Embracing Creativity: My 30-Day Painting Journey

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was signing myself up for when I started a 30 painting challenge. It sounded fun, but I didn’t realize how much I’d learn along the way.

There were quite a few rushed paintings, especially when I was trying to finish quickly. Turns out, the warmth from my keyboard can help paint dry faster without using a blow dryer. Who knew? It’s the little things that make a difference.

I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed painting the shape of each teacup. Using cobalt blue or ultramarine mixed with yellow ochre was perfect for creating a white teacup on white paper. Just vary the amount of pigment and, suddenly, you have a teacup!

Each teacup took about two to three hours to finish. In a world that moves so fast, it was nice to have a goal that made me slow down and really focus.

I also tried working with different mediums in one piece, which I hadn’t done before. Combining watercolour paints and pencils was so much fun. And illustrating gold details was a surprise favorite. Using a mix of yellows and browns made the gold look real and shiny, even though it’s reflective and never a solid color.

Practicing art has made me think more about how creativity shapes us. I’ve even reserved a book from the library called Art Cure — it’s all about how art can help improve our health. I’ll be sharing more as I learn from it.

It’s safe to say I’ll be doing more 30 day painting challenges. I love how they push me to explore and grow.