A comic
To my friends who are comfortable being themselves around me —
Never apologize for turning into a magical creature!
Author: dkannapan
10 Awesome Things That Happened When I Drew Plants for 10 Days in a Row
My 10-day digital line art challenge
I was craving art time after a particularly busy (and analytical) period, so I decided I’d make digital plant art for 10 days in a row.
When I made the decision, I’d already been drawing a few plants in the style I planned. The change would be to do the drawings consecutively, as part of a 10-day challenge.
Additionally, I would screen-record my drawing process and post it on YouTube each day. So, this 10-day challenge was also the launch of my YouTube channel.
I jumped in without too much planning, beyond shelving my other projects to make time, and looking around to make sure I had approximately 10 plants available to draw.
From there, I basically took it day by day.
Looking back, it was a decided success! Here are the 10 awesome things that came from it.
1. I was able to quickly develop and hone a new art style
When I started this challenge, I had just begun experimenting with a new vector line art style* that was quite different from any of my past work. I was excited to see where I could take it.
By drawing in this style for 10 days in a row, I was able to improve on it from day to day, and let it sink into muscle memory.
Since doing the challenge, the style has become one of my staples for digital art. I can now dip back into it easily because it’s so well-practiced.
* In the iPad app, Vectornator. My review of the app is that it’s pretty decent and I continue to use it. Sometimes their updates make features worse. But I still enjoy the core functionality and feel of the lines. (Not sponsored.)
2. I learned what it’s like to satisfy the art craving
Generally, it’s hard for me to find enough time to do all the art I want to do, between my other projects and hobbies. I usually cycle between projects, making sure to come back to art often enough to feel balanced.
Even so, I frequently end an art session wishing I could do more, but other projects demand my attention.
In contrast, these 10 days of drawing were just the right amount of art-time. I wasn’t sick of drawing at the end, just pleasantly tired and pleased with all the work I’d done.
The experience showed me what it was like to fully satisfy the art craving when it arises, and to move onto other pursuits not because I have to, but because I’m actually in the mood to.
Now, I know what to aim for when I make space in my schedule for an art series. There is such a thing as ‘enough’ art time! (Until the next craving, of course.)
3. I got a clearer intuition on how long an illustration takes
Along the lines of the previous point, it’s hard to anticipate how long a drawing will take, and that can be a barrier to getting started.
I don’t have a great sense of time in general, and I lose track of the clock completely when I’m absorbed in art work.
Since this challenge involved screen-recording myself drawing, I could just look back at the video length to know how long it took. And since I did that for 10 days in a row, I got a sense of the average time I need to finish an illustration. It came out to 40–50 minutes for this type of illustration.
Having this foreknowledge meant I could start a drawing even in the middle of the day, with a full schedule ahead. It’s safer to dive into an art session with the reassurance that you will resurface within an hour!
4. I completed a cohesive illustration series in a short time
After the 10 days, it was satisfying to look back on the series of drawings I’d made. Better still, I could now use them in my other content.
In the months after the challenge,
- I used my drawings as feature images in blog posts.
- I turned a few of them into wall art for my apartment.
- I put them in my portfolio and in galleries on my website.
- I offered them to subscribers as a freebie in the form of an art book.
I can do that with any of my art, of course. But for me, this was an unusually rapid and efficient way to make an illustration series.
5. I got over the hump of setting up my YouTube channel
I’d been meaning to make a YouTube channel for a while, but this challenge (and the excitement on the first day) got me over the hump of setting it up.
On Day 1, I got my personal YouTube channel ready for the public by deleting old comments, archiving old videos, adding a profile photo, etc. None of this took long, and I didn’t overthink it because I was eager to get to the drawing challenge.
I also raced through the set-up steps of making the videos. I installed video editing software, made (rather bad) title cards, and collected royalty-free music to use in record time.
The process of editing and uploading videos felt unfamiliar and difficult on the first day, but by day 4, it was a piece of cake. Cramming the learning curve into a short time made it easier to get past.
I also learned, for future reference, that it takes me about an hour to edit and publish these videos.
6. I solidified my YouTube channel’s niche and tone
The tone, music, and visuals I chose for my plant videos were quite different from my other platforms — lighter and more cheerful. It felt odd and unlike me at first, but much less so by the last day!
I was able to confirm that — yes, I do like posting this type of video (called ‘speedpaints’), and I’d like to continue to go in that direction.
And I got past the stage of having an empty-looking channel. With 10 videos on there, it looked mature and ready to show to people.
7. I felt like I was really seeing my plants for the first time
Something happens to me when I draw consistently. It changes the way I see. Colors and details pop more, and I appreciate more of the beauty around me.
That goes double for when I draw nature, by deepening my connection to the Earth and living things.
I’m often grumpy when I can’t get out to natural spaces for hikes. Looking carefully at the plants near me was a good reminder that you’re never cut off from nature, even indoors, if you look for it.
I ended the challenge feeling much calmer and appreciative of my surroundings. Even in the mood to try some interior decorating.
8. I learned about how I like to work
The success of this project got me thinking about structure — how much I need, and how much is too much.
In the past, I’ve worked completely free-form, with hardly any structure at all. I thought this is what I preferred. But it made it hard to finish things, which was frustrating.
At other times, when I’ve tried to create rigid daily habits or follow public challenges like NaNoWriMo, the structure completely cramped my style.
I need to be able to flow between projects (and areas) according to my natural rhythm. That means, if I’m going to do the same activity every day, it needs to be for a short time.
For a lot of people, 10 days isn’t a long challenge. Thirty or hundred-day challenges are more common. But for me, it was the perfect length.
This challenge demonstrated that I can create structures that support my particular work style.
9. I gained insights about 10-day challenges, specifically
This wasn’t my first 10-day challenge, but it was my first successful one. There are a few things I did differently this time that made it work, and convinced me to keep using this format in future.
The first thing was that I didn’t just draw everyday — I published every day. Each day of the challenge created a completed piece, and there was no follow up needed.
In the first 10-day challenge I did, I wrote a response to a writing prompt every day, but I didn’t publish. While I did succeed at keeping it up for 10 days and I got a lot of writing practice, I still haven’t edited and published any of those pieces, as of time of writing. It’s been over two years since I did that challenge.
In contrast, this time around, when I got to the end of the 10 days, I was done. I’d succeeded. There was nothing more needed to complete the project.
That was important, because I was tired and ready to do something new! I didn’t want the challenge to create more work for myself at the end.
Also, by repeating the full publishing process so many times in a row, I had ingrained every step in memory. Even now, I am comfortable making a full video in a few hours because of all the practice.
10. I built confidence in my ability to follow through
Until the last day of the challenge, I was in suspense as to whether I’d actually do 10 consecutive days! When I got to the end with an unbroken streak, it was a huge confidence boost.
As I’ve mentioned, structured projects haven’t always gone well for me. And even when I do finish them as planned, they don’t always have the effect I hoped for.
Not so with this one!
I’d learned a new skill, launched a YouTube channel, and done what I said I’d do.
All reasons to believe I could do it again!
So, those were the 10 amazing things that happened when I drew plants for 10 days in a row.
If you are thinking of doing a self-imposed creative challenge, I can’t recommend it enough. Remember to tailor it to your particular work style, and make it just difficult enough to be exciting! I find that even a challenge that doesn’t push me to my limits is still helpful, since it provides consistency I don’t otherwise have.
And if you are curious or want to replicate this challenge yourself, you can see all the updates I made along the way here: (beginning, update 1, update 2, gallery, YouTube playlist).
Here’s my worksheet resource for having a deeply creative work session!
On World Refill Day 2023, Let’s Strategize
It’s on Friday, June 16th.
I learned recently that this Friday is World Refill Day.
We can all use the day being on the calendar as a reason to think and talk about refillable containers. Preventing pollution from disposable packaging is a worthy problem, and thinking about it at the same time makes climate action more effective.
Let’s take the opportunity to strategize. We’ll need to in order to build a habit and culture of using reusable containers (for carrying water to drink, buying coffee, and taking to bulk stores to fill with food or cleaning products).
We need to work against the typical hurried lifestyle that society pushes us toward.
As we experiment with the habit of carrying our own containers around, we can identify the snags that get in our way and problem-solve around them. And better yet, share our findings with others who are trying the same thing.
Here are some prompts for you to reflect on how to make reusables a bigger part of all our lives.
Figure out your reusable container logistics
As I wrote in How Do We Increase Adoption of Reusable Coffee Cups?
Let’s think through the logistics of having a reusable mug handy when you need it. There are a few different actions you would need to add to your day:
– (Remember to) pack your cup before heading out for coffee.
– Ask the barista to serve the coffee in your own cup.
– (Remember to) bring your cup back in the house.
– Put the cup into your dishwashing workflow (either the dishwasher or hand-washing).
– (Literally) rinse and repeat.
These actions can become part of your routine if you identify cues for or schedule each of these steps into your week.
Find stores that will refill your container
You can look up package-free stores for food or supplies near you that let you bring and refill your own container with their goods.
The keywords to look for are “package free,” “bulk,” and “zero waste” stores. Your local farmer’s market may also be a good place to buy package free.
I found one guide to package free stores for California: https://www.litterless.com/bulk-food-guide/california. There may be a similar guide for where you live.
If you work at a store or have an ‘in’ to talk to someone who manages one, think about what they can do to make it easier for bulk buyers! Or avoid supporting disposable products in other ways.
When it comes to improving the bulk-buying workflow, and the store itself is where the most leverage is.
Remember why
Using refillable containers is part of the larger sustainable idea of using less material overall, by making products more durable and getting more use out of them.
An individual refillable container usually takes more resources to make and has a higher carbon footprint than an individual disposable container, so the advantage comes from being reused. (Not just reusable.)
Having just a few containers and using them for approximately a lifetime is the trick to getting the environmental benefits of less resource use over time and preventing plastic pollution.
So, this can be a tough one, but resist the urge to go out and buy snazzy new mugs, containers, and tote bags, unless you absolutely need them.
Sadly, the way eco-friendly products are marketed can lead us to assume the solution for a bad product is to buy a better product. But in this case, the solution is to buy fewer products.
Which leads me to…
Mend or repurpose something
What are some ways you can get more life out of a product you already have?
Earlier this year, I busted out my sewing kit for the first time and mended a backpack.
A section near the zipper was fraying to shreds, leaving a yawning gap. I’d gotten my fingers tangled in the strands trying to get something often enough to sit down on the carpet, stream a mystery series, and make a project of it.
I did a pretty rough job, having no sewing experience, but it held together when I took it on a trip! And, boy, did I feel cool. Cottagecore, self-sufficient, and all that good stuff.
Do you have a product you can fix or turn into a functional container? Or something you could decorate to make exciting to use again?
That’s a chance for a potentially fun activity as well as a product. And feeling accomplished.
Using refillable containers takes foresight, and it’s understandable that it doesn’t feel natural to many.
Seconds before running out for errands isn’t the best moment to figure out what container to take.
Instead, let’s take a moment to step back and think strategically, so we make the decision easier in the moment. World Refill Day might be the reminder we need to do that.
Also appears: Medium
About Social Tipping Points and Climate Action
DEEPTI’S RESEARCH DISPATCH
Also known as phase transitions and critical mass. A research roundup
Social tipping points are the mechanism by which social change spreads and sparks transformation. In my writing, I frequently talk about social tipping points toward climate action as a goal to aim for.
Here, I dive deeper into the concept of tipping points and its connection to social change with a tour of the research I’ve collected.
I’m hoping this will be a useful reference to come back to whenever discussions of the topic arise.
What are tipping points?
A tipping point is the colloquial term for a phase transition, or the phenomenon where incremental changes in a system reach a critical threshold, leading to rapid transformation.
You may have heard of tipping points from Malcolm Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point.
This phenomenon goes by many names, since it’s seen in many parts of the natural world, including changing phases of matter, nuclear fission (where the term ‘critical mass’ comes from), ecological shifts, swarm behavior of insects, epidemics, and the rise and fall of societies.
Going forward, I will use the term ‘phase transition’ most of the time.
Phase transitions in everyday life
Phase transitions are a common mental model in popular culture for situation where we keep applying effort, but we don’t see the results until all the pieces click into place.
This blog post on Farnam Street has a good roundup of writing on the concept, and explains:
As a mental model, critical mass can help us to understand the world around us by letting us spot changes before they occur, make sense of tumultuous times, and even gain insight into our own behaviors. A firm understanding can also give us an edge in launching products, changing habits, and choosing investments.
In Atomic Habits, James Clear uses the metaphor of incremental temperature change and the melting of ice to describe habit change.
Writings on technology, management, and world peace also use the concept.
How are phase transitions modeled?
The natural examples of phase transitions I mentioned (matter, nuclear reactions, viruses) above involve systems with individual units or ‘agents’. Observations of these systems show evidence of the phase transitions behavior.
Scientists have also developed a variety of agent-based and equation-based mathematical models and simulations to explain the mechanism behind the observed behaviors of the systems.
These models can be run with various adjustments to their parameters to see how they affect the phase transition.
Why does the concept apply to social change?
Often, the models of ‘agents’ in a system are fairly simple. Societies, on the other hand, are made up of humans who are famously impossible to predict or model accurately.
Still, we can extract useful qualitative insights about collective behavior even from simple model.
This is a long ‘un! You can read the rest on Medium (you don’t need to have a Medium subscription).
* * *
Understanding phase transitions has completely revolutionized my approach to climate action.
I constantly think about how my participation connects to a wider dynamic, and that helps me be both more strategic and more hopeful.
Also appears: LinkedIn
About My Creative Process
If you’ve looked around this blog, you can probably tell I have a ton of interests and projects! The main areas I like to work in are art, research, fiction, nonfiction, and, of course, climate.
I’m usually working on a handful of projects in parallel, and bounce between them as inspiration strikes. Inspiration can be unpredictable, which is a challenge when it comes to planning ahead.
The two terms that, combined, best describe the way I work are ‘multipotentialite’ and “methodological-pantser.” The first refers to having many different interests. The second term comes from a categorization by novel editor Ellen Brock, extending the plotter/pantser dichotomy to more dimensions. It means that I like using systems and methodology in the short term, but in the long term, I’m winging it.
Put together, those traits result in a pretty chaotic way of working! (Well, I like it. Never a dull moment.)
So, it’s been important for me to figure out how to be organized and maintain continuity on projects that progress in fits and starts. I cycle between projects in short bursts, and I need to be able to capture everything I need and pick them up easily.
Identifying my work style was a huge step up, creatively. Being organized and planning don’t come naturally to me, which is why they’re often on my mind. I write about my creative process while I figure it out, in the spirit of showing the behind-the-scenes (and pushing back against one-size-fits-all productivity advice).
I’ve been experimenting with organizing my work into short series or art challenges (10 days, month-long), which worked amazingly well.
I also make tools and worksheets for myself. And for you, if you are someone who works a bit like I do. And if not, hopefully, my process is interesting as a data point to consider as you discover what does work for you.