303030 Challenge

In October 2014 I challenged myself to do 30 illustrations over 30 days, and each having a time limit of 30 minutes. Included here are the illustrations that turned out the best.

Challenges:

• Time:  The time restraint was the biggest challenge. I started off sketching my ideas first, but then found that I didn’t have enough time to finish the final rendering within 30 minutes. A few days in, I abandoned the sketches and went straight to adobe Illustrator. I believe sketching is an important part of the design process, so my time restraint was more of a hindrance than helpful challenge.
• Consistency: I had never committed to do a 30 day challenge like that before, and it was sometimes difficult to complete each day’s illustration because of travel and other commitments. However, the things that “got in the way” (i.e. a trip to San Antonio) actually inspired that day’s illustrations, as seen in The Alamo, potted plant, and luchador mask.

Results:

• I learned that I was capable of doing an illustration every day for 30 days. I am capable of committing to something and completing it.
• I had not done digital illustration prior to this challenge, and it was a great way to experiment with the tools and find my personal illustration style.
• I became more efficient at using Illustrator. 30 minutes goes by quickly, and I had to learn the software better to use my time efficiently.
• Overall, this challenge helped me commit, follow through, and learn more about my tools, but at the time, 30 minutes was too short for a really great digital illustration.