100 Days of Art Practice – Lessons & Boundaries
Lessons from Painting Flowers
Some artists stick to a strict 100-day creative challenge. I don’t.
For me, it’s never been about showing up every day — it’s about showing up with purpose. Instead of 100 days, I aim for 100 finished pieces a year. It gives me freedom, joy, and a growing body of work that feeds new collections, products, and ideas.
“There’s no pressure. If I’m not inspired, I don’t paint. But when I do feel it — I might paint five pieces in a weekend.”
Why 100 Pieces (Not 100 Days)?
The tradition of the 100-Day Project encourages artists to create something every day. I tried that. I got to day 20. Then 30. Then I shifted my mindset.
Instead of counting days, I counted finished pieces.
- 100 paintings or illustrations a year
- No pressure to create daily
- Pieces can take hours or days — some evolve over weeks
- The goal is progress, not perfection
“I’d rather paint one piece I love over three rushed ones I don’t connect with.”
This framework removed guilt and made room for creativity. Some weeks I finish nothing. Some weekends I finish five. It ebbs and flows, just like inspiration does.
Flowers, Always
I always come back to flowers. They’re endless — in shape, colour, meaning, mood.
“There are so many flowers, endless varieties, and I never get bored. How could you?”
Some months I paint natives — proteas, banksias, waratahs. Other times it’s English garden classics — pansies, peonies, irises. Poppies are unpredictable and delicate. Pansies look almost too perfect to be real. Peonies are roses, but grander — floral drama queens.
Each one becomes a story, a colour palette, a new experiment in line and shape.
Creative Boundaries That Help (Not Restrict)
Even creativity needs gentle structure. I give myself boundaries that guide me — not rules that trap me.
My favourite boundaries:
- 100 finished artworks a year — not days, just pieces
- Same size canvas or paper series — keeps rhythm and flow
- Limited palettes sometimes — blues-only, warm tones, soft pastels
- Choose one main medium at a time — acrylics, gouache, marker work
“The more I restrict the materials, the more creative I get inside the boundary.”
Intuitive Painting — No Plan, Just Paint
My process is rarely planned. I don’t sketch first. I don’t map compositions. I start with colour, brushstroke, a feeling.
- I grab whatever colours call to me
- I let the first marks lead the rest
- Some pieces are calm and loose
- Others are bold, layered, textured, and wild
It’s like learning handwriting — practising brushstrokes until movement becomes instinct. The flowers aren’t meant to be realistic. They’re meant to feel alive.
Building a Library of Art to Grow From
This 100-piece practice gives me more than finished paintings — it gives me a library.
Many pieces never get photographed or scanned. They sit in drawers, portfolios, sketchbooks, or digital folders. But they are there — waiting.
When I design new products, fabrics, prints or gift collections, I open the archive:
- Some artworks become fine art prints
- Some turn into tea towels, scarves or bookmarks
- Some sit quietly for years until their moment arrives
“One painting might sit for five years before I use it — then suddenly it becomes the centre of a whole collection.”
Lessons Learned Along the Way
- Perfection isn’t the goal — progress is
- You don’t have to finish in 100 days — just don’t stop trying
- Art grows when pressure disappears
- Document everything — your past work will inspire your future work
- The work that feels most like you, is the work that always lasts
A Final Thought
Painting flowers for 100 pieces a year has become more than practice — it’s a rhythm. Some days are still, some are wild, but every piece is part of the journey. The flowers change, the colours shift, but the joy of creating remains.
From Sketchbook to Wall — Explore Modern Wall Art →
https://www.kirstenkatz.com/collections/art-prints
