I am relieved & proud to have completed (i.e. eked out) this 30-day challenge... This last week wasn't as seamless as I would have wanted... but things have gone up and it's a wrap!

Here are 5 things I learned about meeting a challenge that seemed almost insurmountable, by resolving to make and post art for 30 days in a row.

week 1:: Just Start. If you are scared, take a leap of faith.
week 2 :: Stay curious. Relax by trusting the process. 
week 3 :: Work through the need for perfection & fear of vulnerability 
                 by asking yourself  "what's the worst that could happen?" 
         ... and then connecting with the freedom that comes from courage. 
week 4 :: Variety & Fun are helpful to develop endurance 
               & a sustainable practice.
week 5 :: Focus and keep it going, because, as my dad would say, 
               "lo mejor es el enemigo de lo bueno," or  "done is best."

I loved taking on a challenge and I think I will do it again in a month or two... In the meantime, check out the musings of these other rockstar challenge-takers: 
Fabulous Soulwoker & Painter: Samyak Yamauchi
Photographer to the 4-legged Stars: Kristina Zambrano
Maker of all things Artsy•fun & Chicken-Loving, Richelle Shadoan

What's Your NEXT CHALLENGE?

With exactly seven days left to go, I think I will meet this challenge ... and, as evidenced above, I am back in full color! 

Three weeks into this challenge, and things feel like they are beginning to shift a little in unexpected ways...

As of last week, I confirmed that my sticking power has everything to do with making the challenge feel like play. Removing judgement and increasing permission to show up as I am, has allowed me to stick to the plan and post daily bits of art on Instagram.

I departed from my usual paintings and offered up something very different: and it felt really risky... how are these offerings going to go over? Is anyone going to like them? Will showing what else I like to do, make and play around with change the 'artist persona' that I am told I should build. 

In the grand scheme of things none of the answers matter nearly as much as staying true to my process. So in the spirit of being open I offer you my seven week-three art bits: a 'modern take' on a dream catcher along with several pencil+paper sketches, and finally one of the sketches colored-in. It's not hard to silence the critic that insists that you only show your shinier self for fear of appearing less-than when you are actually having fun.

*this is a personal challenge, so if you don't have a daily art practice, but you want to do daily walks, or daily selfies, or daily yoga, or daily {?} ... you can go ahead and identify your own brand of dare.

I have wanted to do some sort of 30-Days of Art Shares for a long time. And this month is it!

Here are the rules I set up for myself:

1. Every day I need to share some piece evidence of my creative practice on my Instagram feed.
If you'd like to follow that process you can follow me, or just look for #30daysofartshares

2. I'll make updates to the Blog every Sunday. Collection of Pictures & any Tidbits about the Process.

3. Anything creative is an acceptable way to meet the challenge. All media, crafty goodness, guided projects/class assignments, simple sketches… You get the idea.

4. Since not all days are created equal in terms of time + inspiration, it is OK to present something that was mostly done on another day, or to present something can be considered finished in a particular stage (i.e. a finished sketch, that may later become a painting).

5. I will use only what I have on hand ... (that only sounds like a restriction...).

6. I will have a blast tuning into my creative impulses each day!

Have YOU been wanting to try this? If you decide to create your own 30 day challenge, please let me know! I'd love to check on your progress and be your cheerleader too!

xo ~consu