40 Minutes of Creativity: My Fun Drawing Challenge!

As an artist and illustrator, I often find myself brimming with ideas for new work! While some concepts come to fruition very quickly, many remain trapped in my mind longer than I'd prefer. Sometimes it can feel so overwhelming that they all start to merge into a jumbled mess of scribbles in my brain (see pic above). To unlock my creativity and explore my imagination, I decided to embark on a personal challenge: a fun drawing exercise to create as many little quirky illustrations as possible in just 40 minutes!

So, how did I approach this challenge? What did I create? And what can you learn from my experience? Let’s dive into this exciting journey of doodles and creativity!

If you'd like to watch me draw, click the video below! It's short and sweet because I know your time is precious!

1. Setting the Stage for Doodling!

Creating a focused and relaxing environment was essential. I mosied over to my drawing table, tidied it up for the first time in ages, and got settled in. I opted for my ipad over paper for the doodles so I could move quickly. To truly immerse myself, I turned off my phone and other distractions, ensuring that every second of my 40-minute drawing challenge was pure art time.

2. Generating Art Prompt Ideas

Before I pressed start on my timer, I brainstormed potential themes and prompts to keep things lively. I wrote down some silly ideas I've had so that I could tackle them quickly. Some of my favorite concepts included:

• Silly Goose Club

• All Oopsies, No Daisies

• Dilly Dally

• Animals on the move

I like to play, but I like structure too, so the list gave me the best of both worlds.

3. The Countdown Begins!

With my prompts set and my timer ready, I jumped right in! The first drawing was some "cheese and quiet" as it was getting close to lunch-time and mama was getting hungry!

I sketched quickly, focusing on enjoying the challenge.

4. Embracing Imperfection

As the seconds ticked away, I realized that my drawings did not need to be perfect. There is beauty in imperfection, and embracing this mindset kept me engaged and having fun. Once I completed each drawing, I created a blank page on my iPad and moved on to the next prompt.

5. Style and Self-Talk

As the 40 minutes went by, I found myself wanting to add some detail to a few illustrations, but I stopped myself from doing that! By keeping detail at a minimum and creating line-drawings only, I could make more illustrations. I said "Rachel, you can return to any of the doodles you want to expand on after the 40 minutes are up!" - Wise words....so I listened.

6. Reflecting on the Experience

When the timer finally went off, I paused to reflect on all of the doodles I made. In just 40 minutes, I created about 18 quirky illustrations, untangling the jumbled knot of ideas in my head just a teeny bit!

7. Tips for Your Own Fun Drawing Challenge

• Set a Time Limit: Choose a duration that feels both manageable and challenging. About 30 to 40 minutes worked well for me, but maybe 5-10 minutes is more manageable for you.

• Prepare Your Space: Creating an inspiring, distraction-free environment can maximize your creativity. Find a comfortable spot filled with your favorite supplies.

  
  

• Brainstorm Art Prompts: Write down fun ideas in advance. Having them prepared will let you focus entirely on creating instead of searching for prompts during the challenge.

  
  

• Embrace Imperfection: The goal is to enjoy the process! Your drawings don’t need to be perfect; rather, they should reflect your unique imagination.

  
  

• Reflect Afterwards: After you finish, take a moment to appreciate what you created!! There is no good or bad here; this reflection encourages growth and boosts your confidence as an artist.

Wrapping it Up

This was the first time I did a timed drawing challenge, and it really was so much fun! And now I have doodles to go back to, expand on, edit, and morph into fully-fleshed out drawings.

If you are an art lover or just seeking a creative outlet, I encourage you to try a similar drawing challenge. You might surprise yourself with what you can create in a short timeframe! I thought I would make about 10 drawings, and wound up with 18!!! (See them all together below)

Now, it’s your turn! Grab your supplies and discover where just 10 minutes of creativity might lead you! I'd love to see what you come up with!

I hope you enjoyed this post. I thought it would be fun to try something new and different!!

I will see you all next month!

xoxo

Rachel