One of my goals for 2020 is to create more art. In order to reach that goal, I’ve created the Chronically Hopeful 52-Week Art Project. It consists of 52 prompts, one for each week of the year, to guide my creativity, keeping me focused and inspired.
Having a fluctuating chronic illness means that I’m not always able to be creative, so I thought one prompt per week would be easier to manage than the one prompt per day that many other challenges provide. I cannot wait to get started – here’s to a whole year of colourful art!
How The 52-Week Art Project Works
The 52-Week Art Project consists of 52 prompts, one for each week of the year. The prompts are divided into 4 sets based roughly around the 4 seasons, so each set will last about 3 months.
Each week I will create at least one piece of art, a painting or a drawing, inspired by the prompt for that week and I’ll share it over on my art Instagram and my Facebook profiles using the dedicated hashtag #CH52art. So do follow me over there if you’d like to get notifications whenever I upload a new photo.
I’ll also post collections here on the blog every few weeks where I’ll describe my throughts, processes and supplies used for each piece. If you’d like to join me on this creative journey, I’ll leave some guidelines at the end of this page.
Winter Prompts
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These prompts will cover January, February and March and will feature cool, wintery themes.
01. create patterns using shades of blue
02. snowy scenes
03. critters found in the garden
04. winter woollies (gloves, scarves, etc)
05. night sky over mountains
06. stained glass effect
07. pine cones
08. create something using only 2 colours
09. galaxy
10. abstract, using cold shades
11. pot plants
12. jewels or crystals
13. waterfall
Spring Prompts
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These prompts will cover April, May and June and will feature colourful Spring themes.
14. create patterns using just one colour
15. English cottage garden scene
16. floral wreaths
17. butterflies
18. sunset over trees
19. abstract, using pastel shades
20. succulents
21. blossom trees
22. clouds
23. spring flowers
24. abstract, using bright colours
25. pets
26. reflections in puddles
Summer Prompts
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These prompts cover July, August and September, featuring bright, summery themes.
27. a day at the beach
28. summer blooms
29. tropical island
30. garden tea party
31. under the sea
32. sunset over water
33. mosaic
34. waves
35. nautical theme
36. abstract, using summer colours
37. birthday party
38. camping
39. feathers
Autumn Prompts
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These prompts will cover October, November and December and will feature warm autumn tones.
40. a walk in the forest
41. African landscape
42. leaves
43. pumpkins and other harvest scenes
44. abstract, using autumn colours
45. branches with berries
46. Poinsettia flowers
47. wrapping paper patterns
48. wreaths
49. deer or moose
50. Christmas trees
51. snow globe scenes
52. fireplace or mantlepiece
Would You Like To Join Me?
I would love to have you join me on this creative adventure! It will add to the fun as well as providing accountability and inspiration. Let me know if you’ll be participating so I can come find your creations and feature them too.
Note: If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere and your seasons are inverted, feel free to use the prompts in the order that matches your seasons! Thanks to my cousin in South Africa who came up with that idea.
My requests if your choose to participate:
- Please share the prompt graphics so others can find us and join in too. Share each image at least once and tag me @ChronicallyHopefulArt.
- Use the hashtags #CH52art in your captions so that we can find each other. I will feature your creations on my stories if you use the #CH52art hashtag.
- If you’re participating and don’t have Instagram or Facebook but still want to share your art, there is a gallery below where you can upload photos of your creations.
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What Medium Will You Use?
I will be using gouache, watercolours, pens and markers for my art project, but you can use any medium you love to use. Whether it’s photography, fabric, clay, paint, baking, quilting, or collage – the idea behind this project is simply to create.
My hope is that the prompts help to guide our creativity and inspire it, but they must certainly not limit it.
Below are some of my favourite supplies. I’ll provide exact product details for each individual piece I create in my updates, but these are the ones I most frequently use:
Art Supplies I Love To Use
Links go to Amazon. *Affiliate links used* Thank you for your support!
Tubes of Gouache
Paint Brushes
Watercolour Paper
Water Brushes
Ballpoint Pens
Fine Liners
White Gel Pen
Paint Pens
Stardust Pen
Large Brush Pens
Small Brush Pens
Blendable Markers
Lettering Challenge
Along with the art project, I’ll also be doing a lettering challenge/project. Each week I will be focusing on a new letter of the alphabet. I’ll do drills and practice various words and phrases throughout the year.
If you’d like to improve your lettering, join me on this project too. Use the hashtag #CH52abc when posting your work on Iinstagram so we can find each other. And I’ll feature your work on my stories too.
You can use various techniques such as brush lettering, pointed dip pens, watercolours or hand lettering for this project. Decide which you would like to master and dedicate some time each week to improving your skills.
You’ll be surprised at how much you can improve with consistent practice. I can’t wait to see all your fabulous creations!
Remember, you can follow along on Instagram at @ChronicallyHopefulArt or on Facebook at Facebook.com/ChronicallyHopefulArt .
Here’s to a year of creativity!
Week 4’s Prompt Is: Winter Woolies
You may use any medium you like to interpret the prompt, then upload a photo of your creation to your social media using the hashtag #CH52art or upload it directly into the gallery at ChronicallyHopeful.com/gallery for others to enjoy! Visit the gallery at any time to admire all the fabulous art.
Enjoy The Latest Creations By Participants
If your work is not yet in the gallery, click the blue button below and upload it now!
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
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This is a great idea. I should follow along with you. Maybe my goal for 2020 will be to stress less and to create more artworks and by the end of the year I’ll haev a whole collection to post up on my page. Your artworks are beautiful, I look forward to seeing them every day. I have started following you on your FB page now.
Thanks Nicole! I look forward to seeing what you create next year – it will be fun to go on this journey together!
Looking so forward your challenge!
Thanks! I am really excited to get started and cant wait to see what everybody creates
So We are in Australia and it’s Summer over here and stinking hot with some days reaching up to 45 degrees! Should I start backwards with the Summer prompts which you will have in our winter or just paint along with you?
I think that is a great idea for those who live in the Southern Hemisphere! Feel free to adjust it to suit your seasons.