WOW i can’t believe how fast the weeks are flying by! As I type this, (I’m a little behind on posting here) it is now the beginning of week 7! That’s nearly halfway through the 100 days.
My approach to these prompts is to just see where my creativity takes me. I choose to use watercolor and 100% cotton paper in a sketchbook. I divide most pages into 2 because watercolor sketch books tend to have about 25 sheets. This helps me get more out of the book and focus on small 3 x 5 inch paintings that usually take about 30min or less to complete. I just go for it and let my creative mind and brush do the work.
Overall I’m delighted with the results. This practice was something I didn’t know I needed until last week (week 6). To ponder what I have learned so far about my creative practice, I would say, the weekly wonder has helped to strengthen my skills and practice by letting go of expectations and accepting the outcome.
Some of these I’m really happy with, some bring joy to create, some are a train wreck and look nothing like what I expected. All of this is ok and necessary for my personal growth. Being uncomfortable is where the magic happens.
Week 5 brought some challenges but I was still able to show up for my practice and enjoy the process.
Week 6 brought a challenge I didn’t think was possible. I was so excited to start a new sketch book however, the paper was not the same! Not sure what the issue is but when I wet the surface, it pilled. I thought well, maybe it’s just my imagination, maybe it was just that sheet. It wasn’t, this new book just threw me a curve ball. I was expecting the exact same quality and paint handling and it just didn’t perform the same. So, I am patiently waiting for new sketchbooks to arrive before I start week 7.
I find sketchbooks to be really confining and I rarely use them. Part of why I am doing the #100daysofwonder2024 project is to get out of my own way on my sketchbook phobia. Last week I did some poking around and found that Jackson’s Art carries a Saunders Waterford Rough 25 page Fat Pad. I bought 2. Saunders Waterford rough paper is 140lb cold press and the paper of my choice for my watercolors. I love it soooooo much, so I am super excited that they are making a sketchbook and I can’t wait to try it out.
