Recently, I rediscovered artist Jess Karp on YouTube. I remember watching bits of her vlog about five years ago, and somehow she found her way back onto my feed. I am genuinely grateful she did.
Lately, I have been waking up around 4:30 in the morning and putting on one of her videos while I ease into the day. What started as quiet background inspiration has turned into something much more meaningful. Through her work and the way she teaches, I have been learning how to trust myself more as an artist and how to loosen my grip on perfection.
I truly enjoy watching her create. She is generous in how she shares her process, and she makes experimentation feel approachable instead of intimidating. I am not a patron of hers, or anyone else’s for that matter, but I have learned so much already that it is something I may consider. That alone says a lot.
Letting Go of “Just Right”
When I open a sketchbook or pull out a canvas, I am often hit with this overwhelming feeling that everything has to be just right. I have been a perfectionist for years, so much so that it has sometimes stopped me from creating at all. The fear that the work will not be good enough, or that it will not live up to some invisible standard, can be paralyzing. And honestly, putting myself out there as an artist still feels scary.
But this year, I really want to challenge myself to just have fun.
Watching and learning from Jess, especially seeing the wide range of her artwork, has been incredibly freeing. Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that my work had to look one specific way, that I needed a single style or niche to stick to. And while I do think I discovered a digital painting technique that really works for me, especially when painting portraits, I am realizing that growth also comes from staying curious.
Jess is constantly challenging herself, trying new things, and allowing her work to evolve. That permission to explore without locking myself into a box is something I want to give myself too.
The Challenge: 100 Portraits
This is not the first time I have attempted a 100 portrait challenge. I have tried it a few times over the years, but I do not think I have ever fully finished one. Somewhere along the way, life, perfectionism, or self doubt would creep in and I would quietly abandon the challenge.
This time feels different.
This time, I am determined to finish. I want to prove to myself that I can do it, and I want to see how much I grow by the end. The goal is not perfection. The goal is completion, consistency, and learning.
The rules for this challenge are simple:
You must have fun.
You must experiment.
You must challenge yourself by learning new techniques and growing as an artist.
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, sketchbooks have not always been my strong suit. I tend to treat them too preciously, which completely defeats the purpose. This time, my goal is to actually finish this sketchbook.
Today’s Process
I had some time this morning, even though I woke up later than usual, and I managed to knock out a few portraits. I started by sketching with marker, loosely mapping out shapes. Then I went back over everything with ink. Once I felt finished, or at least satisfied enough, I returned with markers to add detail and color.
For these sketches, I decided to stick with a limited color palette. I have to admit, it was so much fun. There was something incredibly freeing about drawing without the pressure of getting it perfect. Instead, I focused on shapes, exaggerating features, and letting my line work stay loose and expressive.
For the first time in a while, the process felt truly playful.
And that is the feeling I want to keep chasing.
Small Wins and a Book Light
Since my husband and I tend to park ourselves in front of the TV after work, especially with how cold it has been here in upstate New York, I have started using a small reading book light to illuminate my sketchbook while I draw. I do not know why that never occurred to me before, but I am really glad it did.
Now I do not have an excuse not to work in my sketchbook.
Moving Forward
Below is a small glimpse of some of the portraits I worked on today. I will not be sharing all of the sketches from this challenge as I go. My intention is to stay focused on the process rather than the performance, and to allow myself the freedom to create without feeling the need to document every page.
Once the 100 portraits are complete, I plan to share the sketchbook in full. I am excited to look back and see the growth, the experimentation, and the moments of play that happened along the way.
Thank you for being here and for supporting this part of my creative journey. I hope you enjoy this small preview as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Here’s to staying curious.
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