Fort Williams 365 Project

Stephanie Bowe of Cape Elizabeth, Maine took a photo a day in her Fort Williams 365 Project...

Why did you decide to do this project?  I have started this page as a way to journal my 365 Project for 2014. Living so close to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, I have always appreciated its beauty. Even though I live in the same town, I never seem to go there as much as I should. I have decided to visit the park every day during 2014. It is famous for being the home of the historic Portland Headlight lighthouse, but I want to commit to exploring and getting to know all the nooks and crannies of the park. I hope to really observe how people use this wonderful gem in my town and grow ever more grateful that I get to live near it.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I am on the verge of completing my 365 project for the year 2014. What began as a daily challenge for myself has now become part of my daily habit. The park that I photographed every day this year has not only become very well-known to me but feels as though it is part of me now. The exercise of going to the park every day and photographing a moment from my time there has opened my eyes to a new way of experiencing the park and my time there. Although I was able to capture some spectacular images ( others not so much), the intention was to journal my project. Through this journaling, I became more observant, mindful and grateful and I truly believe it has made a positive difference in my life and how I view the world around me. I am eager to start another 365 project for 2015 and see where it will guide me.

 See all of Stephanie's photos HERE.

365 Days of Luck

Gina Hampen of Santa Fe, Texas is back with another daily project, this time it's about fate, fortune, and luck!

Why did you decide to do this project? In 2011 I did a blog and tried for 366 days of fans but didn't quite make a whole year. It was a very interesting and rewarding project and I enjoy going back to review all the entries from time to time. When I look at them I am amazed by some of the things I had to come up with to make the daily deadline. I have begun printing the photos into book form using Snapfish and I must say I get a warm glow from seeing my little books all lined up on the bookshelf. Only 4 volumes are done so far.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I'm really rusty, both creatively and with the blogging. I expect to stretch my mental muscles and learn some new skills. I've done almost two weeks and already feel more alert to possibilities for creativity everywhere. I love the anticipation of a piece waiting to be made every day. Very happy to be back!

See all of Gina's lucky posts HERE.

And see her original 365 interview HERE.

Creative Quests

Karen Richards in Eugene, Oregon is spending a year doing Creative Quests. She explains, "I am tackling a different creative challenge each month. I started in September with comics and cartoons, did photography in October, and creatively lettered inspirational quotes (along with Nanowrimo) in November. I am playing with paper art and crafts in December. And from there to January and beyond."

Why did you decide to do this project? In the past few years, I’ve devoted myself to several projects that required creating something every day. I’ve seen many benefits from the practice and I believe sharing my prompts and process will help me keep a record of my progress and may help others. Over time, I hope to try several new art forms and learn about social media. My ultimate goal is to determine how all my artsy interests fit together, and might be conglomerated, juxtaposed, or blended into a new, better-formed, and professional, direction.

How has doing a yearlong/daily project affected your life? I love the excitement and the “eyes open” feeling I’ve had every day. So far, I have continued to be enthusiastic and immersed in thinking up and executing each challenge. As a bonus, I’ve had a couple of ideas about how to focus my creativity in the longer term. In the meantime, it feels like such a beneficial practice to search for new materials, new ways of seeing and interpreting, each day. For example, I used different methods for making letters every day in November. Just when I thought I might be out of ideas, I spied the Sriracha sauce in the refrigerator or the twist ties in the junk drawer, and I found myself experimenting until I was satisfied with the result.

See all of Karen's quests HERE.