How I’m using the 100 day project to develop my artistic language
The 100 Day Project 2025 is just starting, and I’m ready!
I’ve known about the 100 Day Project for years, but I always hesitated.
100 days felt like a massive commitment. But this year, memories started surfacing unbidden, and I realised I already had the "why."
Even though my schedule changed and I have more time now, I’m still not sure if I’ll finish! But I know I want to start.
Setting Up for Success
To keep the momentum going, I’m removing all friction. I want a practice, not a production. My "success kit" includes:
A restricted palette: cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cobalt blue, turquoise, black, and white.
Availability: These colours are ready at home, in the studio, and in my travel kit.
The list: Over 100 memories pre-written in my journal, ready to be "ticked off."
The timer: 30 minutes a day to keep things fresh and responsive.
Memory vs reality
When I listed my memories, I noticed something fascinating: most were linked to food or my maternal grandmother. I initially reached for old photos to help me "remember better," but then I stopped.
The beauty of memory is that it’s not a replica. It’s bigger, brighter, and more colourful than reality. I want to honor the version seen through my childhood eyes, rather than creating postcard-perfect versions of the past.
I decided to work with my own version of the past, letting the colours and shapes be as 'unreal' as the memories feel.
Memory #1: about the time I felt from a slide into a boat full of rainwater outside a supermarket and got a new dress
The process: Daily practice with room to play
To avoid the "blank page freeze," I’m using a strategy I use in my painting practice: bouncing.
I’ll work on my main piece, but I’ll keep a sketchbook alongside it. If I feel stuck or tight, I’ll move to the sketchbook to loosen up and test colours and sketching.
This keeps the energy fluid and playful.
Building a personal visual library
My goal for these 100 days isn't just to finish—it's to build a personal library. I want to bridge the gap between my abstract compositions and figurative elements. By the end, I hope to have:
A collection of personal symbols.
A repertoire of natural gestures.
A sourcebook of shapes I can use in future large-scale works.
I don’t know what the first memories will look like, and I’ve already forgotten the last one on my list.
Let’s see where this goes!
Curious to see how this journey unflods?
👉 Check out the next blog post featuring a flip-through of the first 50 pages.
Introducing my 100 day project 2025, day one.
