Introducing the Birthday Week Art Challenge, the art challenge that is all about YOU!
What is this? This is a week-long art challenge prompt list for visual artists and writers based on YOU, yes YOU! I made it with myself in mind, but I wanted to make a blank version just in case anyone else wanted to use it. It doesn't have to be your birthday—I picked birthday because it's the time of year most people self-reflect, while being more personal than New Years—but it can be any important date that occurs at the same time every year so you can look back and see how you've changed.
Why is this? My intent with this prompt list is to leave it unchanged and to revisit it year after year so I can compare the pieces, examining where I came from, where I am, and where I might be going. That's why I made the emphasis on CURRENT faves, so I can look back on what's changed over time. I wanted this to be like an art-based time capsule that can be added to every year. My hope is to get in touch with myself and the world around me through my art.
Explanation of the prompts (though they can be as open-ended as you want):
Whatever you consider a treat, like food, clothes shopping, time for yourself, etc., now in your favorite color (if it wasn't already). (Examples: a purple chocolate bar, a new green shirt, a relaxing bath surrounded by blue candles, etc. Why is this a treat for you? How do obtain or make the treat? etc.)
Whether your favorite animal is something domestic or exotic, they are hanging out in the place you feel most comfortable. (Examples: a panda in your bedroom, a cat in a library, a beetle in a coffee shop, etc. How did it get there? What is it doing? etc.)
To be honest, when I made this prompt, my mind was on that photo series of the person taking their child's toy on a business trip, so... (Examples: a plushie on the Eiffel Tower, a car at the Great Pyramids, a limited-edition figurine on the moon, etc. Why did you bring this with you? Did you find it there? etc.)
You can draw/write them doing the hobby with you or alone, in their context or in yours. (Examples: your partner drawing or writing, your best friend gardening, Sasuke from Naruto trading stocks, etc. Would they be good or bad at this hobby? What reasons could they have for picking it up? etc.)
At first I wanted to make this "you from a year ago," but I thought it would be more interesting if it was more open-ended. (Examples: encountering your child self in the sunshine, you from five minutes ago in the rain, you who was at a sucky job in the snow, etc. What might you do together? Do you think the version you summon this year will be the same as the version you summon next year?)
Make a prediction about yourself. (Example: the same, taller, living somewhere new, etc. How far in the future are you looking?—and again, will this be the same distance into the future as it might be next year?)
Something about your birthday, anything you want. (Examples: a party you'd like to have, a memory of a past birthday, a favorite gift you've gotten, etc. What does your birthday mean to you?)
If you want to join in, just remember: this prompt list is about you, but it is primarily FOR you. You don't have to share anything you don't want to with strangers on the internet. I fully anticipate that, when I undertake this challenge myself in July, I will inadvertently create something that is too personal, and I won't be comfortable sharing it. If/when that happens, I will make a post stating that I won't be uploading for that day, but the point of it is that I did it anyway. Thinking about the past, the future, and the possibility of change can be painful and scary, but it is work that must be done; I hope I can look back on what I've created a year from now and be glad to know my history. I hope you'll feel the same.
LET'S GET CREATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
