End of Project Thoughts

Well, that’s it then. The end of my Art a Day project.

It’s been one whole year. Sometimes it felt like it would never end, but today it feels like I only started the project yesterday. Cliché, but true.

What have I gained from this project?

First, lack of concern over creating a masterpiece. This may seem kind of silly, but having to draw something every single day for 365 days means that not every one of those pictures is going to be a masterpiece. And depending on how the day went, I really didn’t care what the final product was. In a lot of ways, it is a relief as an artist to just not care, but to do the work and feel satisfied no matter what.

Other days I came up with some beautiful things that I am very proud of.

So, did I answer the question that I started this project with? Does art come from inspiration only or can you push through roadblocks in the mind and create regardless of whether or not you are inspired?

I would say it’s both.

Some days I surprised myself with things I created. Was this my imagination? Some days I forced myself to draw things even though I had nothing in my brain. But I still created something.

I will never be entirely happy with anything I create. I think that’s the nature of being an artist. Any kind of artist. That desire to go beyond your limits and bring to life what you keep in your head. It will never be perfect, but that lack of perfection only makes you keep trying.

The second thing I gained was confidence in my own will power. Or maybe my OCD? Either way, I was able to draw every day for a year, whether it was truly based on my strength of character or some strange habit I felt compelled to do. It definitely was not easy, but it wasn’t so difficult either and I do recommend this challenge for any artist in whatever art form they choose to express themselves with, whether it be visual art, performance art, writing, etc.

Now. Where to go from here?

I probably won’t be drawing every day, but I will definitely be drawing more than I ever did before I started this project.

I have several new projects in mind that this art a day project prepared me for and I can’t wait to share them with you all but it will take me some time to get my ideas in order.

Thank you so much to everyone who looked at my work, gave me suggestions for art when I had no ideas, and who supported me for this year.

Now, you can go and look through all 52 weeks to see what I’ve been working on, but I thought I’d share my favorites from this whole project below:

(Fairy. Saturday 9/21/13. Start- 5:00 pm. End- 8:16 pm. Colored Pencil.)

(Flower Children. Sunday 9/22/13. Start- 11:12 am. End- 6:15 pm. Colored Pencil and Sharpie.)

(La Llorona. Wednesday 9/26/13. Start- 8:12 pm. End- 12:46 am. Colored Pencil and Sharpie. Thanks to Pepe for the idea!)

(“Evolution- We did it wrong”. This is actually a rehash of something I’ve already done. I just wanted to try a block style thing. Friday, 10/4/13. Start- 4:36 pm. End- 5:44 pm. Sharpie.)

(“Winter” Totally inspired by Alphonse Mucha and Led Zeppelin. Thanks to Jen for the idea of drawing the four seasons! The color is ok, but I liked it better when it was just black and white. Sunday, 10/6/13. Start- 10:30 am. End- 6:18 pm. Colored pencil and Sharpie.)

(“Sommer” Tuesday, 10/8/13. Start- 8:45 am. End- 10:01 pm. Sharpie and Pencil.)

(“Trip to the Moon”. Inspired by the 1902 Le Voyage dans la lune by Georges Méliès. Thursday, 10/10/13. Start- 5:05 pm. End- 7:31 pm. Pencil and Sharpie.)

(“Wolf”. Sunday 10/13/13. Start- 6:00 pm. End- 10:26 pm. Sharpie. I started out this week thinking I was going to be drawing animals all week I guess.)

(“Parfum Rusalka”. Sunday 10/27/13. Start- 3:47 pm. End- 5:57 pm. Sharpie.)

(“Eating Flowers”. Sunday 11/3/13. Start- 7:32 pm. End- 9:43 pm. Pencil and Sharpie. My favorite from this week! I didn’t realize how long it takes to do pointillism though.)

(“Bicicletas Perfectas”. Wednesday 11/13/13. Start- 2:39 pm. End- 10:28 pm. Sharpie.)

(“Negative Koi”. Friday 11/22/13. Start- 2:42 pm. End- 10:43 pm. Sharpie.)

(“Oni Box”. Monday 11/25/13. Start – 3:06 pm. End – 10:29 pm. Sharpie.)

(“Fan art- Wonder Woman”. Tuesday 11/26/13. Start- 2:34 pm. End- 1:19 am. Sharpie. Comics are awesome.)

(“Fan art – Batman”. Wednesday 11/27/13. Start- 1:08 pm. End- 11:19 pm. Sharpie.)

(“Harley”. Thursday 12/5/13. Start- 12:45 pm. End- 2:58 pm. Sharpie. My fave this week.)

(“Empress”. Friday 12/6/13. Start- 7:18 pm. End- 9:08 pm. Colored Pencil and Sharpie.)

(“Mother Goose takes 5”. Sunday 12/22/13. Start- 2:40 pm. End- 3:16 pm. Pen.)

(“Little Mermaid”. Wednesday 12/25/13. Start- 11:16 am. End- 4:11 pm. Pen.)

(“Manpunzel”. Friday 12/27/13. Start – 8:50 pm. End – 10:20 pm. Pen.)

(“Snow White”. Monday 12/30/13. Start – 8:30 pm. End – 10:47 pm. Pen.)

(“Tam Lin”. Tuesday 12/31/13. Start – 10:32 pm. End – 12:34 am. Pen.)

(“The Four Clever Brothers”. Wednesday 1/1/14. Start – 9:30 am. End – 1: 56 pm. Pen.)

(“Star Money”. Monday 1/6/14. Start – 2:32 pm. End – 8:53 pm. Pen.)

(“Kasa Obake”. Wednesday 1/8/14. Start – 2:37 pm. End – 2:59 pm. Pen.)

(“AD Design”. Saturday 1/19/14)

(“Tribal”. Tuesday 1/14/14. Pen.)

(“Evil Queen”. Wednesday 1/15/14. Pen.)

(“Dragon”. Saturday 1/18/14. Pen.)

(“Moe Cigarette Ad”. Sunday 2/2/14. Pen and Sharpie.)

(“Anime”. Sat. 2/8/14. Pen.)

(“La gitana”. Thursday 2/20/14. Pen. I drew this one at a show. Inspired by the dancers and musicians.)

(“La Mer”. Friday 2/21/14. Pen.)

(“Colossus”. Thursday 3/6/14. Pen.)

(“Colossus of the Lake”. Friday 3/7/14. Pen.)

(“From the garden”. Wednesday 4/9/14. Pen, Sharpie, and Colored Pencil.)

(“Bacchus.” Friday 4/18/14. Pen.)

(“Sad Queen”. Thursday 7/17/14. Pencil.)

(“Clarke Girl”. Friday 7/18/14. Pencil.)

(“Mata Hari”. Saturday 7/19/14. Pencil.)

(“Captured”. Tuesday 7/22/14. Pencil.)

(“Revenge”. Wednesday 7/23/14. Pencil.)

(“Venus in Furs.” Monday 7/27/14. Pen.)

(“Sky Woman”. Tuesday 7/29/14. Pen. Interpretation of a Native American Creation story.)

(“Moe portrait.” Friday 8/15/14. Pen.)

(“Rylan”. Saturday 8/16/14. Pen.)

(“Foot Drawing.” Sunday 8/17/14. Pencil. Yes. I drew this with my foot.)

(“Deco Mermaid”. Saturday 8/30/14. Pen.)

(“Egyptian Lovers”. Saturday 9/6/14. Pen.)

(“Out of my way”. Saturday 9/13/14. Pen.)