Art Challenges, Galaxies, and Videos, Oh My!

4/11/2018

Hello, my Creative Friends!

I hope you are well :)

I am well. I've been busy with family - the new grandson, teaching my youngest daughter to drive, and other "real life" stuff.

I've also been busy on the arty side of life. I'm loving exploring art, creating classes, and soaking up the artwork my students are sharing!

You know, I never really saw myself as a teacher. In fact, I've often resisted the idea. But, the online world - the new path to teaching and connecting - has changed all of that.
I'm finding that I love teaching art, sharing my process, and encouraging you, as much as I love exploring art.

So, I want to say thank you! You have rocked my world in such a great way. I sooo appreciate your support, encouragement, and willingness to share your time with me. :)

Today, I thought we could play a little catch-up. As I said, I've been busy since we last chatted.

If you've been following me on Skillshare, Instagram or YouTube, then you already know I am attempting to paint 30 watercolor galaxies!

I thought it would be a fun and challenging project. The idea is to paint 30 galaxies in about 45 days. I know myself well enough to know that I wouldn't paint 30 in 30 days! So, I chose to give myself more time.

You see, that's the thing with challenges - they need to work for you. There are always rules, guidelines, and time limits with challenges like The 100 Day Project, Inktober, etc. And that's a good thing! We need that. We need structure and a framework for completing the project.

But, here's the thing, the challenge needs to work for us as individuals, otherwise, there is no point.

Each of us has our own personal way of working - and you can't fit that into a box!
So, instead of trying to stuff ourselves into something that doesn't fit - what should we do?

How can you be successfull in an art challenge?

You are an artist.
You make your own rules.

So, I say, take that framework - those guidelines- and reshape them.
Create a framework that works for you!

Allowing yourself the freedom of tweaking the framework, of adjusting the rules, to fit your working style is the key to success with art challenges!

I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them. If I find them too obnoxious, I break them

Robert Heinlein
American Novelist & Science Fiction Writer

So, go out, and find a challenge! Connect with a community of artists who are brought together for a specific project.

Tweak the rules to make it fit you - who you are as an artist, and how you work!
No pressure - just fun!

If you like, you can even join my galaxy challenge, and explore painting galaxies. Just use #JSAGalaxyChallenge on Instagram, or share your galaxy with me in my Skillshare Watercolor Galaxy class. (Not a Skillshare member - here's a link to watch the class for free!)

I'm sharing most of my galaxies on Instagram, and I'm filming some of them for YouTube. I hope you will check them out!

xoxo,

Jessica

P. S. Watercolor Basics 5: Water, Brush, and Paints, Oh My! is now live. (FREE for non-members until Apr 23, 2018)

P. S. S. Here are some of my latest YouTube videos :)

Coming up on my YT channel