The 30-Day Art Challenge That Changed My Life!
Yeah, yeah, I know the topic is a bit dramatic, but let’s be real—30-day art challenges can be hit or miss. Sometimes, they’re an inspiring journey of self-discovery, and other times, they feel like a creative endurance test where you’re just praying for the finish line. But when I stumbled across Katie Moody’s 30-day art challenge leading up to her book Sketchbook Joy, I knew this one was different.
Katie was an absolute gem throughout the entire 30-day challenge. Not only did she create an incredibly fun and engaging prompt list, but she also took the time to genuinely connect with everyone participating. Despite the fact that there were probably over 100 people posting daily, she made the effort to like, comment, and encourage each of us along the way. Her support and enthusiasm made the challenge feel like a true community experience rather than just a solo creative exercise. And let’s not forget—she even thought my joke about Google Maps was hilarious, which officially makes her my kind of person! Knowing that she was actively cheering us on gave me (and I’m sure many others) the motivation to keep going, experiment fearlessly, and embrace the joy of creating. Honestly, we didn’t just get a fantastic challenge—we got an incredibly kind and supportive artist leading the way!
Her prompts weren’t the usual vague one-word themes like “Dream” or “Magic” (which, let’s be honest, can lead to an existential crisis before you’ve even sharpened your pencil). No, her challenge mixed things up—single words, specific materials, color restrictions, even time constraints. Every day felt like a brand-new creative puzzle. She was so kind and supportive to all of us and I learned a lot about myself as an artist in the process.
What I Learned:
1. I Don’t Like Repetitiveness—Things Need to Constantly Change
You know those artists who can paint 500 variations of the same flower and still be excited? Yeah, that’s not me. I learned that if I do the same thing too many times, my brain checks out faster than a toddler at a tax seminar. Katie’s challenge kept me engaged by constantly throwing curveballs—one day I was painting with only two colors, the next I had to create something in under five minutes. It was exactly the kind of creative chaos I thrive on!
2. I Enjoy a Mixture of Abstract and Representational Art
For the longest time, I thought I had to choose a lane—either go full-blown abstract or stay firmly in the world of recognizable things. But this challenge made me realize I love blending both. One prompt would push me toward structured, detailed work, and the next, I’d be smearing paint like a raccoon that got into an art supply store (its me, I am the racoon). Turns out, I don’t have to pick a side—I can be delightfully indecisive and embrace both!
A few of my favourite pieces from the challenge.
3. I NEED Prompts to Create Art—I Can’t Just Go in Blind
Some artists can just sit down, stare at a blank page, and conjure up a masterpiece. I, on the other hand, stare back at the blank page until I start questioning my life choices. Having a prompt to work with made all the difference. It gave me direction, focus, and an excuse to try things I wouldn’t have thought of on my own. Lesson learned: structure is my friend!
4. Food Packaging Is Not Fun 😁
One of the prompts required drawing food packaging, and let’s just say—it wasn’t my favorite. First off, why are food labels so busy? Trying to capture all the tiny details felt like an endurance test for my patience. Then, there’s the reality that some packaging is just ugly (sorry, but it’s true). I got through it, but let’s just say I won’t be switching to product illustration anytime soon. Moral of the story? Some things are best left on the grocery store shelf.
Krispy Kreme was on the menu that day too!
I think it turned out nice, but its not my thing lol
5. Doing Art Challenges Gives Me a Sense of Momentum
Before this, I’d always struggled with consistency in my art practice. I’d paint obsessively for a week, then avoid my sketchbook like it owed me money (it technically does but I digress). But something about having a daily task—even a small one—helped me build a creative habit. By the end of the 30 days, I wasn’t just making art because of the challenge; I genuinely looked forward to it. And that, my friends, is huge!!!
Final Thoughts
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your art, uninspired, or just overwhelmed by the dreaded blank page, I highly recommend trying a structured challenge like this. The mix of prompts, rules, and surprises kept me engaged, pushed me out of my comfort zone, and taught me so much about my artistic preferences (and my deep resentment toward food packaging).
So, if you see me embarking on another 30-day challenge in the near future, just know—it’s not just about making art; it’s about discovering what kind of artist I truly am. And that, my chaotic creative friends, is priceless.
