Reflections : End of 100 Day Print Challenge

Week 18 Prompts:

Day 97 - Natural Form

Day 98- Embroidered

Day 99 - Digital Embroidery

Day 100 - Colour Mixing

100 Days, Over 300 Prints, and an ‘Archive of Ideas”.

   It’s been over a week since I finished my printmaking challenge. I am thankful and proud that I was able to complete it. It started off as a small idea, which gave me the focus and discipline to begin creating more consistently. 

   I am really happy with some of the prints that I created. I think this ‘archive of ideas’ will be something I keep returning to for inspiration in the future. 

  I learned the importance of getting started even when ideas are still vague. Only through experimentation was I able to capture the essence of these ideas. Meanwhile, most of the time the simple act of starting sparked more ideas and concepts for printmaking. 

  Creativity takes perseverance and a multitude of small steps. Often I used to see each day’s work as insignificant. Yet, after these 100 days, I saw the significance of each day when I collated all the prints together. 

I hope that I can take these lessons with me for the next project I am working on. 

Reflections : Week 17 →

Week 17 Prompts:

Day 93 - Fragments

Day 94- Tiles

Day 95 - Paint Palette II

Day 96 - Gradient

It has been good to get back into using paint for my prints and playing with colour combinations. I tried to use combinations that I’m not usually drawn to. I really want to explore using more cooler colour palettes.

What did I learn from this week?

I have been preparing to launch my printshop. I found that everything came together quicker than I expected. I thought it would all take so much time to organise. However, the biggest decisions were developing a pricing framework and choosing the sizes of prints I would offer. I often fall into the mindset that once I make a decision on certain things that it can not be changed. Whereas, the reality of setting up a business is a process of trial and error, and inevitably I will be able to change most things as I discover better ways of operating. Just takes a little courage.

Reflections : Week 16 →

Week 16 Prompts:

Day 87 - Numbers

Day 88 - Dance

Day 89 - Paper Mix

Day 90 - Mesh

Day 91 - Blind Drawing

Day 92- Faces

This week I enjoyed playing with continuous line drawings especially for the ‘Faces’ and ‘Blind Drawing’ prompts. I like the expressive marks that are created when using this technique. I think this technique would be useful for trying to capture the essence of movement.

What did I learn from this week?

I have been learning the importance of discernment when there are many voices around me giving different advice. I had to refocus and remember the vision God has given me for starting this business. As soon as I did that it alleviated the confusion and indecision in my mind. I was able to clearly make a decision that was grounded in peace. Sometimes we have to say no to opportunities that are good, but not designed for us.

Reflections : Week 15 →

Week 15 Prompts:

Day 81 - Mix Media

Day 82 - Haze

Day 83 - Glow

Day 84 - Grid

Day 85 - Charcoal

Day 86 - Letters

This week I was really surprised by the some of the results from quick experimentations that I did. I particularly really like the ‘Haze’ because of the colour combinations and the flow of the paint. Meanwhile, the ‘Letters’ prints were really fun to do. I think the first print for ‘Letters’ was really successful because of the restraint towards filling the page. I realised that I often feel that I need to use the whole space to make the print interesting. However, the rule of thirds would be a dynamic way to divert and find new layouts.

What did I learn from this week?

I am very thankful for the various opportunities that have been offered to me since pursuing this creative business. I think I am learning the need for discernment and understanding whether each opportunity is necessary and aligns with what I have been called to do in this season of life. When I have felt confused about making a particular choice regarding an opportunity; I had to seek wisdom from others. It has been invaluable to get another perspective and clarify the path I should pursue.

Reflections : Week 14 →

Week 14 Prompts:

Day 76 - Fine liner

Day 77 - Branches

Day 78- Pollen

Day 79 - Melt

Day 80 - Scattered

This week I really enjoyed using a 0.5 mm fine liner pen to create line drawings. I liked the fluidity of the ink and the ease of using this pen. I think combining this pen with large ink brushstrokes would make a very dynamic composition.

What did I learn from this week?

I am very thankful for the encouraging words of others telling me to keep going and persevering in my practice. It is really valuable especially on the days when I do not feel like doing the printmaking process. I am learning that sharing my work and getting constructive feedback is crucial for the development as an artist.

Along with this, I am learning that creativity takes a leap of faith. Most of the time I have to start experimenting even without a clear vision of the outcome. Often I am scared of starting because I think I have not got the right skills to execute an idea. However, the irony is that only by taking action will these skills develop. More and more I am finding that curiosity for the process and learning will overthrow any initial anxiety.

Reflections : Week 13 →

Week 13 Prompts:

Day 70 - Glass

Day 71 - Wood Grain

Day 72- Trace

Day 73 - Overlap

Day 74 - Dogtooth

Day 75 - Folds

This week I was inspired by an array of textures, which included smooth glass to wood grain. I was really intrigued by the results of the prompts ‘Trace’ and ‘Overlap’. I think it would be interesting to combine these ideas by using the tracing paper to overlap various prints and marks.

What did I learn from this week?

I am three quarter’s the journey through this print challenge. As I am nearing the finish line, I have been thinking about the way I can adapt to my normal practice. I think it would be really good to have a sketchbook simply for experimentation which I can freely brainstorm or add ideas. I believe having an unstructured space will give me the freedom to explore without feeling that this needs to be related to a specific project. Although I have an apprehension of whether it will be a sustainable practice alongside other projects. I guess, it will require trial and error like every else.

Reflections : Week 12 →

Week 12 Prompts:

Day 64 - Leopard

Day 65 - Jaguar

Day 66- Forest

Day 67 - Butterfly

Day 68 - Leaf

Day 69 - Waterlily

This week I carried on with theme of animal inspired prints. I experimented with using different surfaces such as cardboard and coloured paper. I noticed that a coloured surface hastened and varied my colour decisions.

What did I learn from this week?

Last week, I had a week of rest; which was unplanned for this challenge. I needed time to refocus and refresh my ideas for the print development process. I knew that I started to go into autopilot when creating because I was just trying to get on with challenge. Autopilot is never good for creating because I was not thoughtful or intentional in my decisions.

Whilst I was resting, I realise I don’t take enough time to be grateful for what I have achieved. I often just move to the next thing. I think reviewing your work for both the good, the bad and the useful failures is essential. Otherwise, ‘the next thing’ approach is a quick and guaranteed approach for burnout.

I am grateful for the beautiful colour combinations that I have developed. I really like my geometric experimentations. I grateful that I have been able to do so many days and for all that I am learning about my creative practice.

Reflections : Week 11 →

Week 11 Prompts:

Day 59 - Bloom

Day 60 - Fingerprints

Day 61- Forest

Day 62 - Zebra

Day 63 - Tiger

Day 64 - Cheetah

This week the majority of the printmaking prompts were animal inspired. I surprisingly really enjoyed painting from this inspiration. An idea for the future would be experimentation with unexpected colour combinations and merging different animal prints. I do not usually wear animal prints but it would be interesting to develop an animal print design that fits with my everyday style.

What did I learn from this week?

I have been thinking about control and creativity. I realised that a major hinderance to starting a creative project is an unhealthy need to control the outcome. I think innately I want certainty that the work that I am doing will give an outcome that is worth the effort. Fortunately, certainty is not guaranteed when seeking creative solutions. I am slowly learning that creativity is about taking the leap of faith to create despite the uncertainty.

Also, it is about a value shift from goal focused to valuing the challenge of creating as the greatest gift of doing a project. Inevitably some projects will fail, yet there is still so much wisdom by going through the process.

Reflections : Week 10 →

Week 10 Prompts:

Day 54 - Outline

Day 55 - Okra Stamp

Day 56 - Oil Pastels

Day 57 - Zigzag

Day 58 - Blur

This week I was drawn to making repetitive marks from stamping to zigzags. I really enjoyed working with oil pastels because of their colour vibrance and ability to blur colours together.

What did I learn from this week?

I am learning that knowing the value of your work is not about pride or ego. I know that these attributes are insidious and can easily creep in. However, knowing the true value of your work is understanding that it is a gift to bless others with. This includes being realistic about the price, in order to make a sustainable income.

Pricing has been a topic that I had to deal with this week. It is something I am only starting to learn about. I know that pricing in the creative world is really subjective and hardly spoken about in art school. I am learning that some clients can be clueless about the time and effort that it takes to create a piece of work. Therefore, it is essential to give a detailed breakdown of the cost and the creative process.

My biggest takeaway from this week was ‘TALK ABOUT BUDGET FIRST!’. Before agreeing to develop sketches. Before agreeing to doing research. Before arranging a project briefing. This will make sure that myself and the client are on the same page and no one is wasting their time.

Reflections : Week 9 →

Week 9 Prompts:

Day 48 - Puzzle

Day 49 - Layers

Day 50 - Dashed Lines

Day 51 - Tartan

Day 52 - Triangles

Day 53 - Paint Palette

This week I focused on simple shape making and layering. I was surprised by the beauty of the simple oversized dashed marks. I realised that I often keep my marks at the same scale. I need to experiment with scale and proportions.

What did I learn from this week?

I am learning that practicing a daily habit of printmaking has developed an eagerness to create. It is slowly becoming something that is a part of my daily routine. I often hear some people say that routine kills creativity. However, I found that making time to create is essential for growth, in the same way a houseplant needs regular watering to thrive.

I think maybe when people refer to routine, they think that something has become boring or ordinary. I think experimentation and finding inspiration has been a successful way to move past these barriers. Also remembering the reason that I have chosen to pursue this creative path always refocuses my motives.

Reflections : Week 8 →

Week 8 Prompts:

Day 42 - Tint

Day 43 - Asymmetry

Day 44 - Threads

Day 45 - Cracks

Day 46 - Neutral

Day 47 - Semi-circles

This week has been focused on shape-making and mark making with different mediums. I enjoyed experimenting with the wax pastels to make quick and energetic marks. I think it could be interesting to layer rough grainy wax pastels marks with chalky gouache brushstrokes.

What did I learn from this week?

I am learning more about the importance of being content with what you have. True contentment is not a miserable commiseration prize for the things you lost or believe you are lacking. Instead it’s something that breeds deep gratitude for what you have. It’s seeing value in your creative talents without burdensome comparison to others. This gratitude helps you to enjoy the process of creating. Contentment allows you to celebrate with others in their craft and leads to inspiration, instead of envy.

Reflections : Week 7 →

Week 7 Prompts:

Day 37 - Calm

Day 38 - Hand beading on print

Day 39 - Wax Pastels

Day 40 - Scrape the paint

Day 41 - Chaos

This week has been primarily about experiments with mixing and layering of paint. I really enjoyed scraping the acrylic paint which gave such beautiful organic and energetic textures. I definitely feel as though this is a technique I will explore in future projects.

What did I learn from this week?

I have been learning grace for myself relating to my creative rhythms. I sometimes expect myself to work at the same rate with the same intensity of energy throughout the week. There will be days when energy is low. Especially as I have been ill most of the week and having a day off is necessary; even in lockdown when the days blur together. Rest is essential to create a sustainable creative practice.

Reflections : Week 6 →

Week 6 Prompts:

Day 31 - Glitch

Day 32 - Mist

Day 33 - Waves

Day 34 -Geometric

Day 35 -Sharp

Day 36 - Sky

In terms of colour scheme, I allowed myself to be instinctive with my colour combinations. Then, it was apparent of the colours that I naturally gravitate towards which are purples, blues and pink. I think my ultimate challenge is using this colour scheme for a wearable print for an everyday wardrobe.

What did I learn from this week?

I’m learning that consistency is essential to make excellent work. I think often as creatives we don’t treat our work as a serious craft that takes years to cultivate. Waiting for inspiration to strike will not get me to produce work that challenges and grows my skills. Ultimately, it will take many uninspired days of doing even a small amount of the process to push me forward ; just like the days I have had this week.

Reflections : Week 5 →

Week 5 Prompts:

Day 25 - Colour Blocks

Day 26 - Movement

Day 27 - Paint Splatter

Day 28 - Markers

Day 29 - Patchwork

Day 30 - Maze

I focused on using the colour range of pink and red. I enjoyed the days of the using mark making with simple lines especially with the markers, which gave those prints an energy of playfulness. It was a challenge using red because I often find that using darker shades of red, quickly reminds me of blood.

What did I learn from this week?

I have been pondering the misery that is caused by perfectionism. I found the following quote from Dallas Willard, a true depiction of the effect of such a mindset.

“And then there are the pure in heart, the ones for whom nothing is good enough, not even themselves…these are the perfectionists. They are a pain to everyone, themselves most of all. In religion they will certainly find errors in your doctrine, your practice, and probably your heart and your attitude. They may be even harder on themselves. They endlessly pick over their own motivations…Their food is never cooked right; their clothes and hair are always unsatisfactory; they can tell you what is wrong with everything. How miserable they are!”

Reflections : Week 4 →

Week 4 Prompts:

Day 19 - Brushstrokes

Day 20 - Mosaic

Day 21 - Ink

Day 22 - Wildflower

Day 23 - View from the Window

Day 24 - Herringbone

I focused on simply using the colour orange as a base for my prints during the fourth week. I really enjoyed experimenting with the ink and creating gradients of colours. It was interesting that some of the brushstrokes prints looked like clouds when the paint dried. This is a reminder that sometimes pieces that I think are ruined during the process of making, can actually become surprisingly beautiful once dried.

What did I learn from this week?

Curiosity is a wonderful motivator to learn and overcome procrastination. I found that the more eager I was to learn something this week; the easier it was to engage with it. I think maybe it was partly due to the fact that I was able to shift focus from the ‘self’ and the awareness of what knowledge I lacked. Then, instead I was able focus on the practice and enjoy the fact that there was so much more to be learnt.

Reflections : Week 3 →

Week 3 Prompts:

Day 13 - Spiral

Day 14 - Shapes

Day 15 - Scribble

Day 16 - Sound

Day 17 - Cut outs

Day 18 - Graph Paper

I focused on simply using the colour green as a base for my prints during the third week. I really struggled during this week with getting started and often felt like my experimentations looked too similar to the previous week’s.

What did I learn from this week?

I am learning to take my experimental approach to printmaking to other parts of my practice. I often get overwhelmed by the seeming complexity of pattern cutting. Yet, by actually changing the approach allows me to enjoy the process, even if the outcome is a ‘failure’.

Reflections : Week 2 →

Week 2 Prompts:

Day 7 - Colour Combinations

Day 8 - Layers of Paint

Day 9 - Collage

Day 10 - Weave

Day 11 - Symmetry

Day 12 - Monochromatic

This week focused on experimentation with various combinations of colour related to purple. It was really enjoyable because it is one of the colours that I naturally gravitate towards.

What did I learn from this week?

I was reminded of the fact that the original purpose of undertaking this challenge and even the craft of design is something I had thoroughly enjoyed. Then, I was caught in the hurry to achieve the things I thought would prove that I am a ‘good’ designer. Unfortunately that striving was a trap that simply lead to burnout and suffocation of joy.

I am learning more about the beauty of enjoying the process. It is such a blessing that I get to create and I hope to delve deeper into that mindset, regardless of the outcome of this challenge.

100 Days of Print. Reflections : Week 1 →

What is the 100 Days of Printmaking Challenge?

100 days. Each day has a daily prompt.

I started the printmaking challenge to get an opportunity to experiment and enjoy the process of mark making. I find that rush and hurry to get to the end goal of past projects can eliminate the joy of creating. I want to take time to create for 100 days as a way of enjoying this creative gift.

Week 1 Prompts:

Day 1 - Continuous lines

Day 2 - Stripes

Day 3 - Swirl

Day 4 - Circles

Day 5 - Dots

Day 6 - Space

In terms of colour scheme, I allowed myself to be instinctive with my colour combinations. Then, it was apparent that the colours that I naturally gravitate towards are purples, blues and pink.