Hello everyone,

I am so glad to share with you my 14 Day Mindset Challenge. I really enjoyed this experience! It allowed me to bring back motivation to draw. Usually, I need to follow an art class to keep going but this challenge was the little boost I needed to start practicing again, especially while I am having so much time for myself during the lockdown.

As you will see, my challenge is a bit erratic, since I wanted to try various combinations of mediums - and sometimes I might have chosen objects that are difficult to draw in 6 minutes. This made it difficult for me to rate my progress. I also forgot to set an intention several times - but my main intentions throughout the challenge were simply to enjoy drawing again, to draw with more ease and to try different ways to sketch. Finally, even though I did a list of objects that I could draw, I preferred to choose each day what to draw and when, depending on my mood.

DAY 1 - INK BOTTLE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 1 - student project

Medium : Blue pen

Pleasure : 8/10
Confidence : 7/10
Progress : 6/10 - not very different from what I used to do

I was really looking forward to starting the project. This small bottle was simple and pleasant to draw, but the reflections and transparency were difficult to make with the pen. My favorite thing in this sketch is the calligraphy on the label.

DAY 2 - MINI TAXI

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 2 - student project

Medium : Blue pen

Pleasure : 7/10
Confidence : 5/10 - I am not used to draw cars at all!
Progress : 6/10

I was not totally satisfied with the proportions. Also, I wanted to try an angle that was different from the front or the profile, so I guess this is why it was more challenging. In the future, I would really like to practice applying lights and shadows within my sketches.

DAY 3 - MINI FELT PENS AND THEIR CASE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 3 - student project

Medium : Black colored pencil + felt pens

Pleasure : 7/10
Confidence : 7/10
Progress : ?

Not my best drawing... Maybe a composition a bit too complex for 6 min sketch (these mini felt pen have a hexagonal shape)... I spent too much time defining the lines and had almost no time left for the colors (and even less for shadows!). Positive : at least I felt for continuing after 6 minutes! But I stopped because I wanted to see what I could do within this time. After this sketch I thought that maybe I should stick to simpler goals for now. I also wondered if I should try more defined/straight lines instead of the dynamic lines I usually do.

DAY 4 - FIGURINE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 4 - student project

Medium : Black colored pencil + felt pens

Pleasure : 10/10
Confidence : 9/10
Progress : 8/10

The fourth day was a good day! :) It was a stressful day for me so I was really looking forward to doing my sketch. I was really glad to feel this urge to make art. Drawing has always been a part of me, but during my college studies I lost the motivation to draw regularly and it even took me a big effort to go back to my art tools, which made me feel guilty. So now, drawing is not just an interest, it is also a need, and I like that!

About the sketch : since I was not satisfied with Day 3 attempt, I wanted to give a second chance to the felt pens/black colored pencil combination. I found this little guy in my old stuff and I thought it was both simple and challenging enough. Since it is made of tiny rope, I thought the black pencil was perfect to reflect the texture while I could add some color + emphasize the lines with the felt pens.

I had to take 1-2 more minutes to finish the coloring. I am really satisfied with the result!

DAY 5 - MUSIC BOX

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 5 - student project

Medium : Colored pencils

Pleasure : 10/10
Confidence : 7/10
Progress : ?

Day 5, I tried a sketch with colored pencils only. Colored pencil is one of my favorite mediums, I love mixing the colors and trying different effects/textures, but I never really sketched with it. This music box was perfect for this because it is partly transparent and has nice metallic reflects. However I quickly realized that it was a too big challenge for a 6 min sketch. I had to take more time to finish it. I know the proportions aren't perfect; I had to look at the box from different point of views to understand the mechanism. By focusing on every single part of it, I kind of lost the general shape of the object.

...But isn't the main goal of this exercice to have a daily practice? :) I loved doing this drawing and that's the most important thing!

DAY 6 - COMPASS

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 6 - student project

Medium : Felt pens + silver colored pencil

Pleasure : 8/10
Confidence : 9/10
Progress : 8/10 - Because I was able to complete a sketch with a more "finished" aspect within 6 minutes.

I got back to an easier object once again! It allowed me to do a sketch of the compass with a silver colored pencil, then to add color and redefine the lines with blue and black felt pens.

DAY 7 - MEXICAN ALEBRIJE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 7 - student project

Medium : Black pen

Pleasure : 8/10
Confidence : 7/10
Progress : 8/10 - for respecting my intention

At Day 7, I was inspired by Onh Mar sketches and my intention was to prioritize multiple views over details. I was surprised to see that the profile was the point of view I struggled the more with - or maybe it's because I was running out of time. But overall, I found the exercice interesting and I like #1 and #2.

DAY 8 - COFFEE MUG

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 8 - student project

Medium : Pencil + watercolor

Pleasure : 8/10
Confidence : 7/10
Progress : 7/10

This time I preferred paying more attention to shadows and colors and I run out of time for the front motifs on the mug. However I like the result and I will probably take more time to complete this drawing.

DAY 9 - SMALL TEQUILA BOTTLE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 9 - student project

Medium : Permanent marker + watercolor

Pleasure : 10/10
Confidence : 9/10
Progress : 9/10

After several caring critiques in which I pointed out that I was paying too much attention to details, at Day 9 I chose simplicity. I decided to let go precision and I concentrated on the main lines, even though the label shows several writings and motifs. It was a good exercice to choose what "to keep" and "to not keep". I added watercolor after and finished just in time. I find the cartoon style refreshing.

DAY 10 - BAMBOO

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 10 - student project

Medium : Black pen + watercolor

Pleasure : 9/10
Confidence : 8/10
Progress : 9/10

I think I am doing better in choosing what to draw / not to draw in a limited time. This bamboo had several other branches and some motifs on its pot but I could draw a decent plant even without them. I couldn't resist adding some watercolor. It wasn't the right pen to do so though, because it's not permanent, but surprisingly, by avoiding the lines and making accidental smudges, it ended up with an interesting style that I would like to explore.

DAY 11 - MINI GLASS JAR

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 11 - student project

Medium : Permanent marker

Pleasure : 7/10
Confidence : 6/10
Progress : 7/10 - considering the upgrade from the first sketch to the second

This is a small glass jar in which I put some shells I picked on a beach that I visited. That was a really tough sketch... I didn't have a really good start because I missed the lines of the jar lid on my first sketch and then, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to draw the mechanism... I am more satisfied with the second try, but now that I know how it works, I think it will be worth it to do it again, and maybe next time with another medium like colored pencil or watercolor in order to concentrate on the qualities of the glass and the shells.

DAY 12 - HAIR SCRUNCHIE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 12 - student project

Medium: Watercolor + thin brush

Pleasure : 8/10
Confidence : 6/10
Progress : ?

This sketch took me more than 6 minutes. It was also a tough one because of all the folds... But at least it helps developing observation skills and I would do it again. I also liked sketching with watercolor very much, particularly with this color.

DAY 13 - SWISS KNIFE

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 13 - student project

Medium : Calligraphy pen

Pleasure : 9/10
Confidence : 9/10
Progress : 9/10

For this one I used a calligraphy pen - that day I wrote a letter with it and I felt for drawing with it, which I never tried before. I really like the precision and the feeling of this tool (I think I am more into pens and pencils than brushes, because I feel like I have more control). I upgraded my progress because this time I was more confident when I was drawing my lines, which are straight and clean.

DAY 14 - LOBSTER PLUSH

My 14 Day Mindset Challenge - image 14 - student project

Medium : Calligraphy pen

Pleasure : 8.5/10
Confidence : 7/10
Progress : 8/10

Here's another little friend of mine... I wanted to try the calligraphy pen with another object. It's interesting how having to use a limited amount of ink at a time pushes me to "save it" and to use it with more care - hence the straight lines (I hope you understand what I mean - English is not my first language!). The plush was way more difficult than the Swiss knife because of all the curves and the different volumes. But still, I really liked this exercice. I think I'll complete it by adding some shadows and colors!

So, this was my 14 days challenge, I hope you enjoyed following my journey. And don't hesitate to share your comments and/or advices!

Thank you again to Ohn Mar for this marvelous class!

Maude Pelletier

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