Reflecting on the Simplest Things Challenge: A 5-day drawing journey

This week, I took on the Simplest Things Challenge, a 5-day slow drawing Challenge with Amy at Mindful Art Studio. The Challenge encourages the exploration of making simple marks and seeing where the process leads. 

Day 1 prompt: Closer

Simple supplies

I’ve done the Simplest Things Challenge a couple of times. Sometimes I draw in a sketchbook, sometimes on small pieces of card stock or watercolor paper, and often the compositions become fodder for pages in my art junk journals. 

As I was traveling earlier in the week, I packed a small 4” x 6” sketchbook and a few Micro pens in my travel bag. This weekend, I opened a small palette of watercolors and pulled out a paintbrush. So, even the supplies for this Challenge are minimal! 

Day 2 prompt: Squiggle

Daily prompts

I like the low-pressure nature of the daily prompts. There are only 5 of them! It’s a short, easy Challenge to do. Responses to the prompts can go in any direction.

Another version of Closer (Day 1 prompt) with Dots (Day 3 prompt).

Another version of Day 2 prompt: Squiggle. Watercolor and line drawing.

Day 3 prompt: Dot

The prompts offer an opportunity to let the mind wander while interpreting them. The slow drawing makes you present and in the moment.

Day 3 prompt: Dot

Day 4 prompt: Branching

Day 5 prompt: Smash

The simplicity of the prompts makes the Challenge accessible to any skill level. If you’re looking to spark your creativity without feeling overwhelmed, the Simplest Things Challenge is a perfect way to dive into drawing and mark making. Use any art supplies you have on hand—pencils, markers, paint pens, watercolors, anything!

Day 4 prompt: Branching

This Challenge is a reminder that sometimes, art isn’t about complexity—it’s about slowing down, showing up for your art practice, and seeing the beauty in the smallest and simplest of things.

The 100 Day Project

So, what's one more on-line Challenge? I've decided to join the #100DayProject since it's starting early this year—on January 31. 

The 100 Day Project.
Image: the100dayproject.com

What's The 100 Day Project?

Initially, The 100 Day Project was inspired by a grad school project conceived by the iconic graphic designer and principal at Pentagram, Michael Bierut. After being launched on social media in 2014, it has since become a global art project that encourages participants to show up every day, for 100 days, and make/do something creative. It celebrates the process. The goal is to show up day after day. 

100 Days of 3/4" fussy-cut hexies

Knowing that my "thing" for the 100 Day Project had to be something manageable and not time consuming, I'm choosing two simple/do-able ones. The first is to fussy cut [selective cut] fabric for 3/4" English paper pieced [EPP] hexagons. I've started gathering potential fabrics. I got inspired by smaller EPP shapes through participation in the #IloveEPPparty2020 stitch-along last year.

Prep for #100daysoffussycuthexies 

100 Days of Mindful Mark Making

My second item is to do 100 days of "mindful mark making." Here is an example of these doodle-like drawings in my sketchbook. This paper is for mixed media, but I'm contemplating watercolor paper in case I want to add color.

Sketchbook page of mindful mark making, slow drawing.

The 100 Day Project starts on January 31, 2021. My daily posts will be on my Instagram feed [veronica.fiberantics]. 

Here's to celebrating PROCESS!

Image: from The Great Discontent