What Eight Years of Consecutive Daily Art Can Teach You
This is year eight, April 2019-April 2020. (Scroll down to see all eight years of art together)
It’s my eight year anniversary of creating art every single day.
I never missed one. Not holidays. Not vacation. Not sickness.
Some of us can’t say we’ve even showered every day of the year. :)
So how did I get here?
The simple answer is one day at a time. I refer to them as marble moments.
I have a jar of 365 marbles on my desk that I use when speaking or teaching. It represents one piece of art for every day of the year.
A single a marble by itself doesn’t look like much. But what of you grouped seven of them together? Then add seven more? It’s by adding time increments on a daily basis that leads to a daily creative habit.
But instead of talking about principles and methods I’ve learned along this journey (like finding my style and voice as an artist, gaining confidence & momentum, refining my craft, unbelievable opportunities…) I’d rather tell you the story of WHY I began this journey. (If you’d like to read an older post check out my year five post.)
After all, you might be thinking, “that’s great that you have accomplished this, but what does your experience really have to do with me?” Perhaps, a lot.
But I need to bring you back to the beginning….
I found myself sobbing and broken on the side of this hiking trail in upstate New York during a retreat for ministry leaders. Life had unraveled and ironically, I felt emotionally like a knotted up and twisted ball of twine. I couldn’t determine what the issue was, and so couldn’t “fix it”. Which only made matters worse.
After some counseling, it was determined I had been suffering from a form of mild depression called Dysthymia. A full time ministry role where I held responsibilities outside my gifting and a misplaced identity in my work only compounded my problem.
I found myself needing to leave the church I helped plant. My wife and I had to sell our home. We didn’t know what would come next. Ultimately, it was a move out of state. What should have seemed like a fresh start, felt more like intense loss. We lost our house, left our friends and some family, left our faith community & jobs. It was during this transition that my father was also diagnosed with cancer, and quickly passed the second week into my new job.
I had often wondered to myself “is this it? is this what life looks like now?” It felt as rock bottom as I could imagine. And climbing out of depression seemed like a slippery slope, when circumstances threatened to weigh me down.
During this time I began to journal daily, intensely listening and praying. I didn’t know how to do much else other than dumping my emotions like modern day Psalms. Every day, I had just enough energy to keep showing up.
Through this process, I began to have this internal prompting that was calling me to return to art. Not the graphic design work that was part of my previous life’s employment, but rather a getting back to my roots, tactile experience of handling some art supplies that I hadn’t interacted with in since the days of art school. But how could I start creating art again when I had taken a 10 year absence and was battling depression?
My journey back started when, on a whim, I took a printmaking class at a local art center. While attending this 3 week course, I was turned onto a book called “The Creative License” by Danny Gregory. Little did I know this would stoke the internal creative fires within, that were dormant for far too long.
I decided to try my hand at 365 days of drawings and painting. Danny Gregory wrote “a five minute drawing is better than none”. Somehow these words were liberating. Surely I could manage five minutes, even if I had no clue how (or if) I could get to 365 days.
I was off and running, or more like stumbling. It was forced and awkward at first. My very first drawing was of a Starbucks coffee cup (pictured below). I both hate this drawing, and love it.
I hate it because it’s embarrassing. It’s a sucky drawing of a coffee cup. But I love this drawing because it signifies a rebirth. A phoenix moment. The moment I decided to push past my fear, those voices that told me I couldn’t draw because I couldn’t draw photorealistic renderings. The moment I choose to get back to my art because I needed it, for my soul.
Day one, year one of my 365 day daily art making practice.
I kept going. At first, filling pages and pages of my Moleskine sketchbooks, then branching out to individual pieces on canvas, paper, and even creating digitally as my confidence grew.
Early on, I decided to post my daily work on Instagram as a way of keeping accountable, and even posting the work, that in my opinion, was sub par. It wasn’t about creating “masterpieces”. I wouldn’t let that perfectionist voice discourage me from keeping on my journey.
The more I kept going, the more I felt life returning. Depression started to fade. Drive and passion filled its place.
Beyond the work itself, this journey has changed me. It has given me more confidence in creating and sharing my art. It has helped me identify my style and tools I like to work. It has connected me with new people and opportunities. It has challenged me in ways I’m not sure I can really express properly. As I kept taking the right next step, it evolved into steps of who I was created to be.
But it’s not all about me. It’s about you too.
My experiences and journey is only really redeemed if it serves to help others. So it’s not just my story, but ours.
Through this journey I discovered my deeper why — to tell stories and connect through my art. While the expression and themes of my creating may vary, it’s always with the intent of making a connection with others.
All eight years of daily consecutive art making.
What is it for you?
What have you wished you could accomplish? No matter how hopeless your circumstances may seem, keep showing up. Do that thing you need to because it’s life giving. It will give life to you, and then through you. Start where you are right now.
And to celebrate my eight years, I’m inviting you into an opportunity. I wanted to offer something practical, not just encouraging words.
So, i’m launching one-on-one hourly coaching, and a separate mastermind group for creative people (Artists, Makers, and Content Creators as I say on my podcast). Anyone who is ready to start taking action in their creative pursuits.
Perhaps it’s:
Writing and self-publishing a book
Launching a podcast
Creating a body of work with painting, drawing or visual art
Establishing your own daily creative habit
Getting help with personal branding
Whatever it looks like for you, I can help you identify some next steps.
In our one-on-one hourly coaching, we can deep dive into your current creative struggle and formulate an action plan. We’ll meet via zoom and you’ll even get a video and audio recording of our call for easy reference.
For the Creative Action Takers mastermind (yes - CATs) we’ll meet weekly for 12 weeks to discuss each members creative problem, resulting in an action plan in the context of group think-tank and accountability.
And for those who want to dive even deeper, I’m offering an Elite package that combines the power of the mastermind and the personal one-on-one coaching.
You can apply for your coaching and mastermind spots by filling out the form. It’s first come, first served. Spots are limited. Application does not guarantee a spot.
Your Day One is waiting.
What could it look like for you?
What Does Year Five of 365 Days of Daily Art Look Like?
I just passed another year of 365 daily art making!
This makes FIVE consecutive years in a row without missing a day and approximately 750 pieces. (Most days I created more than one piece) This process has taught me so much about myself, my craft and my process. I even created an online course to help you get started on your own journey! You can read more about the course here or sign up for instant access here. In today's world, everyone wants to be an overnight success. No one wants to hear that you have to put consistent time into your craft, but the truth is, this is the only way to keep growing and excelling.
I just passed another year of 365 daily art making!
This makes FIVE consecutive years in a row without missing a day and approximately 750 pieces. (Most days I created more than one piece) This process has taught me so much about myself, my craft and my process. I even created an online course to help you get started on your own journey! You can read more about the course here or sign up for instant access here. In today's world, everyone wants to be an overnight success. No one wants to hear that you have to put consistent time into your craft, but the truth is, this is the only way to keep growing and excelling.
In the five years, I have experimented with different types of media, subject matters and styles, before settling into my own. If you follow me on social media, you see my daily posts. You may have seen that I have incorporated something else into my daily art making - YOU! I choose most of my inspiration from photos that show up in my Instagram feed. It's given me the opportunity to surprise and delight many people, when I tag them in my art based on their post. I've gotten to know some new friends through this as well. And that's the biggest win for me - when I can create art that creates connections as well.
So thank you to all of you who have been following along, and even commissioning / purchasing my art through these past 5 years of daily art making. I hope you enjoy my art and daily posts. If you have, can I ask a favor in return? Would you consider becoming part of my email list and even consider purchasing / commissioning some art? I would love to take our connection to the next level!
What art of mine have you enjoyed most? Leave me a comment. I'd love to know! Thanks for being a part of my artists' journey.
A Bite-sized Tip For Creating a Series of Art
“Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”
— Vincent Van Gogh
The thought of doing a 365 day daily art project can seems daunting. What will I do for that long? What if I get bored or run out of things to draw? What if I quit after a week, like that diet I tried last year? I had such good intentions and high hopes, but at the end of the day, it amounted to nothing, except a reminder that either i’m a failure, a quitter, or I just seem to be missing something in my DNA to enable me to complete the task at hand.
I learned early on that I needed SMALL projects. I can’t think in 365 day chunks. But I can do 30 days. Or even 100 days. So after a little bit, I started to identify a topic that I wanted to tackle for 30 days. 30 days of self portraits, 30 days of pets, 20 days of toes, 30 days of faces... you get the idea. I started to incorporate Instagram and social media. I would sketch people’s photos who would show up in my feed. I would then tag them so they could join in the fun too. It was a great way to be held accountable because I was posting publicly, as well as meet new friends. I started to sketch celebrity photos they posted on Instagram, and tagged them too. Some of them even liked and shared (and occasionally commented to my delight as well) I mean, who wouldn’t like to be included in being sketched by an artist, right? Most people consider it an honor.
I also joined in a 100 Day Project that was being hosted by another artist I was following on Instagram, Elle Luna. She threw out the challenge to join in with creating or making anything for 100 days straight. We would all start and end together, posting and hash tagging so we could all follow along and encourage each other. I did this project twice. The first time, I sketched a black line drawing based on the photos of others, using only my iPhone and a stylus. The second time I did the same, only this time, adding in color to the background and key parts of the drawing. Every day was a new adventure. I would look for inspiration, and others would follow along wondering what I would post next. And some, hoped that they might make it into my project. (In the spirit of full disclosure, I did attempt another 100 day project recently, but I got behind and the subject matter wasn’t engaging me enough, so I only made it to day 60 or so. You've got to choose carefully, or you won't follow through when things get tough.)
It was always a thrill at the end of the 100 days, to create a photo montage of all the images. One giant image to chronicle the past 100 days.
I talk about the importance of this process and gaining momentum in an art making practice, more in depth in my video course “Your Artists’ Journey”.
Check it out if this sounds like something that would be of interest.
What bite-sized tips have you discovered along the way that helps in your art making practice?
Why I want to Help You on Your Artists' Journey...
Are you an artist who struggles with the idea of finding your voice or style?
Have you ever found yourself wanting to get back to a place of creating your art, but you just don't know where to start?
Do you find yourself wishing for a creative comeback after a long hiatus?
Do you struggle with finding the time to devote to your passion of creating?
Do fear and excuses stop you from creating your art?
Are you an artist who struggles with the idea of finding your voice or style?
Have you ever found yourself wanting to get back to a place of creating your art, but you just don't know where to start?
Do you find yourself wishing for a creative comeback after a long hiatus?
Do you struggle with finding the time to devote to your passion of creating?
Do fear and excuses stop you from creating your art?
That's exactly where I was 5 years ago. And it SUCKED. I knew that I needed to embrace my art again. I just wasn't sure how to do that. I desperately wanted to ENJOY my art process and create with confidence. But that was far from my reality. I vividly remember watching other artists excel who seemed to have some sort of map that I was missing. And it was so frustrating and discouraging.
Can you relate?
It was at that point when I stumbled upon something that radically altered the course of my art making journey forever. As a result, I'm in my fifth consecutive year of a daily art making practice.
Through talking with fellow artists, I realized I was not alone. The things that I was experiencing were common plagues. So when my art making finally started coming together, I knew that I had found a solution that wouldn't just help me on my journey, but others as well. That's why I created a self guided video course called "Your Artists' Journey: Finding Your Voice & Style Through Daily Practice".
In this course, I share from my own struggles and experiences, along with several principles I learned during my 365 daily art making practice. (As I mentioned, I'm now in my fifth consecutive year with no plans to stop!)
I let you in on my step by step plan for you to start your own creative journey through this course...
Your Artists’ Journey: Finding Your Voice & Style Through Daily Practice
>> http://theartistsmentor.com/yajmikebrennan
In this self-paced course you will:
- Find your own daily art habit
- Learn new insights and gain confidence in your art
- Discover tools to maintain your momentum
Click the link to meet me inside and enroll (you will get immediate access)!
>> http://theartistsmentor.com/yajmikebrennan
There's even a bonus: After you enroll, you will also get exclusive access to our private community group and discussions only for our students!
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Cruise over to the link above and check out my intro video. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know. Remember, the reason I created this was to be a tool and a HELP to artists. Feel free to share with any artist friends you know who might benefit!
So is today the day you take ACTION? It would be my honor to come alongside you on your own artists' journey!
365 Days of Art: Year Two
I have completed another year with at least one or two drawings / paintings a day! Most days I created at least two works. A years worth of art. Not 365 pieces, but 608 pieces!
Year one I created close to 380 pieces bringing my total work to almost 1,000 pieces over the past two years! On to year three...
365 Days of Drawings & Paintings
I had this internal prompting that was calling me to create more art. Not the graphic design work that was part of my full-time employment, but rather a getting back to my roots, tactile experience of handling some art supplies that I hadn't interacted with in many, many years.
It started when, on a whim, I took a printmaking class at a local art center. While attending this 3 week course, I was turned onto a book called "The Creative License" by Danny Gregory. Little did I know this would stoke the internal creative fires within, that were dormant for far too long.
I decided to try my hand at 365 days of drawings and painting. Danny Gregory wrote "a five minute drawing is better than none". Somehow these words were liberating. Surely I could manage five minutes.
I was off and running. It was forced and awkward at first. But I leaned in. Rarely missed a day and when i did, i did two to catch up. I kept going. At first, filling pages and pages of my Moleskine sketchbooks, then branching out to individual pieces as my confidence grew.
Early on I decided to post my daily work on Instagram (and later Facebook) as a way of keeping accountable, and even posting the work that was in my opinion, sub par. It wasn't about creating "masterpieces". I wouldn't let that perfectionist voice discourage me from keeping on my journey.
Today, is one year. 365 days of at least one drawing or painting. Beyond the work itself, this journey has changed me. It has given me more confidence in creating and sharing my art. It has helped me identify tools I like to work with, and what my style is. It has challenged me in ways I'm not sure I can really express.
It has awakened a hunger and passion that doesn't show any signs of stopping. I want to keep learning, creating, sharing... What lies ahead? I don't know. But as I keep taking the right next step, It's a step more into being who I was created to be.
Want to know what 365 days of drawing and painting look like? Visit here.