Since I've been asked, by several people, the why's and the wherefore's; I will tell.
365 is an arbitrary number and is not tied to any 'one per day' rule. It is meant to be an achievable goal (by the end of one year), whether I do a dozen per day or none for a week.
So do I have rules? yes. The cards are pre-cut (by me) to 2.5" x 3.5" inches. I date them & number them on the back. That's it.
Beyond that, anything goes, any medium, any subject any style.
Why am I telling you this?
Because I'm not the only person in the world who feels artists/writers block, from the best of us to the worst of us so I'm sharing a secret.
Taking on the project has opened up whole new avenues, even whole new worlds. I also began exploration abstraction and love it. Given that a coloured pencil work as small as 8"x10" can take days to complete, art cards clock in at the relatively quick average of 1/2 to 1 hour. Of course there are extremes. An inspired monochrome may make a spontaneous appearance in 5 minutes, while others, sporting multiple layers, painted in and outlined often take 2 hours. But that is still FAST, FAST, FAST compared to my larger works.
Size doesn't matter when it comes to working with composition. If it rocks it rocks, if it sucks it sucks. The only difference is that while a failed work of 2.5"x3.5" is no great loss and an excellent learning experience, turn those inches into feet, and you're talking a huge waste of time and resources. Meaning that I can explore so many more themes, theories, colours, elements and take them to completion in this small format than I could ever do in conventional sizes.
Not to mention I can do these in bed, or in the car (no idling! engine off!) while I wait.
Here's my kit.
A whole bunch of pre-cut cards, blank and ready to go. (a recent addition, are cards made from used art paper (failed life drawings). Since these are impossible to mess up (already messed up, aren't they?) I can be very relaxed about them.
Travel brushes, miniature brushes with water reservoir (yes, you can paint in bed)
Inktense Watersoluble Pencils: the slim case means it travels well, and it's all the colours you really need (want is another matter)
Pentel Pocket Brush: permanent ink, and a brush nib that keeps it's point.
Pencils, lots.
Prismacolor Pencils, magenta, lemon yellow, peacock blue, silver, sienna, expresso & black.
Sharp knife for sharpening
Clip board & cheap paper.
Not shown, the pencil case, and floppy cloth small size briefcase that holds absolutely everything + a good book.
I've probably missed something. But you get the picture; this kit travels well, goes anywhere, sits on your lap so there's never an excuse.
& the real fabulous joy of the project, is that I have lots of finished pieces some of which turn into larger finished pieces, some of which end up in my 'itty bitty' books, etc..
Now start some of your own, hide the duds, contemplate the experiments, take joy in the successes, hoard them, share them, sell them, burn them, stick them on your wall. Do anything you like, just don't get precious about them. Let them take you somewhere, don't force them along a set pathway. Worlds await.
Want to see some of them? Posts that include an artcard are tagged “365 Art Card Project”, just scroll down the labels or search this blog.
They are also the main source of illustrations for my “Itty Bitty Tiny Little Books”. A 12 month (12 mailing) subscription is $25.00. Singles by request $3.00, free shipping anywhere on this planet in either case.