Episode 445 of the CMP, a Creativity Matters Podcast — summer art, summer series, tips for the Index-Card-a-Day Challenge (ICAD), and starter ideas for thinking about doing art in a series.
This episode focuses on the challenge of doing a daily art challenge of x length and the idea of creating work in a series. The Index-Card-a-Day Challenge run by Daisy Yellow happens in June and July. At 61 days, this challenge falls midway between other popular challenges like the 100 Day Project and 30- or 31-day challenges like Inktober.
It feels like just yesterday that I climbed a set of stairs, afraid the wind would knock me down, and first spotted the Ferris wheel in the distance. I don’t know how a year has already passed, how it can possibly be a year since I was debating ordering some lemon curd for my birthday and trying to plan a day that wouldn’t be a massive disappointment after the buildup of the 50 Before 50 year. I am winding down my 2nd year of weekly self-portraits, which has been an interesting process. I just finished my 100 Day Project using dip pen and circles. And I am approaching a week of very consistent #illustrateyourweek prompts and work in my illustrated journal. So, here comes ICAD.
Deciding what to do has me a bit puzzled. But I spent some time looking back at prior years. And then I made a list of things I have been contemplating for a possible series.
And then I made a list of 50 things you might consider for a series, whether for ICAD or any other creative challenge — or just for a personal series. (Not everything you do has to be part of a named challenge!)
In this episode, 10-ish examples from the list of 50 starter ideas for working in a series, and 10 tips for thinking about and doing the annual Index-Card-a-Day Challenge. I’ve listed some of the materials I’ve used for ICAD on this page, too.
I will be sharing more about tracking a challenge like ICAD using Notion, an online database tool. In the interim, I do have a few drawing-focused videos about using Notion. (I am still really new at making videos, but there’s a lot of information here that you might enjoy!)
Randoms
I am in book 4 of the Realm of the Elderlings books by Robin Hobb, and this book is so much different that I am struggling to really get hooked. I haven’t given up, but I really miss the all-in feeling I had of being so wrapped up in the Farseer Trilogy.
I am still trying to understand my response to the “feedback” of a nib, which is how people describe 2 of the 3 pens I have been considering.
Among other things that I have checked out, I am listening to the Midnight Library.
My two favorite groups to scroll at Facebook right now involve pen and ink and SF/fantasy. The pen and ink group keeps me constantly in awe of how many pens and bottles of ink some people have. I love seeing all the images and ink samples though!
I finished the 100 Day Project and immediately drew a whole page of circles to fill last week. But this week, a shift happened without any planning, and the portraits are free floating on the page, very unapologetically so!
New to the CMP? Here are a few shows you might try:
Support the CMP
If you enjoy the podcast, I hope you will consider showing support of the Creativity Matters Podcast. I encourage you to consider:
Thank you to those of you who have supported the CMP, just as you support other creators and sources of inspiration and guidance when you buy books, sign up for paid workshops and classes, and purchase small works of art from the artists you follow. Support from some of you through the years has made the show possible.
Follow at Instagram and YouTube
Please consider following:
Guitar music: Nicholai Heidlas on SoundCloud
Links to books and products at Amazon.com are affiliate links. Always use your library when possible.
Share this post