30 Day Drawing Challenge
Last month I did a 30 day drawing challenge for myself, where I do one drawing a day in a 4”x4” sketchbook. This challenge consisted of drawing traditionally with pencil/pen on paper, without the use of a tablet. I thought about the years before I got my first ipad pro, when the tools I had for drawing were pencil, micron pens, rolls of tracing paper and a lightbox. My concerns on being too dependent on digital formats prompt the idea for this challenge. So from June 1st to June 30th, I attempted to draw something on each page that can be tattooed as well (tattoo flash). After completing the challenge, here are some takeaways:
There were some drawings I was happy with, others not so much. There was no layer I could delete and I didn’t want to rip out any pages. Instead of giving in to my tendencies to start over because I didn’t like what I was doing, I just had to go with it.
Coming up with a design out of the blue was unexpectedly hard. Maybe I was accustomed to clients giving me ideas, but thinking of what to draw was a challenge in itself. Towards the end of the month, it did get easier and even revived my creative flow.
It was an exercise on consistency. This challenge was not only a practice on drawing, but an attempt on something habitual. I’d be lying if I said I actually drew everyday. Somedays I’d skip then play catch up by doing multiple drawings in a day. In the end, finishing the challenge and completing 30 drawings was an accomplishment. It wasn’t perfect but it was done.
The sketchbook in question..
