. I’ve also shared some of my observations and learnings as I work through the 100 day project. I hope some of these observations serve you on your creative journey, too!
Art journal pages days 1 to 10: The 100 day project 2025 + initial observations on accountability
The 100 day project days 11-20 plus a mini art ritual
The 100 day project days 21-30 plus how artists find {or reverse-engineer} inspiration
The 100 day project days 31-40 plus communing with the divine feminine
The 100 day project days 41-60 + how to overcome creative resistance
The 100 day project days 61-80 + unexpected life lessons from an ugly painting
The 100 day project days 81-100 + recurring symbols in intuitive painting
Sign up for Studio Diaries
Weekly notes from an artist’s studio, including pages from my mixed media art journal, works in progress, notes on the creative process, and other ideas that capture my interest, along with monthly sketchbook prompts to spark your creativity.
HI Shinjini. I may not have an artistic bone in me, but I absolutely love your commitment to creativity! Cheering you on as you splash paint, reconnect with your art and embrace the joy of the process. Go create! Cheers!!
Thank you, Shilpa. It’s been 3 days since I started, and I’ve loved every moment I’ve spent at the painty table! 🙂
Pingback: Everyday Gyaan Mindful Writing : Transforming My Writing Practice With Awareness
I know you will create magic, Shinjini. I look forward to seeing your beautiful work. Love the spirit with which you are embarking on this!
I’m really enjoying showing up everyday so far! Hope your project is going well, too!
I love how non-stressful this project is. I often shy away from commitments, specially long ones like 100 days because I know life will happen along the way. Good luck with this Shinijini. Having seen some of your artwork, I know you’ll do splendidly.
Oh yes, life has a way of happening! I almost always account for grace. Thank you for your vote of confidence! 🙂
What a brilliant idea, Shinjini! I’m really glad you’re doing this because It’s inspiring me to get back to my artwork ideas too, although, right now, I’ve got my hands full with work commitments so much so, that it’s getting tougher by the day even to keep time aside for writing. I’ll try for a few days and see how it goes. Thank you and all the best for your #100daysproject, Shinjini. I know you’ll ace it.
Oh, I’m always thrilled when friends are inspired to pick up their sketchbooks too! Try for a few days, even if all you can set aside for yourself is 10 minutes a day. I hope it can help you can get back to your artwork!
When I saw your announcement on February 28th, I felt inspired to join the 100-day project as well. But somehow, it’s already March 15th, and I have yet to begin day one! This is such a wonderful way to carve out time for creativity, Shinjini.
You can start at any time, Vini! It’s never too late to take on a 100 day project!
It is so wonderful that you are building a community around creativity and art. I want to start 100 day project too but everytime I think of it something more urgent comes along. Such is life. But I am very inspired by your post. If not 100 atleast 50 days.
I think I understand the lack of urgency having an effect on art. I have always wondered why I couldn’t get any artwork done in my vacation. Now I get it. 😊
Life has a way of lifing! We need to find our ways to fit art around our lives. If not a 100 day project, do 50 days, or 30, whatever feels doable! 🙂