25 March, 2024.

No, I did not. The bottom line here is that I did not make it to 100 on this year’s One Week 100 People challenge.

But then again, that’s not even really the point. I like this challenge because it forces me to focus on one thing for five days: draw people. And heck, it’s one of my favorite things to draw anyway. But sometimes things I like get sidetracked by more important things, or at least things that either seem more important at the time. Much of the drawing and painting I do during daylight hours is devoted to rehearsal of art projects and techniques I will be sharing with my classes, or doing demonstrations as part of teaching art to others. None of us should need an excuse or “permission” to make the things we enjoy, but boy does having an excuse ever feel good sometimes!

Commissions are always welcome, and always bring their own interesting and fun challenges. They, and all of the administrative side of running a large arts program – you know? The things I do that pay the rent? Well, those are also the things that compete for time and opportunity for personal projects.

Spring break begins today, and I welcome that time to sit in my arm chair, to puzzle out my next experiment with egg tempera portraiture, to fly fish and hike and maybe bicycle the countryside. And yes, also to simply sketch as I gave myself permission to do during the One Week 100 People challenge.

So, about that challenge… I fell short of the quantity, but the quality of time was a definite upgrade and motivator to remember how important it is to do the art-making for myself from time to time. I spent time collecting references in a bunch of diners and eateries this time around, and I like how expressive the line work and gestures turned out. Here are some of those sketches.

10 March, 2024.

It’s that time again, time to make a bunch of sketches of people for the One Week 100 People sketching challenge.

For the sixth year in a row, artists Marc Taro Holmes and Liz Steel have issued the simple challenge to draw 100 people in one week. There’s enough challenge that you push yourself, but not so hard that you can’t do it in your spare time.

To find out more, and maybe participate yourself, click here.

For my part, I’ve tried to add to my own personal challenge by sketching around a theme. This year my theme is “diners,” some of which I’ll post here. Others will go up on Instagram and Facebook.