The 100-day challenge
When I set the intention to improve my drawing style a while ago, I was convinced that I should draw "masterpieces" to get better.
So I sat down and drew for hours.
A portrait.
Full of details.
It was wonderful and I got fully soaked up by this meditative drawing process.
When I finished the portrait after 5 hours, I realized that I did nothing else.
No work.
No cooking.
No sports.
The next day, I didn’t draw, but I did all, that I missed the day before.
Sports, working, cooking, whatever came up.
There was clearly no time left for another 5-hour-intensive-drawing session for a new "masterpiece".
And I couldn’t find space for it the next days neither.
Because 5 hours are really long.
The week passes without any other drawing.
Learning to draw doesn't really work this way.
About drawing regularly a bit every day to keep the hand used to the moves.
We all agree, that detailed, realistic portrait drawing can’t be done in 10 minutes.
Or 5.
That’s why I stopped having this expectation to always draw a "masterpiece" in the sketchbook.
I changed that and gave looseness a try.
This was the moment when I began sketching roughly for a few minutes.
Bugs.
For 100 days.
This was clearly faster to integrate in my daily routine than a 5-hour artwork.
(and the sketch can be a "masterpiece" nevertheless ;)
But there was another (really big) roadblock that I needed to overcome:
The motif.
It should be inspiring and fascinating.
And it took me often longer to find it than to sketch it.
(Little side note: HERE’s what I’ve invented to end this endless search for inspiring motifs for all of us, by the way).
To escape these troubles finding the right motif for a 5-minute sketch, you can predefine it already for the next 100 days.
1. Choose a topic
A random topic or something that interests you or something you just see in the magazine in front of you, ...
Dogs, eyes, chairs … or bugs.
Choose a topic that instantly attracts your attention, no need for a long brainstorming period.
2. Prepare your sketchbook & the pen
So that you are instantly ready for sketching. No excuses. No time wasted. No procrastination.
3. Define a time, when you sketch
As soon as you decide to draw “later”, you risk to draw never.
(At least this is the way it works for me unfortunately ...)
I have even used a 3-minute hourglass for my 100-day challenges. In order to predefine the time for the sketch.
This had 2 positive effects:
1. No excuse, that I have no time for drawing.
3 minutes are really feasible to do between other tasks.
It's a wonderful creative break.
2. I stay focused on the topic
... and only draw the topic, no details, not more. Only the chosen topic.
You've already defined a topic?
Awesome!
YOU ARE READY.
Ready for drawing a few minutes every day for the next 100 days.
Yessss.
Keep sketching for a few minutes every day.
Not more, that's absolutely fine.
But do it every single day.
Enjoy it. :)
You learn so much when drawing for 100 days.
And you learn even more when you share your sketches and experiences. Hard to explain the effect, but you really learn more about drawing when you talk about it.
I experienced it myself.
And I can really recommend you to do so.
If you want you can tag me ( @baumann_illustration) and use the hashtag #drawinggang, so that we can talk about it and I can give you a feature in my stories.
I'd love to see what you are up to!
I have some really effective methods for you,
how to approach a drawing motif,
how to understand what you are drawing and
how to sketch it full of expression.
It’s easier to keep drawing every day when a community is cheering you on, right?
And additionally, you’ll get personal feedback from me any time you wish!
You’re so welcome to join us in the Drawing Class! Click HERE to enroll.
I'd love to keep you updated about new drawing tips, tricks and exercises in my monthly Newsletter.
Subscribe here to be part of the drawing gang:
Hallo, I'm an award-winning illustrator and drawing tutor from Austria. After great experiences in the Marketing and Database sector, I finally realised that I simply need to follow my enthusiasm and fascination for drawing and illustrating.
What fascinates me most, is this way to communicate without using any words. So expressive, so global. And this leads me to my second fascination about drawing: the exchange with others, with you! In my drawing courses I simply love to see the enormous developments of each participant - initiated by exchange and practice. That's what I like to do here, too.
The idea for this blog comes from the bottom of my heart: to get you close to drawing and to show you that you too can draw #drawinggang It's all about learning to feel the drawing!
© 2024 Barbara Baumann Illustration. Feel the drawing.
