Keeping simplicity in mind, for my 100 day project I’ve decided to do a daily 3.5” square of art in a watercolor journal along with a few relevant, personal words in a separate rectangle. Combining art with journaling words is a welcomed addition to my daily practice of reading, praying, and writing in an everyday journal, where I pour my heart out.

The title of my 100 day project came to me during the layout designing phase as I imagined myself going through the process alongside my daily personal practice. On Instagram the tag will be: #100daysofmyvisualdiary.

I’ve simplified and re-gathered my supplies for the 100-day project supplies: Pencil & eraser, watercolor paints, a small and medium round brush, water, Micron pen size 02, gold Gelly Roll pen, and a white Posca pen. I will add more supplies as I go like a cosmetic sponge, a few more brushes, and some stencils, but this is what I’ll start with for the daily squares.

Gathering more supplies

Recently, I made a splurge purchase of a watercolor journal newly released from Archer & Olive. One reason I was so smitten with the journal is that the Vintage cover coordinates with the Vintage Book Leaves Stencil I designed for StencilGirlProducts®. I wanted to purchase an A5 dotted notebook of the same design, and use the new stencil as its title page, but it quickly sold out, so I ordered the larger B5 (6.9” x 9.8”) version with watercolor paper. It really is beautiful. The pages of the journal are perforated so if I really mess up or want to remove a page it will be easy to do so. Because it was an impulse buy, I didn’t have a specific plan for the journal, and I wondered if it would be a good candidate for the 100 day project?

Journal layout design template

Considering the Archer & Olive B5 journal as my visual diary, I counted the pages and played around with a repeatable layout design I could easily follow/trace. The layout features daily paper space of a 3.5” square for art and a 1.5” x 3.5” rectangle for writing. My plan is to do a spontaneous artwork in the square and write thoughts in the rectangle. I’m beginning with a few simple supplies: the journal, handmade template, removable tape to tape off square for painting, watercolor paints with brushes and cosmetic sponges for stenciling and shading, and a pencil, eraser and waterproof black pen. The pen I’m starting with is a Micron 02 size. I’m also using some release (low tack) tape so I can do some watercolor washes with the straight square border.

The template I made for the page layout is made out of a piece of mylar. I measured and drew the lines with a Sharpie marker; then cut the squares and rectangles out using a craft knife and metal ruler. It’s handy and efficient since I can keep it the template in the journal, and on each page, lightly trace around the interior of the squares and rectangles to begin. When I want to paint the entire square, I can tape it off with the removable tape along the pencil lines.

Making title page

My one art rule is: ‘Do what you’re sure of first, so I made the title page using the Vintage Book Leaves Stencil and the Open Book Mini Stencil. I applied watercolor paint with a cosmetic sponge on the paper. When dry I outlined the interior arch, the gold leaves and book with a Micron 02 size pen. Then I used a gold Gelly Roll pen to make a row of dots around the edge of the interior arch. It was fast and easy. Watercolor paints used: Qor brand - Sap Green, Indigo, and Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide; Coliro brand - gold/metallics.

BUT…

then I thought: the journal is so pristine and beautiful. I can barely bring myself to put a mark in it for fear of messing it up. So what now?

I put the journal out where I often see it. After a day or two I admitted perfectionism was holding me back and I felt guilty for treating myself to such a nice journal. It was extravagant and maybe my daily spontaneous entries aren’t worthy of the book. After all, my paintings won’t be planned out, so it feels extra risky since I’m such a planner.

If someone else told me what I just told myself I would tell her to just do it - even ruin a page - it’s only paper! You are worth it and it’s just a thing. Go for it!

So… I wrote a haiku on the theme. (a 5-7-5 syllable pattern)

Perfectionism
Keeps me from moving forward.
Risk. Take action. Now!

I took action and made my first entry in the journal starting with spontaneous little splashes of watercolor. I made my entry early because I’m me and needed to do it while I had the courage. At first it didn’t look good to me, but after it dried I came back to it and added pen, and now I feel a sense of accomplishment that I did it. The important thing is to begin, and I overcame something in the process. It’s a silly little thing, but it’s real life and after all ‘Art reflects life.’ It also reveals so much about ourselves. I saw the lie I believed about myself and renounced the lie by moving forward and making a journal entry.

Spoiler alert!

Here below is my first day’s visual journal entry, posted early here. I’ll post it on Instagram on February 18th when the official 100 day project begins. Then I’ll be posting about every 12 days or so here on my blog with the daily entries so far and what the experience has been like.

I’m purposefully not putting tight boundaries on my 100 day project entries except for the size and doing it in this particular watercolor journal. I imagine my process and media will change as I go, but that’s part of the fun. That unknown makes me excited for this creative adventure.

If you want some inspiration and more information about doing the 100 day project, check out the previous blog post about beginning The 100 Day Project: https://www.valeriesjodin.com/blog/beginning-the100dayproject-2024.

Are you doing the 100 day project?

if so,

What is your 100 day project idea?

I’d love to hear from you!

Be inspired!

Valerie

I’d love you to join me The 100 Day Project journey. Do you want to come on the adventure? Let me know in the comments below. https://www.instagram.com/valeriesjodinstudio/

Amazon affiliate links

Black Micron pen 02 size

Posca pen White 0.7 PC-1M

Gold Gelly Roll pen (set of gold, silver, and white)

Coliro brand gold metallics watercolors

Scotch removable tape - 1/2”

Scotch removable tape 3/4”

If you click and order the supplies from the Amazon links I receive a small commission. I only recommend products I have used and would purchase again. It costs you nothing, so it’s a win/win.