“Personal projects are about your curiosity, not your output. They’re about exploring what’s inside of you rather than getting famous or finding a job. If you’re looking for direction in life, try creating something on the side instead of working more hours at your 9-to-5.”
A project that I have been wanting to start since the new year is a 100 day challenge. I plan on doing 100 days of paintings (specifically using gouache paints) on a fairly small canvas, around ~4 inches x 4 inches in size. I’ve always had a passion for painting in general but I’m not sure if it’s simply the perfectionist mindset I’ve been where if I do create something I want it to be perfect, so I spend hours, days, weeks and fixate on it. I specifically wanted to do this to push my limits on what I know and simply experiment and have fun with the process. Not every piece will be perfect but having a goal to paint a little bit every day with a time limit (possibly a one-hour time limit) will not only help me get past the “perfectionist” mindset but also increase speed and efficiency with my output in work (because I really am not producing work at a fast enough pace yet).
It’s okay to be messy. It’s okay to experiment. It’s okay to accept imperfection.
The timeline is already set out for me, to complete a 100 day streak of paintings. For now, I am thinking of any abstract paintings, with color palettes I’m not used to, as I tend to stick to nature/realism most of the time, to try something different. To execute this project, I will need a consistent schedule to follow to have the painting done in a timely manner—setting a specific time slot will help me stay accountable and make it easier as I get into the groove of things, and it starts to eventually become a habit. I tend to have the most energy at night, so I can set a one-hour time slot in the evening everyday (in replacement of watching Netflix or any other unproductive task). The project itself shouldn’t cost much as I have the paints and paper already. I simply need to plan out a schedule that is realistic enough for me to follow through on and have no expectations (so after I catch up on homework and get my life together a bit more). I’ll just have fun with it and see what I produce.
Commit and create!