…And that’s a wrap, folks! Painting 100/100.
Thanks SO much for being along for this journey! I started this with the intention of making 100 mini landscape paintings in 100 days. While that did not quite happen (ahem, 270 days), I am so excited about what this practice has brought me.
The reason I started this project was to create a daily habit/practice and to get a lot of brush mileage under my belt quickly. And, by doing so many small paintings, I was able to try painting many different types of landscapes, techniques for applying paint, and color palettes.
Big takeaways:
1. FORCE YOURSELF TO FIND JOY IN THE PROCESS: Honestly, the biggest lesson I learned was to have a positive attitude. At the beginning of this project, I often found myself discouraged after making a bad painting… Or making 5 bad paintings in a row! I learned quickly that this was not sustainable or useful. At the end of this project I’m thrilled to have learned the simple, but incredibly important, lesson of shrugging off the bad paintings. Instead, I focused on learning from the bad ones and finding joy in the process.
2. VALUE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN COLOR: While I already knew this logically, it did not come naturally. I’ve found myself getting wrapped up in the excitement of color without having a solid foundation of values. These 100 paintings helped flip my mindset to always start with the foundation of values.
3. DON’T FOCUS ON STYLE: I hoped to find my own style and technique by the end of the 100 paintings. However, my mindset changed throughout the process with the help of a book by renowned painter John Carlson. “Let the student realize at once that there is not method or style through which he can become a fine painter. Have not a care about ‘putting the paint on’. If you feel things intensely and can learn to see simply…a style or manner will develop that will be adequate, and it will be as ‘individual’ and different from anyone else’s…” Once I let go of trying to find my own style of painting, I was able to simply focus on the foundation of the paintings more.
4. PAINT, PAINT, AND KEEP PAINTING: The daily practice doesn’t end here!
