It has been over a year since I completed my 52 Collage Project. After I finished up with the year-long challenge, I thought about starting another challenge for myself but I needed to take a break. Not very long into last year, I realized I missed it. I missed the self imposed discipline of a weekly challenge. I started to dream up new challenge ideas...
Coming up with new year-long challenges were not hard for me. My creative brain mixed with my regimented habit personality loved this kind of brainstorm! I had a whole list of ideas to choose from but the holidays came and I got tired. And my new challenge idea fell by the wayside. Anyone in retail can especially identify with the pure exhaustion that comes with the end of the year. Heck, anyone who isnt even in retail can identify!
Due to my "Upholder" personality, (a personality type coined by Gretchen Rubin's 4 Tendencies Personality Types of which I am 100% a perfect match for), I had a hard time starting a year long challenge when it was not January 1st. I'm such a creature of habit that I felt that I needed to wait until New Year's to start a year-long challenge. I've decided I am going to go against my nature and start one now. Last week's blog post on the importance on art without expectation reminded me of a challenge idea that had been brewing in my mind since my project brainstorming session.
52 weeks of play. A year of play. For the next 52 weeks, I will create art for the sake of PLAY. Unlike my last project where I ended up with 52 completed compositions, this time I will not end up with finished pieces or projects.
This year I plan to:
- try out supplies that I have always been curious about
- delve deeper into a technique that I have not fully explored
- take classes to play with art
-doodle, paint, stitch, knit, yo yo, print and create my heart out in whatever direction it leads me!
My only criteria is that I spend a minimum of a few hours each week on a technique that is different from week to week.
Follow along or join in! I will be posting my journey on instagram @the_meditative_stitcher and #52weeksofplay and will update my progress here on the blog. Remember to have fun- that's what it's all about!
