Weekly Mind Sketch

I’ve done it! It feels like I’m still on the journey, and it’s been such a long one. I feel like I need to draw another hand tomorrow—it’s become a habit to think about what hand I’ll draw or paint. I’m really proud of myself for finishing this #100daysofhands. It’s crazy to think how I felt when I drew my very first hand, thinking, “Well, this is going to be a huge undertaking, but I’ll just try and work steadily until it’s done.” Never did I think it would take 11 years. Exactly. I started in October of 2015, and finished today, October 30, 2026. I wanted to draw the same hand I did when I started this, so I did. It’s interesting; I drew the first hand in pencil, so I finished the last hand in pencil, but they don’t have the same look/feel. The first hand was much lighter, much smoother, and less bold. This hand is stronger, bolder, and not as smooth. I want to say each style is a representation of my own life at the time I drew each one. I feel like a whole different person than I...

Alright, here we are—one more hand to go, and I’ve achieved my goal of #100hands! It’s been quite the journey, and I’m so grateful to have completed what I promised myself. I’m especially proud that I didn’t give up when I felt like giving up on drawing for a while. Life can be tough, and sometimes you just don’t have the energy or motivation to create art. I’m hoping that once this series is finished, I’ll start painting again (I’ve been putting it off for too long). Anyway, this hand was done with a ballpoint pen—just a simple black thin writing pen. I wanted to see how it would look, and it’s surprisingly good, not as bad as I thought it would be. I’m planning to finish my last hand in this series tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to wrapping things up and moving on to my next art season!

Here’s hand 98! It’s crazy that I only have two hands left to complete my series. This journey has been exciting, a challenge, and a real reward all rolled into one. I’ve been eager to improve my hand drawings, but it seems like it’s been more of a lesson in patience, perseverance, and how art has been a constant companion through my life’s ups and downs over the past decade. I’m was hoping to become a better hand artist, but I’m wondering if this challenge became more a lesson on being a better person to others and myself. I think it has been more of a personal diary than just honing my art skills, even though I know I haven’t gotten any worse at it, so it’s been worth it. I drew this hand with Micron pen, and the shadows, curves, and bumps made it a real challenge. I hope it’s given me some insights for the next one hopefully tomorrow!

Here I am, just a few hands away from the end! I’ve sketched this one in Micron pen and added a splash of color. I’m really enjoying this hand, though it turned out a bit more rough than I planned. Every hand is a learning experience, and mistakes are just part of the journey for artists. I’m aiming to wrap up the last three hands later this week. Until next time…

Wow, I’ve got four hands left until I reach my 100th! It’s been quite the journey to get here. I’m thinking about how long ago I first drew a hand in this series and how different my life was back then. How time changes us, and art changes right along with us too. I feel my style has kind of shifted a little, not a lot, but some. It’s like I see things differently now than I did 10 years ago. Anyway, I drew this hand in Micron pen again and added color, which was nice. I like the composition here with the leaves and stems adding some organic element and pops of color. I’ll do my next hand soon and see where it takes me!

Wow, I’ve reached hand #95! It feels like ages since I started, and I’m really excited to wrap up the 100th hand soon. I’ve been working on this project for over a decade, and it’s been a huge lesson in staying patient, kind to myself, and persistent, even when I didn’t draw for months. Life can be unpredictable, with ups and downs that might make you want to give up, but sticking with it through tough times can make you stronger and more resilient. This art project feels like a reflection of life itself. You can’t control where life takes you, so you might as well push through it, even if it’s not easy. Anyway, I drew a hand holding a lime, and this was done with Micron pen with added color. I’m planning to start my next hand very soon!

This hand was a bit of a challenge for me—the shadows felt quite harsh, and things started to get a bit too dark. But since you can’t erase pen, I just went with it. Overall, the drawing is darker and rougher than I’d hoped, but it’s still strong, expressive, and bold. I’ll try a new hand next time and see if I can improve my shading skills.

I sketched a new hand position today that I found quite interesting! It had the wrist angled to the right, and the fingers pushing together downward. I used Micron Pen and added a splash of green to make it pop. I’m excited about the #100th hand, which is just 7 away—wow! I’m eager to see what new hand position I’ll try next!

I’m making steady progress, and I’ve reached 92! It’s getting so close to 100 hands that I’m really looking forward to the finish line. I did run into a few snags with this drawing, but I managed to work through them, and I’m happy with how some of it turned out. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m learning through trial and error with the Micron Pen, and it’s not the most forgiving tool since you can’t erase lines. But I’m still happy with how much I’ve improved my pen skills. I’ll be working on a new hand tomorrow with a fresh perspective!

So here I am at the 91st hand—it feels like I’m getting so close to my 100th! This one was done with a Micron pen, and I focused on the form, shading, and muscles in the palm. Even after 91 hands, I still find them a challenge, especially with pen since you can’t erase, but I’m proud of myself for using pen to improve my skills. I’m already thinking about what I’ll want to work on next after I finish 100 hands. I’ll keep my eyes on my hands for now!

Wow, I’ve reached 90 hands! It’s amazing that I’ve been drawing almost daily for about four weeks now. I took a long break from art because I just didn’t feel like it. But as I’ve been drawing more, I’m starting to feel it coming back. I did this hand as a challenge, knowing it would be tough, but that’s why I did it. I really liked the way the stacked fingers stood tall. I’m happy with most of it, but as always, pen is a challenge, and I can’t correct things once they’re on paper. Pen is fun though—it’s immediate and bold, while pencil is softer and you can layer and build more. Anyway, I’ll be doing another hand soon!