Day 31: Get outside

follow what feels right

Mar 24, 2026

Hello, friends—

You’re a month in! How does it feel? After a decade of facilitating, I find that this is often the point in the project where things can really start to shift. Some people drop off here, bored of their project. Others are just finding their groove, excited by the days ahead. It’s all normal. Find a way to keep going. That might mean letting the idea you had for your project evolve. You can go deeper or you might be ready to follow your curiosity in a different direction. Often the answer is simply to follow what feels right.

Today’s interview feels like a good reminder of that. Claire Chandler is a London-based abstract painter who moves between sketchbook and studio, between quick drawings in the parks of south London and large canvases that pulse with light and color.

You’ve described drawing outdoors as “where everything begins.” What does that space give you that the studio doesn’t?

I find inspiration for my work in the landscape. It’s not just about what I see, it’s the whole experience of being outdoors. The weather, the light, sounds, colours, shapes and atmosphere of the land, skies and sea. These elements are what continue to energise and inspire me.
I find inspiration on my doorstep. My local parks and green spaces, all within walking and sketching distance from my home in south London can often be the starting point for new paintings.

Most people would see charcoal on paper and oil on canvas as completely separate practices—but you call the transition between them natural. What connects them for you?

Charcoal is such a versatile medium; its matte, tonal smudginess, is perfect for expressive mark-making. I use charcoal like I would my paint, brushing it on, smearing it, it’s so easy to manipulate, rub off and re-apply! Once I’ve established the tonal qualities I’m always excited to jump in with colour.

You’ve started The 100 Day Project three times and only finished once. What was different about the year you “crossed the finish line,” as you described it?

The project I completed was 100 days of sketchbook pages. It was not about a particular subject but just making a mark on a page each day. Of course one mark follows another and off you go!
What made it easy for me was that my sketchbook was tiny (A6) and it was transportable. This is key for me as I’m always out and about.
I drew in biro or pencil, whatever I had to hand that day… if I was in my studio I used paint. It has to be fun and something you really look forward to doing, I was continually surprising myself with new ideas, colour combinations and marks that would then enthuse my artwork.

We’re heading towards what people often call the “messy middle” of a big creative challenge. What do you do when the momentum stalls or the work stops feeling exciting?

Look back at how far you’ve come and congratulate yourself on your progress and what you’ve achieved so far… it’s so rewarding when you can see an improvement or patterns in what you’re doing. I found the prompts and seeing other people’s projects really spurred me on! I do this challenge alongside my students who are also taking part and we all encourage each other.

What do you hope this project gives you by day 100?

A whole load of new ideas for my paintings! I also really appreciate taking 5 minutes for myself each day to do something creative. My sanctuary has always been in nature. Drawing for me is meditative, spending time outdoors, even just for a few minutes, is hugely important for wellbeing in our busy, fast-paced lives.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I currently have a solo show at Art Movement Gallery in London SW11 until 28 March. You can pop in and see my sketchbooks and paintings if you’re nearby!

Thank you, Claire! Have you noticed that “it has to be fun and something you really look forward to doing” is a through line of these interviews? If your project has started to feel like homework, that’s your signal to find the version of it that feels like Claire’s tiny A6 sketchbook.

You can connect with Claire via her website or follow her @clairechandlerart for more.

FOR YOUR PROJECT TODAY

Go outside! Take whatever you’re working with and do today’s work somewhere other than where you usually do it. If outside isn’t possible, find a window, a different room, a different chair. Notice how location changes what you make.

FOR INSPIRATION

Look at Claire’s charcoal sketches next to her studio paintings. Different mediums, different scale, but you can feel the same wild natural energy and aliveness. The medium changes, but something essential stays.