Weekly Art Practice: Progress, Frustration, and Small Wins

This week, I focused on several small studies and continued working on a multi-session portrait. While I don’t have a finished piece to show (apart from the study pieces), I’ve been reflecting on how that lack of “completion” affects my sense of accomplishment.

Last week left me feeling excited and optimistic about my progress, but this week brought some frustration. It was one of those weeks where my skills felt inadequate, and my results didn’t meet my expectations. These moments are challenging but important reminders of how growth isn’t always linear.

One highlight was another landscape study. While I wasn’t entirely happy with the result, I see landscape studies as a way to strengthen my composition, shape design, values, and color skills. It’s an area I want to keep exploring, even if it feels slow going at times.

On a lighter note, I did a quick, very small (10x10cm) study from a photo I took some time ago. It was fun, and I realized how much I enjoy these tiny, manageable projects. They’re a great way to stay creative without the pressure of a larger piece.

I also practiced mixing skin tones, using my own hand as a reference. That exercise was surprisingly enjoyable! It’s something I’ll definitely revisit, as it’s a great way to fine-tune my color-matching skills.

While this week didn’t feel like a leap forward, it was still a step. These small studies, experiments, and even frustrations are all part of the process. Here’s to another week of practice, exploration, and progress—however it may look!