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In the next 100 days, there will be 100 chances to create, to try something new, to have fun, to find joy, to begin again. The saying about how time will pass anyway is so true--no matter what we decide, these next 2,400 hours will pass us by. How do we want to spend it? How will we spend it? Can we find a little time for curiosity and play?

Today is the first official day of the 2024 100 Day Project! (If you haven't heard of it before, it's an online art project where you pick something you want to do then do it for 100 days.) It's something I look forward to doing each year! 

 

In this note I wanted to encourage you to try your own project, share some tips and lessons, and tell you a little bit more about my project.

 

If the 100 Day Project sounds intriguing but visual arts isn't for you, that's OK! You can take this concept and make it work for you. Maybe you'd like to…drink an extra cup of water for the next 100 days, write short poems, read 5 pages of a book, declutter, go for an afternoon walk--the beauty of this project is you can do whatever you want! 

I also wanted to mention that your 100 days can start at any time. Last year I started a month later and I've seen people begin at all different times throughout the year. 

Over the years I've written a few blog posts that I hope will help if you decide to try this project! You can read them by clicking on the links below:

 

 

This year I'm embarking on project #7! This time around, the main thing is making sure it's doable while on the road. I know I can skip a day if I really needed to but for me, the consistency and continuity is what I like practicing so I'm trying not to miss any days.

 

For this year's project, I used washi tape to create 100 different sections on an 11x14 piece of watercolor paper and will be filling one in each day! Since the sections are small, it should be very doable and I can use a variety of tools so if I'm just staying somewhere for one night and not unpacking my art supplies, I can fill in a section with a pencil or a sharpie that I always keep in my backpack. Here's the empty template, ready to be filled! Watch a short process video of putting this page together which was kind of a project on its own lol.

I'll also be using my Creative Spark Deck and pulling a card for each day. I'm not sure if I will need a prompt but so far, I've always enjoyed having a theme so will try it out! 

 

In addition to my prompt, I hope to be inspired by the little things that happen everyday, the moments of awe in the face of something big and grand, the colors and patterns I see, words overheard, images I don't want to forget.

 

I thought about creating very neat squares for my layout but instead (even though this was pretty time consuming!) I used the tape to create wavy lines that intersect and spread across the page. 

 

Once the tape is removed at the end of the project (I cannot wait for this part!), I feel like it will have created little roads and paths--a map of memories--to reflect my travels over 100 days :) Which leads me to my hashtag for this year: #100marksontheroad. If you'd like, you can follow the hashtag on Instagram to keep up to date on my project (I plan on posting daily). 

 

Here is the section I filled in for Day 1, inspired by the beautiful blue skies and clouds I saw on today's morning walk in Santa Fe and here's the process video.

There is so much inspiration to be found within this community! If you're doing a project, hit reply and tell me about it, I'd love to hear and follow along! Here are some of the projects I'm following this year:

Happy 100 Day Project-ing whether it's doing one of your own or taking a look at what other people are up to! Talk to you soon,

PS: Happy Year of the Dragon as well! Watch this piece come together / read more about it in this post. I normally do more abstract pieces but this was really fun to put together and I was inspired by the Creative Spark Newsletter Prompt, mystical! I'm thinking of making this an annual thing as a way to celebrate Lunar New Year! Also, those two tiny light blue rectangles in the eyes really brought this piece to life, it's amazing the impact something so tiny can have!

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