I’ve completed the 100 Day Project a few times. I’ve also failed at completing it many many times. Somewhat surprisingly, I’ve learned just as much from the failures as I have from the successes!
What is the 100 Day Project?
The 100 Day Project is a free, global creative challenge that invites people around the world to choose a single creative focus and show up to it every day for 100 days. It began as a simple idea among artists experimenting with daily creative habits and officially grew into a global movement starting in 2014, with thousands of participants exploring photography, drawing, painting, writing, collage, and more. The structure is intentionally flexible—participants decide their own medium, theme, and rules, with the goal being consistent engagement and exploration over time rather than perfection. Many people also share their progress online, often tagging posts with #The100DayProject, to join a broader community of makers embracing creativity and growth through daily practice.
This year, the 100 Day Project will start on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
My History with the 100 Day Project
I have completed three 100 Day Projects:
- 2017: 100 Days of 15-Minute Faces helped me work faster and let go of perfectionism.
- 2020: 100 Days of Gelatin Printing pushed me toward layered compositions and ultimately fueled an entire year-long course.
- 2021: 100 Days of Art Botanical helped me explore my voice and lead to new ways of working.
Here are some examples from those projects:
As for my many failures, some failed because the parameters were too vague. Others failed because life got busy. Some failed because I put too much pressure on the outcome. Especially the idea that the work had to be “good” every single day.
Reflections on the 100 Day Project
How to Choose a Subject for the 100 Day Project (Without Burning Out)
As I mentioned in the video, the hardest part of the 100 Day Project isn’t showing up every day. It’s deciding what you’re going to show up for. A strong project can open up new ways of working, help you let go of perfectionism, or clarify what actually interests you. A weak one can feel vague, performative, or exhausting before you’ve even hit day ten. Over the years, I’ve learned that the difference usually comes down to how thoughtfully the project is framed at the beginning.
So if you’re thinking about tackling a 100 Day Project this year, here are a few questions worth asking yourself before you commit to 100 days of anything.
- What do I actually want to get better at?
- In my experience, projects that succeed tend to be rooted in skill-building or curiosity, not output.
- A useful gut check: If no one ever saw this work, would I still want to do it?
- Are the parameters clear—but flexible?
- In my experience, strong projects sit in a sweet spot between constraint and freedom, with just enough of both.
- Within those limits, there’s room to explore materials, scale, style, and approach.
- Weak projects are often either too tight (everything feels repetitive) or too loose (everything feels meaningless).
- You should be able to describe your 100 Day Project parameters in one simple sentence.
- What’s negotiable—and what isn’t?
- One of the biggest myths of the 100 Day Project is that it has to be done literally every day. For some people, that rigidity is motivating. For others, it’s paralyzing.
- Before you start your project, it’s worth deciding:
- Is the daily aspect essential, or is consistent creative practice the real goal?
- Can days be skipped?
- Can work be done in batches?
- Does each day need a finished piece?
- Knowing your answers ahead of time reduces guilt and keeps the focus on learning instead of rule-keeping.
- How public does your project need to be?
- I love sharing! It’s why I blog. But, sharing work quietly change the project into a performance. Really, it should be about learning.
- Also, posting every day adds labor to the project: photographing, editing, captioning, worrying about reception. If the project is about growth rather than visibility, consider whether parts of it can stay private, or whether sharing weekly or at the end might better support the work itself.
- Public accountability helps some people show up. For others, it interferes with risk-taking. Neither is wrong—but it’s worth being honest about which camp you’re in.
- How do you define a successful 100 Day Project?
- Finishing 100 pieces is one definition of success—but it’s not the only one
- Some of my failed 100 Day Projects are actually the most successful because they taught me something lasting about my process or about myself as an artist. They’re successful failures!
My Final Word of Advice
The 100 Day Project is simply a container. What matters is whether it holds you in a way that allows for exploration and growth. Don’t fit yourself to the container. Choose a container (or make a container) that fits you and your art practice!
Thanks for stopping by!
I always like to see your efforts when you participate in the 100 day challenge. Your successes and your challenges are inciteful and i am able to learn from your efforts. Keep up the good work.
Thanks, Jill! I appreciate the encouragement!
Its possible that I meant insightful, not inciteful. Its difficult to know for sure.