I wouldn't ever say that I didn't have a routine before this art challenge, but I definitely didn't go into the art studio EVERYDAY for two hours before. When I usually set out to try something daily...like try to lose weight or do yoga everyday it has never panned out. I have always given up or got distracted. I would lose momentum and go back to the same old thing. 

What I'm teaching myself right now with this challenge is that you have to show up for yourself. Daily practices are hard and I don't know if I will be able to continue getting into the studio everyday after January 1st but what I will commit to is staying true to my ambition, being realistic on what I can achieve, and checking in with myself. I will ask myself: What do you want, where do you want to go, and how do you want to learn? 

Isn't that what it's all about: to reflect, learn, and grow? At least, that's what art is for me.  

There is nothing like accomplishing some you set out to do. I don't want to speak too soon, since this art project isn't complete, but I don't know if I have ever made myself do something like this. I haven't even done an exercise challenge before (which I should probably do)! This art challenge has been inspiring and formative for me.

Eight days passed yesterday and I have new artist books, new pieces of art that I am really proud of. They are works of art that you are supposed to hold in your hand. You are supposed to touch them, engage with them, and ponder over their color and imagery.  The simplicity of my materials has made it very easy for me to complete a new book each day. This has been so helpful as this past week was a busy one for me. Also, because of my work schedule, I generally work on my books in the evenings. I have noticed that I am ready to reveal my new book on Instagram around 8 PM, so I will most likely keep up that routine. 

I am looking to expand and experiment. Look out for new mediums and approaches over the next coming weeks! Week one is complete, now onto week two!

You can follow my artist challenge for the next month on my Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/jesreyes/

I am an artist that likes to stay busy. I am very curious and I like to challenge myself. Boredom isn't something I experience because I can always find something to tinker with. I think that's why I love interdisciplinary art. Blending genres and mediums is intriguing to me because the process allows me to experiment and express my thoughts and interests by incorporating multiple mediums. For example, through my filmmaking approach I explore poetry and the moving image.

I thought filmmaking offerred me something that no other medium could give me, but as I have been more open to merging painting on paper into my practice, I started to wonder what could I do that is similar to filmmaking but isn't filmmaking. I found myself looking into artist books. Especially, when earlier this year when I was developing a chapbook project. (I had to put that on the back-burner because of funding, but it's still in the works and will be published in late 2019...more on that another time).

So what is an artist book, you ask? It is art in book form. It can come in all shapes, sizes, and designs, on various surfaces, and it can be folded or bound. As a zine lover, avid reader, poet, and admirer of one-of-a-kind 3D objects, I thought, wow, I think this is a medium that might gather everything I like to do as as artist. As a filmmaker, I like to sequence images and create a non-linear narrative of sorts. As a painter, I like to play with the intuitive nature of abstract images. As a poet, I am interested in expressing personal emotion, experience, and connection. Can making a book blend all of this into one? I think so! 

My artist books for this challenge will primarily be made out of abstract  mixed media work on paper. They will range in size and will be folded. Since it's a challenge, I may incorporate learning how to bound a small book or incorporate collage. They will be small books so that I can easily do them in less than an hour. 

So here I am on Day Two. Yesterday, I completed my first book of the challenge. It's featured above. Later on today, I will work in my studio to begin another. I know there will be days where I will be so busy it may be hard to sit down and work on a book, but I will remind myself of my objective: to grow and do something new with my interests as an artist. Who knows where this could take me! 

You can follow my artist challenge for the next month on my Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/jesreyes/