what art represents, meaning, inspiration

The idea came from an email I received.

If you want to get better at your art, get out of an artistic rut, or explore your creativity, the email said, paint every day for 30 days.

I’ve seen things like this before.  Isn’t it 28 days to learn a new habit?  Was I ready to bite the bullet and accept the challenge?  Is this what I really want to do now in my life?  My mind pondered the thought and vision of me sitting here ‘every day’ at a set time to do my daily challenge painting.

Okay, I’m in.  So, what do I have to do next?

Get ready. 

This article applies to my painting challenge, but you can make this about your life and your challenge. You can challenge yourself to a certain exercise, to smiling more, to more practice at the driving range, to cooking healthier food, whatever your heart yearns for you to challenge yourself with.

I am going to paint.

For this challenge I am going to pick a theme and for thirty days, I will focus on this theme and paint a different style or color combination each day.

I have to get ready so I don’t fail. How are you going to get ready for your challenge?  Maybe you need to try something new or put your tennis shoes by the door so you’re ready to walk?

For my painting challenge I am going to paint the same size painting each day, and with the same paints. 

Knowing me, I have to be a little flexible with my timeframe.  

I have to determine how much of my time I am able to commit to my challenge. Maybe one day I will paint for two hours and do a few paintings and the next day I will rest.

Rules are made to be broken, and so I will change things a little if they aren’t working.  For you that might mean you eat healthy for three days and then give yourself a small piece of chocolate cake the next day.  The day you have the chocolate cake doesn’t count as one of your 30 days. Or you may want to explore your creativity and find out how to make that chocolate cake healthier.

I need to be accountable to someone other than myself. You may find that important also. So I am telling you and I will post some results on my Facebook page. 

A while back I started reading a good book about change. Atomic Habits, Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results by James Clear. A very good read for those of you that have anything you would like to change about yourself, the things you do daily and even your golf game!

I challenge you!