Oddish fanart by franzmori for the Inktober Art Challenge of 2016.
Art challenges are open or personal quests where an artist commits to creating art consistently within a set timeframe, most commonly daily during a month or year, though some challenges can be 100 consecutive days, every other day, once a week, and some even are a one time only, like the #Drawthisinyourstyle challenge.
They have flourished on the internet, with at least one challenge going on every month of the year. Some of the most known art challenges are Mermay, Inktober, Drawlloween, the 100 days project, and 100 Heads Challenge.
But why are they so popular? Well…
- They can help you improve a specific skill.
- They have the ability to fuel motivation and creativity (buh-bye art block!).
- They can help you built on a habit and gain momentum.
- It can be both inspiring and encouraging to take part in an event alongside artists you admire.
- It’s a social activity: You can make new creative friends.
- They’re just fun.
Though the benefits of taking part in an art challenge are clear, we can all agree the hardest part is actually finishing one. Here are some of the things that have helped me successfully commit to a challenge from beginning to end:
Keep it simple
Think of making it so simple there’s no way you could fail. At the beginning of a challenge we are super motivated, so it is tempting to create something super detailed or setting big goals for ourselves, but in the long run that’s not sustainable.
Ask yourself: What could the bare minimum be? What could be the baby step version of this? commit to that and decide that’s good enough.
This is super handy on the days you’re not motivated. When I did Inktober in 2019, my bare minimum was making 5 x 5 cms drawings, which made it easier for myself to actually make the 31 drawings. That didn’t mean I couldn’t go bigger, it just meant it was alright to do something small and therefore quick.
Set Constraints
Ever wonder why most challenges have a set of rules or prompts? That’s because it makes it easier for artists to come up with ideas, and prevent decision fatigue and art block. The more time you spend thinking about what to create the least amount of time you’d have to actually create.
The clearest constraints art challenges provide are the time frame and the general topics, but you can take this a step further by defining the art supplies you’re going to use, the specific amount of time you want to invest in, the size of your artwork, the color palette, a cohesive theme to tie the prompts, etc.
Drawings I did in 2017 for Inktober’s day 07, 09 and 11 respectively. I didn’t plan my theme with enough time for this one and only made it to day 18.
Art challenge prompts are rarely compulsory, so if you don’t feel motivated by a list you can come up with your own beforehand. Having a starting point can be more helpful than confronting the blank canvas with a blank mind each day.
Progress, not Perfection
Something that definitely can make us lose motivation is trying to achieve something perfectly. Perfectionism can make it hard to start, it can make us procrastinate, it can rob us from finding joy in the process, and it can trigger anxiety.
We all have 10,000 bad drawings in us. The sooner we get them out the better.
– Walt Stanchfield
Don’t be afraid of creating bad art. Actually, make your mind that there’s going to be at least one or two creations you’re not going to like, and be ok with it. Think of them as the stepping stones for something greater.
A good exercise is to be mindful of how you feel when you create just for fun, outside of a challenge or job. Get familiar with the good feelings you get during the process and try to feel that again when creating for a challenge. It doesn’t matter if the result is shitty as long as you enjoy the process of creating.
Create a ritual
Defining clear steps before and after you tackle the challenge can help you stick to it. This is the way habits, good or bad, work: A cue triggers an urge to make the behavior that triggers a reward.
Trigger—>Behavior—->Reward.
Some trigger examples are cleaning your desk, brewing coffee, having your art supplies already out, or setting an alarm. You just need something to remind you (and your brain) it is time to engage in the desired activity. The activity has to be enjoyable too, so make sure you’re doing something you’re passionate about.
As of the reward, having a finished drawing or project can be a great reward perse, but something that also works is to keep track of your progress. Little actions like putting an X on a calendar or tossing a pebble into a jar can be a motivator and give us a sense of accomplishment. Sharing your work with other people online can also work as a reward, or you could decide on doing something you enjoy afterward like having lunch, playing videogames, or watching your favorite series.
Resting ≠ Quitting
Sometimes things don’t go as intended or we might feel the need to recharge our batteries. Remember it is totally OK to stop and skip a day when needed, it is important though to not let skipping a day ruin your whole progress (unless you’re ill then definitely rest as much as needed).
A concept I came across sometime in 2019 is Matt D’Avella‘s 2-day rule, as he explains it in this video “…is pretty simple: I would not allow myself to take off more than one day in a row for some kind of work out”. His rule works as a constraint, but it is also a way of granting yourself permission to rest for one day, guilt-free, knowing you’re not going to fall into a rut. He applied this rule to his exercise habit, but it can be applied to any aspect of life you want to build consistency around; in the case of this article, tackling an art challenge.
Taking breaks is not the end of the world; It’s not the end of your art either.
– Amie McNee
Ultimately, the trick to finish a challenge is to master the art of showing up. That’s all you need. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it doesn’t have to be great. You want to finish each day answering the question: yeah but, did I show up? if the answer is yes, then consider it a success.
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