Amy McLain Art + Illustration

CHALLENGE UPDATE: 30 Paintings in 30 Days...

9/17/2014

Well, it's DAY 10 of the 30 Paintings in 30 Days Challenge! Check out my prior posts about the challenge if you're not familiar. (But I'll pretty much cover it.)

Here are three more completed paintings. This makes 7 paintings in 10 days. Pretty fair!
Way more are in progress and I still intend to hit the goal of 30 paintings by 10/8! (Or not. But maybe!)

In my last post i said I would share what I'm learning about my art and myself. Here are a few things things that come to mind as I write this:

PRO:
This challenge is really pushing me to call paintings 'complete', which is kind of an area of opportunity for me. And that's exciting. (Woo!)

OBSERVATION:

I'm exploring more of my 'old school' style of cleaner lines for some reason. I start out intuitive and free form, but I'm finishing up cleaner. Maybe I'm reverting back to old ways because I know that's what I can complete 'in a hurry'. It's more literal and less open-ended than what I've been doing lately. I wouldn't say it's better, but this challenge is about completion not perfection. (See CON.)

CON:
I'm not having that much fun, folks! I'm enjoying the painting aspect...but, yeah. Not enjoying the pressure overall...but even more, I'm not loving the completed artworks. It's hard to rush something and love it. Maybe I don't have to love it.

OBSERVATION:

I was talking to my art friend Sam when the subject of this challenge came up. It made me realize that I'm basically done with any sort of '30 Day Challenge'. I'm terrible at them and they make me feel like a 'failure' when I'm totally not. I challenge myself on a daily basis. It's in my nature. So taking a CHALLENGE to CHALLENGE myself only takes me away from the personal challenges I'm already doing naturally. So there's that.

CONCLUSION:
I'll keep going and I intend to kill this thing! See PRO above. It's gonna be beneficial! (Or not. But maybe!)

Here are the first 4 paintings I completed for the challenge in case you missed 'em.

Helvi link

9/17/2014 12:11:49 pm

Go Amy, Go! I think you are doing grand!

amy mclain link

9/18/2014 05:06:09 am

Woo!

Samyak Yamauchi link

9/17/2014 12:30:49 pm

I'm enjoying g following your art and your thought process as you progress through this. I love having an art friend who thinks about her art like you do. It's also great having an "in-person" artist friend doing the challenge along with me - very motivating for me. Keep up the good work - paintings and personal growth!

9/18/2014 05:08:41 am

Your support is like gold to me, Sam. And YOU, my friend, are killing this challenge in every sense of the word.

Dana Nelson

9/17/2014 03:08:14 pm

A failure you are not! I love your paintings and I love your blog. Suffice it to say, I love you!

9/18/2014 05:07:06 am

Thanks, Dana. Love you to the moon and back!

richelle link

9/18/2014 04:19:58 am

I think your work is aMAzing. I totally get what you are saying about challenging yourself. I tried to do Consu's 30 days of art shares and failed miserably at it. I thought it would push me to do a sketch a day but everything felt forced and I rebelled. Imagine that ;)
Artistic expression shouldn't make you feel like a failure. These paintings look great and I admire your talent a LOT!

I want to start my own 30 day challenge and make it super fun and simple so it's an easy win. We need those sometimes ;)

9/18/2014 05:11:49 am

Richelle! I totally love how you buck the system, change the rules, do what suits you. Seriously. That's my favorite thing about you (from the little I know!). I would like suggest a 30 Mimosas in 30 Days Challenge. :) That's what you meant by easy win, right??

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CHALLENGE UPDATE: 30 Paintings in 30 Days...

AMY McLAIN

Artist/Illustrator