What I learnt from 30 days of daily sketching

What do you do when you're in a stunning country like New Zealand, all set to go plein air painting in the wilds, only to have your plans derailed by a torn plantar fascia? I found myself in this frustrating position in May. So what did I do? Well, if you know me, you know that I can be extremely determined (some may say stubborn). I decided to set myself a challenge and test my boundaries to see just how much I could do within my constraints. My limits were: debilitating foot pain after 10 minutes of walking and not being able to carry a heavy load!

 

 

 “If you limit your goals to what you know you can achieve, you’re setting the bar way too low.” Ray Dalio, “Principles: Life and Work”

 My motivation was twofold: To focus on the positive and make the best of my time and place, and also to take my mind off my injury and gruelling rehabilitation (mentally and physically) which was making me feel stagnant. I love to move freely and I like to feel like I am making progress in life, even if it is in small increments. Little did I know that this challenge would teach me invaluable lessons about consistency, resilience, confidence and the power of staying present.

 

 Getting to know the boats

 

I posted my commitment to Instagram and Facebook on day 1, for accountability. Every day for 30 days, I committed to sketching outside, rain or shine. This was a personal challenge, but I reached out to others to join me, if they wanted. It felt scary to put myself out there and make such a challenging promise publicly, but I also felt brave. For the first 10 days, people encouraged me, but no one else joined in. Social media can be a bit like that. I didn’t expect anything, as this was a very personal journey anyway. I was out there each day with my small sketchbooks and a minimal sketching kit including pencils and watercolours (I will detail these in my next blogpost), a sun hat or umbrella, scoping out the landscape and mapping out compositions, ready for the muse to strike. And it did.

 

Sketching the sky and water at sundown

 

“inspiration exists, but it has to find you working” - Pablo Picasso

 

I explored locally. The area I was staying in was graced with two beautiful bays and a park nearby. I revisited the same places at different times of the day to catch the changing light. I fell in love with a rundown wooden boat attached to an equally worn out dinghy. I was intrigued by the man living in it, grounded in the swathes of mud when the tide went out. I became curious. Every day, I went to the same spot and observed, until I found something new to capture in my sketchbook. I felt like a sleuth and I loved that feeling. There were days when I could only manage a short sketch in the garden due to pain, or rain, but I embraced those moments too.

   

  My watercolour sketches of the boat and dinghy

 

Here’s what I learnt from completing the challenge:

Self discipline and keeping your promises to yourself builds confidence

This daily commitment taught me about the importance of working within my bounds and honouring my healing process. It wasn’t about pushing through pain but about showing up for myself, doing the work (hours of those boring physio exercises) and keeping my promises to myself. This made me feel more confident each day.

Sketching outside has emotional and mental Benefits

The act of sketching daily had profound effects on my mental and emotional well-being. It taught me to stay present in the moment, focusing on getting to know my surroundings and the community. I explored and learnt about my own sketching style. What resonated with me and what didn’t. My practice became a form of meditation, helping me to clear my mind and reduce anxiety. I felt connected to something real and physical in the world. I became aware that I was showing up for myself, day in and day out, and this made me feel resilient as I learnt to balance stretching my limits with respecting my bounds. I was happy to find that I could actually do a lot, and as the month went on, I noticed that I was able to walk for longer before the pain started.

Weathering the elements and unpredictability leads to adaptability

I got lucky with the weather for the most part, but there were days when the rain decided to join in. On those days my sketches were a little smudged as I packed up hastily. I liked the effect. It felt like the rain was collaborating in my art and being in any kind of water always feels cathartic to me. There is something quite primal about the sounds and smells that arise during a rainfall. Instead of being discouraged, I found fun in these moments, appreciating the unpredictability and learning to adapt.

Community and support enhance any experience

One of the unexpected joys of this challenge was discovering a small community of fellow sketchers online, at far reaches of the globe. Their support and companionship were invaluable and it helped us all to build new habits. We shared our progress, discussed techniques, and motivated each other to keep going. Having a peer to share the journey with made the experience so much richer.

Focus and discernment are key to finding purpose and joy

Through this challenge, I learnt the importance of focus and discernment. Our lives get very full these days, and I sometimes got caught in the trap of frittering away “resting time” on the phone. You know the drill. Before you know it, you can be caught in a loop of emotionally overstimulating content cleverly designed to keep viewers scrolling. I don’t have an addictive personality, but I still get caught in this web occasionally, when I am not paying attention. Then I feel terrible for having wasted my time and procrastinating. In order to find the time to sketch, I had to have a really good look at how I used my time, and be really vigilant about saying yes to things that gave me joy and fulfillment and no to anything that drained my energy. This discernment brought a renewed sense of purpose and excitement to my days.

Unexpected Benefits

One surprising benefit of sketching outside was that my vision improved! Staring into the distance often while sketching seemed to have a positive effect on my eyesight. This unexpected bonus was a delightful discovery.

In conclusion, my 30 day sketching challenge was a transformative experience that taught me valuable life lessons. I was able to achieve a lot with a small sketch kit, without going too far from home. I encourage you to try your own challenge, whatever it may be. If 30 days sounds overwhelming, start with less. I noticed significant changes for me and my peers after just 7 days. That seems to be a pivotal point so it’s good to go a few more days and cement in the habit. You may not want to stop after that! Whether it’s sketching, writing, or any other activity, committing to something for a length of time can bring about incredible growth and insight.

If you’re interested in sharing your journey, or have any questions, connect with me via the contact form or on instagram @inkybrushes. Together, we can support and inspire each other to build healthy habits and embrace the power of consistency.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this journey. Stay tuned for more updates and tips on sketching, painting and art practice in general.