Friday, May 29, 2009

THE 20 HOUR CHALLENGE



Rhino is a watercolor painting that I began a while ago and put away for a couple of weeks while I thought about the direction I wanted to take him. He is big, and he is complex in the same way that African Elephant was. Rhino is also one of San Diego Zoo's creatures - and I took the photo of him the same day as African Elephant. (This is just a section of the painting.)

I've been a bit conflicted the last couple of weeks - with the garden needing planting, flower beds needing weeding, the greenhouse needing to be built, the housework never ending, my oven not working, snow still happening (although it seems to be gone for good as of this week!), and so on. And all of this gets in the way of my painting, of course! 

I was thinking that I need to make a schedule and perhaps dust on Mondays, laundry on Tuesdays, and so on, listing everything that has to get done and on what day so that it all gets done - as well as my painting. But you know what? I would rebel against my own list! I would ignore it, or procrastinate, or do it all in one day just to get it out of the way....

Then, along came an opportunity that is made for me, and I seized it! Lori Woodward Simons
put out a challenge on Twitter which she called the "20 Hour Work Week Challenge". Those of us who chose to participate were to work a minimum of 20 hours this week on our painting, writing, or whatever art form we were involved in. Each artist who made their declaration to join the challenge is to report in on Friday afternoon so that we are encouraging one another with the struggles and successes we each experienced. As well, we will share what we have worked on by linking to our websites or blogs. As far as I know, there are close to 20 of us so far who are "in". Not all of us will have achieved the 20 hours, and others will have been able to work more. The thing is, we are now accountable to one another, and for me, that makes a big difference!

So, this is my "show and tell" - I am working on Rhino. As well, I began the painting which was my post for Wednesday... my cat, Catch. (scroll down to see that painting). And I began a 3rd painting, but did not get very far in that because of Catch and Rhino. So, all in all, a very productive week! Thank you, Lori - you have given me the "10,000 foot view" - a perspective adjustment I badly needed. Hope you all did super in your week, and if not, next week is coming!

15 comments:

Kim said...

I think your biggest challenges in painting become your most spectacular works. Where you "struggle" you achieve great paintings.

Unknown said...

Thanks for that Kim! I think I have many spectacular paintings coming then if struggling to get on paper what I have in my mind is the indicator! LOL

zunnur said...

The paintings are great and I'm happy that your creativity, that was held up by the unfinished and piling work, has flowed out freely. Time never seems to be enough and the worst part is, we are trapped between doing the essentials and things we love.

Alida said...

Joanne-- just wanted to let you know that I've been updating my blogroll on my website, and I added you to it. Thought you might like to know when you're being linked to elsewhere on the internet! :)

Lee Ann said...

Awesome Joanne! I really liked the way the African Elephant turned out, and it looks like this one will be just as fabulous. Hope the challenge helps you too. I thought I was going to ace the challenge this week and next, because all my family is out of town, but then I got that awful cold and it slowed me down. Thank God - what other excuse could I possibly have had?!?!?!?

Unknown said...

Hi Alida!
Thank you for the link... I appreciate any traffic sent my way! Now I just need to come and visit your website and see what you have set up. See you again soon.

Unknown said...

Zunnur,
How are you? I haven't heard from you in a long time - I will have to come to your site to see what you have been doing with your life. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Unknown said...

Hi LeeAnn,
I am hoping Rhino will be great when finished! I was so sorry to hear about your cold... and all the pressure you are under for your projects. But I must say, you have my curiosity piqued with the solution you are slow to reveal! :-) I'll be checking back lots to find out what it is.

Anonymous said...

Glad to read you had a productive week. I like the idea of the challenge. Keep up the good week.

Paz

Anonymous said...

P.S. I like both the rhino and elephant paintings.

Paz

Unknown said...

Hi Paz,
Yes - the challenge is a good idea in that it encourages me to live up to what I committed to. I can join in or drop out at any time - it is very flexible. Truly, just a way of feeling connected and part of a "community" - something we all need! :-) But that accountability is definitely a prompter to get back to work painting if I feel like slacking off!

Unknown said...

Oh - and thanks for the comment about the elephant and rhino, Paz. I think it will be a long time before rhino is done... his plates of armor and skin texture are quite time consuming - but still fun!

Woodward Simons said...

Joanne, thanks for the link and the mention. It is amazing to me how the Internet bands us artists together so quickly - it's been just 3 weeks.

When I'm working now, I feel like I'm not alone in my quest.
Lori

Woodward Simons said...

Oh one other thing, Joanne...
I rebel against my own "to do" lists too.

I'm in the process of developing and testing "visual" to do lists. Will write about it when I have some worth while results :-)

Unknown said...

Hi Lori,
I am very interested in your "visual lists" idea! I'll look forward to reading that article! I do like the feeling of connecting with others who are experiencing the same struggles as I am in the area of my passion. It is wonderful to be a part of a supportive community like this! Thanks, Lori!