Since this is a challenge focused on shifting your mindset away from perfectionism and toward self-compassion, our class project is all about the process!

Each day of the challenge, we'll focus on one limiting belief and the mindset shift to help you overcome it, and then we'll use a simple watercolor exercise to put our new perspective into action.

Feel free to post projects from any of the daily prompts and/or paintings that come from your mindset progress! Would love to cheer you on.

Challenge Breakdown

Day One - Color Mixing on a Palette

Limiting Belief: I don’t have time to create.

Mindset Shift: Even a little creativity can bring me a lot of joy.

Prompt: Mix colors directly on your palette -- no paper required!

Day Two - Color Swatches

Limiting Belief: I don't have unique ideas.

Mindset Shift: Every time I create, I am making something that has never existed before.

Prompt: Fill a page with swatches of random color mixes.

Day Three - Wet-on-Wet Shapes

Limiting Belief: I don’t know what I’m doing.

Mindset Shift: Uncertainty is where the magic is.

Prompt: Fill in colorful shapes using the wet-on-wet technique.

Day Four - Splatters

Limiting Belief: I'll never be perfect, so why try?

Mindset Shift: Imperfection takes courage, and messes lead to breakthroughs.

Prompt: Splatter paint onto wet shapes to reveal color mixes and experiment with process art.

Day Five - Circles

Limiting Belief: I don't have the skills I need.

Mindset Shift: I will learn as I go and have fun along the way.

Prompt: Paint imperfect circles, practicing wet-on-wet blends and glazing.

Day Six - Stripes

Limiting Belief: Creativity is a waste of time.

Mindset Shift: Anything that brings me joy is a valuable way to spend my time.

Prompt: Paint stripes across a page, barely touching in some places.

Day Seven - Minimal Bookshelf

Limiting Belief: I am not a real artist.

Mindset Shift: I am an artist because I make art.

Prompt: Create a minimal bookshelf illustration using simple shapes and wet-on-wet blends.

Dawn Flaherty

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