What Drawing One Flower a Day is Teaching Me

  Running a creative business has so many moving parts. There are products to design, photos to take, inventory to make, raw materials to order, emails to send, website updates to make, and a hundred other things that somehow always seem to need attention first.

  Somewhere in the middle of all of that, the actual creating can start to get pushed aside. I have noticed that when I am away from my art for too long, the return feels even harder. That is why I decided to join a creative challenge called the 100-Day Project. The idea is simple: choose one creative project and commit to doing it every day for 100 days.

  I did not start on day one. I found out about it late ( official start was February 22, 2026), but I decided to do it anyway.  Because for me it was about showing up. Everyday. I wanted something that would help me make space to create daily, even if it was only for 5 minutes.  

  For my 100-day project, I chose to draw one flower a day. I kept it simple on purpose. I know myself well enough to know that if I had chosen a full-blown painting or some big elaborate project (which was my initial project choice), my perfectionism would have stepped in immediately and talk me right out of it. So instead, I gave myself something small. One flower. One page. One pencil. One little act of showing up. 

  And honestly? Some days the flowers are not great. Some days I really like them. Some days I stare at the page with no idea what kind of flower to draw and wonder why I signed up for this in the first place. But when I know my time is running out, I always put something on the paper anyway, whether I like it or not. 

There are many benefits to a daily creative habit: 

How to Maintain a Daily Art Practice  

If you want a creative habit to last, it helps to build simple systems that support consistency. A daily art practice does not have to be complicated to be meaningful. In fact, the easier it is to begin, the more likely you are to keep going. 

Start Small 
Begin with just five minutes a day. That may not sound like much, but it feels doable even on busy days. Small, realistic goals are often more effective than big plans that quickly become overwhelming. Once the habit feels natural, you can always build it from there. 

Make it Portable 
Keep a sketchbook with you whenever you can. A small sketchbook tucked into your bag makes it easier to use unexpected pockets of time, whether you are sitting in a waiting room, at a coffee shop, or spending a quiet few minutes outdoors. When your materials are easy to carry, it becomes much simpler to stay connected to your practice, even on hectic days or while traveling. 

Keep it Simple 
You do not need a long list of supplies to get started. Too many materials creates resistance and makes the process feel more complicated. You can always add more tools later. Also, Your setup matters more than you might think. Making your materials easy to access can lower resistance and help you begin more quickly.

Create a Ritual
Try attaching your daily practice to something you already do each day. Maybe you sketch while your morning coffee brews or spend a few minutes writing before bed. When creativity becomes connected to an existing routine, it is easier to remember and easier to repeat. 

Keep it Visible
Place your project somewhere you will see it often. Your project left on your desk, kitchen counter, or nightstand is much more likely to be opened than one tucked away in a drawer.  

Let Go of Perfection
As you know, this is the hardest part for me, but I keep reminding myself that not every sketch is going to be beautiful, and that is OK. Your creative project is a place for exploration, practice, and experimentation, not perfection. When you allow yourself to make imperfect work, you create more freedom to take risks, try new ideas, and grow without so much pressure. 

Try a Personal Challenge
You do not need to commit to a 100-day project right away. Even something as simple as  a thirty day challenge can create momentum. Having a defined  timeframe can make it feel more structured and motivating. Along the way, you may notice favorite subjects, materials, or times of day that work best for you. 

Share It with Someone 
Telling a friend, family member, or online community about your goal can help you stay accountable. 

Focus On One Subject or Medium at a Time 
Try spending a few days or even a week exploring one subject or medium more deeply.  Repetition helps you move beyond surface-level observation and develop a stronger understanding of what you are drawing. 

  I find that we put so much pressure on creativity. We think it needs hours of free time, perfect focus, a great idea, the right mood, the right energy. But sometimes it just needs a few minutes and a willingness to begin, even imperfectly. That is what this little flower project is teaching me.  Showing up counts. 

  And maybe that is true for more than art. Maybe there is something in your life that you have been wanting to return to, but you keep feeling like you need more time, more energy, or a better plan before you begin. Maybe this is your reminder that sometimes you just have to show up long enough to let something happen. You do not have to create something brilliant. The transformation happens through consistently showing up.

  If this sounds like you, don’t procrastinate.  I promise you that your future self will thank you for beginning today.   

  Thanks for being here and cheering on this creative journey with me. I am only on day 19, but I am already grateful for what it is teaching me.  Once I complete this journey, I already plan to do another 100-day project where I add color and details to the flower drawings.   

  And who knows... maybe some of these flowers will make their way into my future designs.