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Making time each day to create art...

can be a great source of satisfaction once you get over that initial anxiety of a constant, continuous schedule. It allows you to experiment with different ideas and apply your creativity. It can also be a great way to relax, unwind, and appreciate the process of creating. 

I've participated in several online daily art challenges in the past few years with varying success including the one in January 2023.
You can see all the individual paintings on my Instagram or Facebook pages.

Here's some of what I've learned doing art challenges....

It can be difficult to stay motivated and inspired when taking on a daily art challenge, but it is also a great way to grow and develop as an artist. An additional perk is it can help bring extra traffic to your social media by using the official challenge hashtags.

I often use these challenges to learn new techniques, paint with an unfamiliar medium, or experiment with different approaches.

Planning ahead helps to keep me focused and on track. Narrowing my direction by choosing one or all of the properties of my daily art has been a great way to help simplify the process. I find consistency a real help, but I also try to keep an open mind and not set too many rules so I don't feel confined and lose interest.

These are a few of the things I ask myself ahead of time:

• where will I work
• what medium do I want to use
• what substrate do I want to paint on
• do I want to stick to a particular size
• what subject will keep me engaged
• should I decide ahead on a certain style or technique

I also find these do's and don'ts important:

• Do take time to plan out ideas and create a timeline
• Don't be afraid to take risks and try new techniques
• Don't stress yourself by pushing too hard
• Do take breaks when needed, but don't give up!
• Do share work and get feedback from others.
• Don't be afraid to experiment and challenge yourself
• Above all, have fun with it!

What kind of art challenges are there?

There are many types of challenges on social media. Some have an end goal like the one I did in January, others are just for fun to help build confidence or even have a connection to charity and other worthy causes. But most are just for fun.

Here are just a couple I've participated in:

Strada Easel Daily Art from Life (2023 January & September)
The rule is to post your progress every day on social media (your project could be a 'work in progress') and if you complete the entire month, you're entered in a drawing for some great art equipment.

World Watercolor Month (happens every year in July)
I don't always make it through the entire month with this one but it's fun to be involved.

World Watercolor Month Is A Charitable Event to Support Arts Education.
An annual global charitable event featuring the ultimate challenge of 31 Watercolors in 31 Days! But you can join and post however often you like during the month, whether it’s every day or once a week.

Monthly Challenges with Prompts

Doodlewash (this is my favorite)
Art Challenges Everyone Can DO!...meant to be personal challenges that you set for yourself, whether it’s creating every day for one week, two weeks or all month long! Join us any time during the month! And though there are always prompts, they are perfectly optional. You should always paint whatever inspires you most.

And SO MANY more! With names like these, you can just imagine the fun! Something fun for EVERYONE!

Draw This Again, Left Hand, 100 Heads Challenge, Fairyary, Mermay, Munchy May, Junicorn, Dogust, Sketchtember, Inktober, Catober, Decembird, Dinovember, and on and on!

Try a challenge and enjoy the journey. Or if you're not an artist, FOLLOW a challenge to see all the creativity. Either way, they are SO fun!