Art Challenges 2021: Which Ones Am I Taking On?

Written by Manuel A. Carmona

   Well, this last two days I posted a list of art challenges that will be taking place in 2021 for anyone to partake. I'm sure there are many more challenges that I'm just not aware of, if you know of any feel free to name them in the comments section below; that way we'll edit the list. Granted, these are just art challenges, there are many more creative challenges people can be a part of like writing challenges, photograph challenges, sculpting challenges; etc. I simply chose the challenges that I felt would help my fellow comic book artists level up their skill sets. Maybe they feel a need to improve their inking or maybe they don't feel confident about drawing faces; these challenges will be very helpful for a lot of artists I feel. 

   But it's not just about others improving, I feel there are certain areas in my work that need improving; so I'm jumping in the art challenge pool. This year I want to really push myself artistically, so I'm going to be taking on an art challenge (or two in some cases) every month starting in February! I made a list by month so you all can get an idea of which ones I'm taking on and see if maybe ya'll want to join me on a few of them.

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FEBRUARY 
   - February Faces: February Faces is a great way to hone your skills and it'll undoubtedly improve your portraits. 

The Rules:
Draw a different face every day the entire month of February. It doesn't have to be a human face.

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtag: #FebruaryFaces 

MARCH
   - ​March Of The Robots: This is pretty on the nose, illustrate a new robot every day for the entire month of March. You can draw them or create them digitally, just have fun with it!

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtags:  #marchofrobots or #marchofrobots2021
​
APRIL
   - 6 Minute Sketch Challenge: This challenge consists on you drawing one skatch every day, then post your dailies on social media for the art world to see; that's it! 

The Rules: 
There are no rules, so just draw every day for 100 days.

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtag: #6minutesketch

MAY
   - Mermay: What is a Mermay? Sounds fishy right? ;D Well, Mermay is an art challenge all about illustrating mermaids. Every day in May you'll illustrate a new mermaid using whichever medium you prefer.

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtags: #MerMay and #MerMay2021 

JUNE
   - Six Fan Arts: Draw six portraits of popular characters – from any genre.

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtags: #6fanarts or #sixfanartschallenge 

JULY
   - Fauna Focus: The Fauna Focus art challenge asks you to create artwork of, based on or inspired by a different animal each month. You can use any art medium you desire.

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtag:  #faunafocus

AUGUST
   - The Sketchbook Challenge: Sponsored by the Brooklyn Art Library, The Sketchbook Challenge is a 28-day challenge to fill an entire sketchbook, and is intended to “help you cope with your creativity while you are stuck at home.” 

​The library will send each participant a blank 28 page sketchbook and then give them a different prompt every day for inspiration. 

There's also a 14 day challenge, which is specifically focused on portraits using a different medium than you are comfortable with. 

These challenges are donation-based on a “Pay What You Wish” model, and proceeds help support the Brooklyn Library of Art.

More information at brooklynartlibrary.org.

SEPTEMBER
   - 12 Hour Comic Book Day: 12 Hour Comics Day is a Worldwide event dedicated to creating a short story from beginning to end in 12 hours or less. Usually participants meet at local comic book shops, schools, and/or libraries however this year (due to Covid-19); the challenge will be online.  

The Rules: 
Participants can use any medium they desire and the story can be four 12 pages or more, just as long as it's a finished story. 

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtags: #12hrcomicbookday #12hourcomicbookday2021 #12hourcomicbookdayonline2021

OCTOBER
   - 24 Hour Comic Day: 24-Hour Comics Day is an annual international celebration of comics creation. On this day, creative folks take on the 24 hour comics challenge: to create a 24 page comic book story, normally months worth of work, in 24 straight hours.

Usually participants gather at official event sites including comic book stores, schools, and libraries. And others take part in private gatherings, and many work on their own.

​However, this year, due to the novel coronavirus (covid-19), all the official event sites will be online.  (In other words, the venues will host artists online using Zoom, Facebook Rooms, Discord, Google Live, or any other type of video conferencing platform).
​   - Drawlloween: Drawlloween is one of the most popular art challenges in the United States.

The Rules:
Using the prompts on the website, or your own spooky imagination, just create a new Halloween image every day for the entire month of October. Any medium is acceptable.

Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtag #drawlloween2021 (with the current year) or @drawlloween.

NOVEMBER
   - Movember: This art challenge is really on the nose... LOL!

The Rules:
Draw a different mustache for the entire month of November. It can be just a mustache, it can be a portrait or it can be a full body illustration. You can use any medium you desire, just be creative and have fun.

​Don't forget to tag your posts with the hashtag: #MovemberArtChallenge 

DECEMBER
   - Drawcember: Drawcember was originally created by Disney Creates. It has a huge following, and is well worth your time and effort.

The Rules:
Make a new drawing every day for the entire month of December, using the prompt list posted online in the weeks before December. Many of the prompts are winter/holiday/Christmas related, but much like Inktober or Drawlloween; you can let your imagination run wild. And that's it! 

Don't forget to tag your posts with #Drawcember and #drawcember.

   Some of these challenges I've taken on in the past with various degrees of success but this year I'm making a commitment with myself to finish what I start. I know it's hard to stay motivated, that's why YOU are so important in this process! I need your fuel, every artist taking on these challenges need your encouragement and your engagement; so please feel free to Comment and Like and Re-Tweet and Share and anything else you come up with to show your support. It truly means everything to us. 
   
   I have my own small way to push myself and to justify this year long torture, I will be putting out books based on each and every one of these challenges; it could be digital only or print but it'll be my incentive to keep me motivated. Obviously the 12 and 24 Hour Comic Day Challenges are going to be comic books, but the rest might end up being sketchbooks or even full size books; but it's too early to determine that just yet. I wrote this blog to not only inform you all on what I'm going to be up to in 2021, but also to hopefully motivate some of you to take on at least one of these art challenges; amateur or pro this can only benefit you. In any case, stay safe and as always... keep it Truthful!