Continuing the conversation with Elle Luna
what happens when you make art together
Hi, friends—
Yesterday, we started a conversation with Elle about how The 100 Day Project came to be—the walk, the lightbulb, the dinner table, the moment it tipped from idea to shared commitment.
If you missed Part 1, you can catch up here:
Let’s keep going! This part of the conversation moves into process painting, creative frustration, and why making alongside other people is often the missing piece.
You’ve been deeply rooted in process painting for a long time. Tell us about what this is and what it means to you.
I was sitting in front of a large canvas, maybe 12 feet long and 5 feet tall, when my painting teacher Stewart called.
“Thank you so much for calling me back,” I said. “I’m at this wonderful artist residency and I have two weeks to just paint and I’m totally stuck.”
“Stuck? Ut oh. Sounds serious,” he said with a mischievous chuckle.
Stewart is one of the pioneers of Process Painting, which is an orientation toward painting for the inherent value in the process itself, rather than painting for what it looks like (or what we think it’s supposed to look like or what we wish it would look like).
Stewart splits his time between Portland and a cabin he built himself in Alaska. He’s in his 80’s and teaches weekly on Zoom in front of a quilt that his students made for him made of their paintings printed onto fabric.
“So you’re stuck. Well, what does being stuck feel like?” he asked.
“It feels like I’m in a prison. I’m at this marvelous residency and I’m stuck. I can’t paint.”
“A prison, hmm,” he repeated, and then added, “Well, what if you paint yourself in prison?”
“You’re the best Stewart!” I said, standing up and lunging for paint, and we hung up.
I loaded my brush and dropped a big thick heavy prison right into the middle of my pastel lagoon. Wide bars and people climbing them and then a dolphin and above that some other people climbing the rocks, diving off the rocks, and suddenly I was out of prison.
How often do I ignore what’s actually happening in my direct experience because I have a plan for my art? And what if my art was autobiographical? Thoroughly autobiographical moment to moment? Could I really let go all the way? If not, what parts of me would I get to meet? And if so, what would that painting look like? Where would that art lead me? And most interestingly of all, who or what would be painting the painting?
This year you and your friend Heather Timken have decided to make art together for 100 days with a small group. What’s the power of group work?
Starting February 21st, Heather and I are offering a 14-week live class alongside The 100 Day Project: daily 30-minute co-working sessions (Monday–Friday) plus five Saturday workshops. No art experience needed—just bring your curiosity!
Here’s what Heather says about the power of group work:
“There is something that happens when we are making alongside others that can’t happen alone. It’s about being witnessed. When you’re creating together with people who are also risking, also staying with what’s difficult, and letting go of the outcome, it changes what’s possible. The group becomes a container that can hold more than you can hold by yourself. You don’t perform for anyone. You’re just working alongside them. That permission and companionship allows you to go further than you would on your own.”
Register here for the full class and/or the trial session, next Sunday, February 15th, 10a-12:30p PT.
Anything else you’d like to share?
My friend Michael Galpert and I are experimenting with building a free app that lasts 100 days and honors the art of witnessing that Heather mentions above.
We’re looking for beta testers. Is that you?
If so, sign up here.
See you all out there!
Thank you, Elle! Can’t wait to try out the app. Here’s where you can keep in touch with Elle and all of the wonderful things she’s making in the world.
Website: elleluna.art
Instagram: @elleluna
Elle has a real gift for creating magical spaces—we quite literally would not be here today, as a community of 60K+ from all around the world, without her. Collectively, we’ve made and shared 2.5M works of art. And it started with an idea…maybe I could…maybe WE could!
Just think about where your idea might take you and who it might reach…
The project starts February 22nd. More soon!
XO,
Lindsay
I would love to help beta test the app, but the link in the email doesn't work. When I go to the website, the link for beta tester tries to open up my computer email account (which I don't use). You may already have everyone you need, but I'd love to help test.