A creative experiment for the joy of the creative process
As creatives, we’re busy working on client briefs, chasing the next trend, entering competitions and the list goes on. But do we have time to learn new techniques, develop our style and do what we love to do: create?
The past year has flown by and I’ve realised that most of the pieces I’ve designed have been created on purpose. Because my time is precious and I’m under a lot of pressure to achieve my goals.
That’s why I want to make a change this year and make more time to play. I’ve written down a few simple tasks, such as making marks, drawing with ink, cutting paper, creating textures. The result doesn’t have to be beautiful, a finished work of art, or useful for something else later. If it is, great, if not, that’s fine. I just want to create and explore new techniques, calm down, take time for the joy of creating.
In order to be accountable to myself, I set myself some goals and constraints:
-create once a week – a total of 52 prompts in a year
-at least 30 minutes
-use analogue techniques as much as possible
-don´t overthink it
-no perfectionism
-show your work
-have fun
I will share my progress on Instagram and on my blog.
If you would like to join me in this, you are very welcome to do so and I would be delighted to see what you come up with.
Week 1
Grab your favourite drawing tools and make some marks on a piece of paper.
Week 2
Follow the fine lines on your crumpled paper.
Week 3
Draw straight lines using a variety of pens, pencils and markers.
Week 4
A fun finger game using only paper and a marker. Explore shapes with simple mark making.
Week 5
Start with a coloured circle or another geo shape and doodle around with it.
Week 6
Cut out a shape and make a drawing that relates to the shape.
Week 7
Grab some Post-Its and markers, let your creative juices flow and see what you come up with.
Week 8
Draw a line/shape with your non-dominant hand, then add it up.
Week 9
An exercise inspired by Hans Arp and the principle of randomness.
Week 10
A cubism inspired drawing and a figure made of geo shapes.
Week 11
Paper cut-outs inspired by Matisse’s collages.
Week 12
Drawings inspired by symbolism, with a touch of gold and silver.
Week 13
5×5 minute floral sketches.
Week 14
A flower in 5 different ways.
Week 15
Paper flowers.
Week 16
A floral composition – line drawing.
Week 17
How to stay creative when travelling?
Read more about how you can maintain your creative practice on the move with analogue materials only.
Week 18
Colour combinations – abstract composition and crayons.
For more ideas on how to choose a colour palette, check out my post Ten ways to choose a colour palette.
Week 19
Colour combinations – Posca markers.
Week 20
Colour combinations – Mix and Match colour swatches.
Week 21
Colour combinations – paper weaving.
Week 22
Colour combinations – background matters.
Week 23
Colour combinations – floral composition in two ways.
Week 24
Lettering practice
Week 25
ABC font and geo shapes
Week 26
ABC font & animals
Week 27
ABC font & people
Week 28
ABC font & flowers
Week 29
My first typeface
Week 30
ABC of European cities
Week 31
Striped composition with geo shapes and flowers
Week 32
Composition with geo shapes
Week 33
Composition with geo shapes and abstract flowers
Week 34
All over composition with geo shapes and abstract flowers
Week 35
Marble illustration with flowing lines, abstract flowers in a mixed media style
Week 36
Marble illustration with flowing lines, butterflies in a mixed media style
Week 37
Marble paper cut outs and collage
Week 38
Study of people’s poses with the help of paper cut-outs
