Would you like coffee? If you are the coffee lover, you are about to discover something surrel. Coffee is not just good to drink, it is a great to paint with too. This year, for “The 100 Day Project,” I chose to paint for 100 days with coffee. I would like to explore various techniques and effects.
Leggi in Italiano – Версия на русском языке
What is “the 100 day project”?
#The100DayProject is a free, global art project that takes place online. Every year, thousands of people all around the world commit to 100 days of creating. Anyone can participate.
The seeds of The100DayProject began in 2008 at an artist retreat near Traverse City, Michigan. The 5-day retreat was co-lead by artists Louisa Barkalow and Ann Russ. Participants were invited to hang a simple piece of artwork they made each day on a piece of twine strung across a doorway at the retreat house. The purpose of this simple, warm-up exercise was to get the creative juices flowing.
In 2012, Ann Russ approached Tiina Harris, Director of the Marquette Arts & Culture Center (MACC) about having a 100 day project exhibit at the gallery there. In October 2013, an exhibit “The100DayProject: The Art of Practice and the Practice of Art” was installed in the MACC gallery and generated significant interest.
Since January 2014, 100 day projects have launched annually. Ann continues to support it as volunteer co-organizer. The 100DayProject has since spread beyond its Midwest roots and is now a global phenomenon. I’ve been participating in this challenge since 2019.
The project
I started painting with coffee in 2016 when I presented a coffee painting for the first time at Parattissima Turin art fair. It was a part of the “Watercolor different” project.
The idea of the project was simple: anything that stains can become a pigment for painting. Over the years, I have returned time and again to explore the chromatic potential of Italy’s most beloved beverage.
Materials are simple: ground coffee beans or instant coffee, brushes, and watercolor paper. I chose an 8×10.5 cm mini album of 200 g/m2 rough watercolor paper from Hahnemuhle, a gift from “Matite in Viaggio” association.
One week 100 people. A project in project.
From March 9th to 15th, I brought coffee to the streets of Milan. For “One Week 100 People 2026” art challenge I combined coffee and ink to tell the story of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
I sketched from my street photos taken in Milan during the winter Olympic games.
But let’s take a step back. #OneWeek100People art challenge is an informal global initiative that asks artists to sketch 100 people in seven days. This challenge, now is in its 10th year. The co-founders are Liz Steel and Marc Taro Holmes Holmes.
The two friends met at the International Urban Sketchers Symposium in Lisbon in 2011 and began the challenge as a way to stay connected. Since then it has grown into a phenomenon within the Urban Sketchers community, with hundreds taking part around the world. I’ve been participating in this challenge since 2018.
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