I wanted to create and post online one, new, creative work daily while maintaining my regular art practice. I was simultaneously developing a larger body of work. Some nights I would have a very full day, then begin creating at 10pm to finish in the wee hours. After 25 demanding days, I shifted to allow some works-in-progress to be shared. 50 unique posts were made over 50 days. Success! I gained new collectors and received wonderful feedback from creatives I admire. I made new off- and online friends while deepened connections with others. A few reels garnered some attention including my cover song, Here Comes the Sun, reaching over 1,000 views. Honestly, I’m quite shy about sharing my music. I am always nervous to post and surprised people want to listen to me practice! Most of these songs were recorded with an iPhone, old guitar and a snazzy app filter. On the flip side, far away from sunny Beatles songs, I created my ominous, crazy-art-doctor post revealing a big bucket of glow-in-the-dark, neon paint, pouring to Bela Lugosi’s Dead by Bauhaus. It’s an interesting coincidence that both songs were recorded in London exactly 10 years apart, 1969 and 1979 respectively. My little video garnered almost 5,000 views!
It was an intense, productive period. After 50 days, I decided to refocus on other important goals and priorities. Looking back, I enjoy seeing how this body of work is a snapshot of my life. I gained a deeper appreciation for my passion for exploration. Even though sharing music will probably always feel a bit scary, I’m glad that I found a place to ease into sharing through this project. I believe authenticity involves choosing the medium to match the message. This can require a bit of courage and intuition, qualities I enjoy using in my work. It’s fun to see how different art forms inform each other. I deepened my skills and tried new mediums while pushing to create quickly. This speed helped me further trust my intuition. New mediums included up-cycled, non-woven, polypropylene and studio-made, nature-based paints created with teas and herbs. I had no expectations and was free to fail. Fail I did. But not always! In the end, this project felt like a wild tapestry versus random, disparate parts. Some works were very rewarding and beautiful. I hope these may find their way into art collections or inspire future works.
Thanks to all who followed my 100 Day Project online or in person. Thank you for the likes and comments and shares. Your encouragement means so much. I enjoyed feeling connected to other artists near and far when pandemic restrictions, concerns and isolation persisted. Special thanks to dear friend and fellow Eastside Atelier artist, Victoria Mitchell, for encouraging me to participate. I highly recommend doing the 100 Day Project for all those considering it. Will I participate again? Maybe. At this time, I’m still enjoying the fertile creative ground this project produced. Lastly, I’m always aware of what a great joy and privilege it is to be an artist and to share my creativity. This awareness drives me to work crazy hard. I’m deeply commitment to my art practice. Some advice for those who decide the 100 Day Project is for them? Bend the guidelines to suit your needs. This project can be a whale of an initiative, even if you are used to a daily art practice. Make it yours. Do your best.