December Drawing Challenge

It really needs a snazzier name. But I'm having trouble coming up with one. My brain is fried.

As you all know, I’m a bit of a dreamer. I come up with grand ideas and fantastic daydreams, create a plan of action to put those ideas and dreams into reality, and, on the rare occasion, actually make it happen.

(You didn’t know that? Oh. Well, you do now.)

My idea this time around is a drawing challenge. Beginning December first, I’ll use a “drawing prompt” from the list below. There’s a prompt for each day in December, with each number corresponding with the day to do it on (ie, challenge 1 on December 1, etc). I’ll be posting all of the drawings on here after I draw them. (Note the wiggle room I get in saying “after I draw them.” I’ll try to post each one the day I finish it, but there are no promises.)

Where do you come in?

1. Join me! I’d love to have you drawing along beside me. The fantastic french fry Josie of Paperclips and Pencils has hopped on board as well, and we’d love some company. Whether you have a blog, Instagram, or just a Google+ profile, I’d love to check out your drawings.
2. Cheer me along. If this is anything like the challenges I’ve done before, I’m going to want to quit about a week into it. Don’t let me do that.
3. Spread the word! Know an artist who might be interested in this? Do me a favor and let them know. Post a link to this post on your blog, or better yet, grab the button below and stick it on your sidebar.
   
   

   

   Behold my amazing Photoshop skills.

   
   

Here are your prompts! I know they look exciting, but for now, just save them somewhere and hang on until December.

1. Design a new original character. Use a generator, or create one off the top of your head. Draw close-ups, full-body sketches, and anything else you want to cement your character.
2. Learn to draw a chibi! Or if you already know how, try a different style of drawing them.
3. Use a reference picture. Post your copy and a link to the original!
4. Selfie time! Draw yourself in any style you like.
5. Draw a few backgrounds using one, two, and three point perspective.
6. Draw an animal. The subject may be anything from a mythical creature to your pet cat.
7. Find an old drawing of yours and re-draw it. Post both pictures!
8. Use a drawing medium you haven’t used for a while/have never tried. Eg, digital art, markers, charcoal... Have fun with it! Also, find another artist who’s doing this challenge, and talk about doing an art swap for Day 12’s challenge.
9. Draw a friend. For an added bonus, have them guess who it is when you’re done.
10. Draw a background! Add some life if you’re feeling really gutsy.
11. What’s your favorite thing about Christmas? Draw it!
12. Art swap time! Find someone else who’s doing this drawing challenge, and exchange requests.
13. Draw your Day 1 character any way you like.
14. Chibi-fy yourself, a friend, and your Day 1 character. Go chibi crazy!
15. Draw an entire picture--scenery, characters, and all--entirely from your head. No references!
16. Draw a self-portrait in a style you don’t normally use. If you’re a manga artist, try your hand at realistic. Or vice versa.
17. You’ve been using your Day 1 character a lot this month. (And here’s a hint: You’re going to use them a lot more.) Design them a friend!
18. Design a character for each of the sixteen MBTI types. You only have to do eight today.
19. Find one of your really old drawings--it has to be at least a year old--and draw it again. Post ‘em both!
20. Draw your Day 1 character displaying several different emotions. Bonus points for “tricky” emotions, such as guilt, daydreaming, or loneliness. Find TWO artists to do a swap with for day 24’s challenge.
21. Draw your favorite fictional character. Use any style you want!
22. Design a character for the remaining eight MBTI types. (You started this challenge on day 18.)
23. Draw your favorite part of Christmas as a scene.
24. Find two other artists who are doing this challenge, and do an art swap with each of them!
25. Pick your favorite challenge so far, and do it again with an art medium you haven’t used in a while. And then do your least favorite challenge in the same way. You must do both!
26. Using your Day 1 character again, draw several different “body language” poses.
27. Draw a couple.
28. Color a drawing using only THREE colors. You may use darker and lighter variations of these colors for shading.
29. Design an antagonist for your Day 1 character--someone who will oppose them at each turn.
30. What’s your least favorite thing to draw? Doodle it a few times. Then look up some reference pictures and do an actual drawing of it.
31. Using your Day 1, Day 17, and/or Day 29 characters, draw a one-page comic (5-7 panels). Can’t fit it all in one page? Go ahead and make it longer!

Rules, questions, and a few random comments:

My rules tend to be more like guidelines, especially when it comes to challenges like this. By deciding to do this, you are challenging yourself. No one is going to force you to draw. But all the same, here are a few things you should at least try to do in order to get the most out of this challenge:

• Stick to the challenge! If you’re working on Day 28, don’t cheat and add purple to your palette of blue, green, and grey. The point of this challenge is to stretch you as an artist. Some days will be harder than others, but sticking through it and doing what they say anyway is what will help you grow.
• Don’t throw away your work! I’ve met several people who have tossed their artwork because it didn’t turn out the way it was supposed to, and I almost want to cry every time. Even if it’s no “masterpiece,” hang on to it. You’ll be able to look at it someday and see how much you’ve grown. (Or laugh. Looking at old drawings can be rather amusing for some of us.)
• Complete your challenge the day it’s assigned. That means no using drawings you finished last June. You must create a new piece of art for each challenge.
• Missed a day? Don’t sweat! On some days the challenges will be pretty easy. You can always work on any challenges you missed during those days.
• Already December, but you want to join the fun? Come on in! Better late than never. Just start on whatever challenge today is.
• No inspiration? Check out a few other Artist’s work, and see what they’ve done for the day you’re stuck on. Don’t copy their art, mind you, but see if you can get any ideas! (Pinterest is also fantastic for inspiration.)
• This challenge is a community thing. Congratulate others for doing the challenge, thank your art swap partners, and be encouraging to anyone who needs it. Even if someone’s drawing is a little lacking in the quality area, you can find something good about it. Offer a few kind, helpful suggestions if you feel up to it.

We all set? Great! Sharpen those pencils, stock up on sketchbooks, and organize the Copic markers one last time. It’s drawing time!
Dee signing off. I'll post artwork tomorrow if I get to it.