A small post about 100 things
This year, for the first time, I’m taking part in #The100DayProject.
If you haven’t come across it before, it’s a simple (and slightly wild) global creative challenge: you choose something to make (anything, not just art) and commit to doing it every day for 100 days, sharing your progress online using the hashtag so everyone can find each other along the way.
One hundred days sounds A LOT when you say it out loud. At first my inner perfectionist freaked out… “this needs to mean something, it has to noticeably improve me, I shouldn’t begin unless I’m absolutely sure I’ll finish” and “if I miss a day, the whole thing will be ruined!”
But last month’s 31 days of art felt so good, seeing what happens when inspiration and consistency sit at the same table, so I’m approaching this as an experiment in showing up in my sketchbook, rather than achievement. 100 days deepening my art practice through play and fun.
I’ll be working in mixed media - acrylic gouache, Neocolour II water-soluble pastels, fineliner, ink - whatever feels right or is most practical that day. I’ve also set aside 100 pages in one of my homemade sketchbooks for the project to live in, A5 so I can carry it around with me on busy days. I fully expect some pages to be layered and feel ‘finished’ while others will be nothing more than a few squiggles or a quick notan study for a bigger piece.
I’m deliberately holding space for small days and trusting that 100 imperfect pages will teach me more than one ‘perfect’ one.
And because I can’t abandon structure entirely (organisation is my comfort zone!) I’ve created 20 themes, each lasting five days. They’re not rules set by the art police, more like gentle guardrails - somewhere to start when the page feels too blank.
I’m planning to share along the way using the challenge hashtag #The100DayProject, and I’m posting my themes here in case you’d like to use some or all of them for your own project. If you do, I’d love to see what you create!
*NEW* #The100DayProject — Gentle Accountability Thread 💙
If you’re thinking about joining in this year but you’re nervous about whole-scale sharing or would just like a little company along the way, I’m opening up my chat space for some gentle accountability. This isn’t a critique group, it’s not a productivity contest, it’s simply about showing up. Every day for the next 100 days you’re welcome to share a photo, a quick “done”, a wobble, a win, or just a sentence about how it felt to sit down and make something - whatever feels good. No pressure. No catching up required. Words of encouragement only allowed. We’re here to cheer each other on!
#The100DayProject Themes
Objects around me
Red
Flowers
Food
Blue
Spain
Streets
Circles
Green
Line drawings
Landscape
Trees
Black & white
Still life
Orange
Interiors
Window view
Brown
Shadows
Repeat favourite theme
Are you taking part in the 100 Day Project? Pop me a note in the comments - I’d love to follow along with your progress!
Michelle 💙
I’m planning on doing 100 days of mixed media tarot/affirmations cards. My goal is to finish 76 (the number of cards in most full decks) but I’ll be happy with more or less. The real reward comes from the practice. 🤩
Yes, I’ll be doing 100 days of cats. All types of media and making. I’m unsure about doing anything for 100 days. Appreciate your take on it and I’m looking forward to seeing what happens “inside” myself. 🫶✨