A few summers back I was laying in the sun and flicking through a magazine when I came across an article discussing simple art and why everyone should give it a go. They provided a convincing argument for the wellbeing benefits of putting pencil to paper.
At the end of the article, they provided an art challenge. This was intended to encourage anyone to become a beginner artist from the most basic of tools.
While I don’t consider myself an ‘artist’, I do enjoy dabbling in some drawing and painting here and there. However, I recently struggled to think of the last time I had actually done either of these. I think it’s a bit like my relationship with reading. The most difficult part is finding the motivation to pick up a book and start. But as soon as I start, I’m hooked!
Unfortunately, I didn’t have the foresight to save this article. Therefore, I have created my own 7-day challenge in an attempt to re-art myself.
The Challenge
Seven different art tasks to be completed over seven days. Tasks can be completed as drawings or painting and not to be taken too seriously. Remember, art is subjective and you don’t have to be Picasso to enjoy it.
Tips
- Tasks shouldn’t take longer than about half an hour each. You don’t want to be a perfectionist so setting a timer can help keep you on track.
- Ideally one task per day. However, if life happens and you miss a day, it’s fine to make it up one of the following days.
- Getting a couple friends or family to join in can turn this challenge into a fun social activity.
- This is your art journey so you have the freedom to modify it however you wish.
- If you’re like me, it’s now or never, so grab that pen and paper and get started!
“Look, up at the sky. There is a light, a beauty up there that no shadow can touch.”
— J. R. R. Tolkein
Day 1 – In The Clouds
The first task is a test on your imagination. This requires a blue sky and white clouds sort of day so depending on your weather forecast, you may have to wait a while. If that’s the case just work through the 7-day challenge starting on day 2 and return to this task when the weather has decided to co-operate. Worst case scenario you can just google search ‘clouds’.
1. If it’s a warm day you can sit outside, otherwise find a spot indoors where you can see the clouds in the sky.
2. Challenge your imagination, what creatures or objects do you see in the cloud formations?
3. Now grab your pencil and draw the clouds as you see them.
Day 2 – Upside Down
In this task you are removing the bias of what you think something looks like and drawing how it actually is.
1. Find a picture or photo. A magazine or picture book are great sources.
2. Turn your picture upside down.
3. Draw or paint a copy of the picture without turning it the right side up.
5. Once finished, turn both the picture and your drawn copy right side up and compare. You might be surprised by how accurate your drawing is.
Day 3 – Don’t Look Down
This is one of the shorter tasks but can produce hilarious results.
1. Find a photo of someone, or even better a person (or pet!) willing to be your live model.
2. Without ever looking down at your paper draw your best portrait of them. Be as detailed as possible. Remember, don’t peek!
3. After 5 minutes or so reveal your picture.
Day 4 – Abstractify
This task becomes increasingly challenging as you are forced to sacrifice the finer details due to a time reduction. This ends up creating a more abstract depiction of your chosen object.
1. Choose an object or piece of furniture such as table, lamp, or chair.
2. Try to create the most realistic still-life drawing of your chosen object in under 10 minutes (set a timer).
3. Now create a second drawing in under 1 minute referencing only your first drawing.
4. Create your third and final drawing in under 30 seconds referencing only your second drawing.
Day 5 – Fill In The Shape
Similar to the first task, this time you are transforming a random shape into a ‘something’.
1. Draw a couple of random shapes with a combination of curves and straight lines. Basically you want them to be a little more interesting than a square or circle. Asking someone to draw them for you will ensure they are completely random.
2. Spend a minute or two analysing each shape and their resemblance to different animals and objects.
3. Now fill them in and transform them into whichever creature or object you believe they have the potential to be. Spend no more than five minutes on each shape. Made up or cross breed objects or animals such as my Dr. Seuss inspired bird-man get bonus points for added creativity!
Day 6 – One Line
One line to rule them all, one line to find them, one line to bring them all, and on the paper bind them!
1. Choose something to draw from either still life, a picture, or your imagination.
2. Without ever lifting your pencil from the paper, complete your drawing in one continuous line.
Day 7 – Doodle away
We finish this 7-day challenge with a more therapeutic task. Set aside half an hour or so to fill up a page with whichever squiggles, swirls, and doodles flow from your pencil.
Try not to overthink it and just enjoy the process. I ended up tracing my hand and filling it with doodles inspired by henna designs.
Tip: Try listening to a podcast to distract yourself and let the doodles flow mindlessly.
Reflection
It’s surprising how much you create in just seven days, even when you aren’t allocating much time to each task.
If you’re a little disappointed in how your artwork turned out, try reflecting on the process of creating it. If you found it helped you destress, or brought friends together for a bit of a laugh, then that’s still a success in my books.
As the experts say, practice only makes you better!
If nothing else, be proud you stuck to the challenge for an entire week. Challenges such as these can be one of the best ways to start new hobbies and let yourself get a taste for them without feeling too much commitment. Even if you feel drawing or painting isn’t ‘your thing’, hopefully this encourages you to try other activities.
If you have completed this challenge please share your experience in the comments below. Similarly, if you have any art challenges of your own, I’d love to hear them!