Reflections on #the100daysproject
One year ago today I wrapped up #the100dayproject with the final drawing. It seems like quite a while ago for a proper reflection, doesn't it? Well, it is indeed but luckily I was wise enough to jot down my main thoughts shortly after completing the project. And it’s actually pretty cool to be able revisit those initial impressions and see how they align with my current perspective.
Initially, I had grand plans to document my journey through blog posts or newsletters - first at the start, then at various milestones along the way. However, I quickly got so consumed by the project itself that all those promotional ideas had to be abandoned! I can't help but wonder how many people missed out on following my progress because I was so lax with blogging and newsletters (not to mention battling the notorious IG algorithm)…
Sweet great tit fledgelings - the last instalment of my #the100dayproject
So what is it and why bother?
#the100dayproject is one of those annual creative challenges on Instagram, basically a short version of #365daysof… Participants set their own rules and aim to stick to them for 100 days straight. For my challenge I committed to drawing birds I had spotted over the past year or two. Here are some goals that I set for myself for this project:
Learn to draw and make decisions more swiftly
Loosen up my drawing style
Improve my technique
Cultivate discipline practice
Embrace new techniques born from happy accidents
Broaden my colour palette
Take IG posting less seriously
Potentially increase my reach
Given the intensity of the challenge, I decided to simplify the post-production process by opting for scans instead of photos, with minimal color correction to save time (though it still demanded quite a bit!). I also gave myself permission to switch to digital markers if things start going south.
Surprisingly, I stuck to using the physical markers throughout the entire project, and! managed to post every single day without fail. Patting myself on the back for that achievement! 😌
Making it through those 100 days was no small feat. It required full commitment and often meant putting other aspects of my life on hold. But did I reach my goals?
Learn to draw and make decisions more swiftly - a solid 10/10.
Loosening up - it ebbed and flowed really but the pressure of daily posting didn't always help. Besides, some birds are super forgiving while others require a lot more precision to be recognisable and I didn’t want to compromise that.
Improve the technique - Perhaps slightly, but not consistently.
Discipline in practice. Yes, but it only laster that long…
Embrace new techniques born from happy accidents - I think I had a few, though I'm not entirely convinced about incorporating them into my regular practice. However, one particularly joyful discovery was not so much about technique but about a shift in approach. I found immense satisfaction in creating mini-portraits instead of full bird drawings, especially with the city pigeons. I was so captivated by the process that I ended up creating 10 pigeon portraits in total! Even now, a year later, I still find them delightful and wouldn't hesitate to create more. Recently I even turned them into a cute sticker sheet and might expand the series in the future.
Broaden colour palette - not as much as I hoped. I think the bold experiment with house sparrows didn’t go anywhere because, well, there aren’t many birds that will still be recognisable when you exaggerate their colours to such extent… Despite my efforts I wasn't satisfied with the outcome when trying it on other species - I simply didn't like it.
Take IG posting less seriously - only for as long as the challenge lasted 🙈
One of the odd coloured sparrows :)
Potentially increase my reach. This one fell the shortest of my most humble hopes… Posting daily didn’t yield significant engagement - I struggled to even reach 100 likes on most posts. Did it feel discouraging - absolutely. Did I consider stopping because of that - not a single time! And by the way, a big shout out to all the hard core supporters: thank you. Also, out of the blue, the producer of Despicable Me liked my rook! What 😄
So, all things considered, would I do it again?
Initially my answer was a resounding “NO WAY!”. Honestly, it was just too much pressure and stress to get it all done. I mean, if I sign up for something - I go all the way. But this inevitably means sacrificing other aspects of life leading to anxiety, guilt and frustration.
However, I've softened my stance since then. If I stumble upon an idea that not only excites me but also fits into my life, I might consider it.
Here are a few tips for future me or anyone considering taking on a similar challenge 👀
Plan well ahead
Having a roadmap significantly eases the journey. I maintained a list of approximately 75 bird species to draw inspiration from, which proved invaluable. While the plan remained flexible - allowing for the inclusion of newly discovered birds along the way - having a pool of ideas ready spared me from unnecessary decision-making and kept the creative momentum flowing smoothly.
Maintain a buffer of completed work
I started with around 12-14 drawings ready and did my best to maintain this buffer for the rest of the project (admittedly, with diminishing success). The thing is, even when one fully commits to a challenge like this, for most of us (if not all) it’s impossible to put the rest of our lives on hold. There will be other things that take priority on some days, whether you like it or not, and there will be days when you will just want to take a break. For instance, I had a few days when I just couldn’t produce anything decent with multiple attempts resulting in total rubbish. Maintaining a buffer was a lifesaver.
Ensure your project is manageable in the long run
Before committing to #the100dayproject, it might be worthwhile to test your idea over a shorter timeframe, such as a week. Treat it as if it were the real deal, but perhaps refrain from publishing on Instagram. This trial run allows you to gauge whether the project is sustainable in the long run. If it feels overwhelming, it's an opportunity to reassess and refine your concept before fully diving in.
I’d love to know if you’ve ever tried, completed or considered participating in a drawing challenge like this. Please share your thoughts and experiences!
Here are just a few of my favourites.
Just like the pidgies, robins have been honoured with a dedicated sticker sheet hehe, and who nows, there may be more goodies to emerge from this challenge in the near future! Btw if you have any particular requests - by all means let me know in the comments or over on Instagram - all of the 100 posts are still there :)
