I can't believe I'm here updating you on the progress of my art project – it's been quite a journey! I've hit the 300-art-piece mark, and honestly, it feels like a surreal accomplishment. When I crossed the 200 mark, something incredible happened. I felt a calling, a nudge from the Lord, guiding me to create an illustrated Bible study.

Inspired by the movie "Julie & Julia," I have embraced the challenge of creating 524 art pieces in one year. Now, at art piece number 135, I am on a transformative journey of self-discovery, creativity, and growth. The support of my artistic community and the joy of progress fuel my determination to complete all 524 pieces by next April 10th. This undertaking is not merely about reaching the destination but cherishing the transformative power of the artistic process itself. With each stroke of the brush, I find myself becoming more connected to my true self, and for that, I am eternally grateful to "Julie & Julia" for sparking this artistic odyssey.

In a world where it’s really easy to spend the majority of our time consuming things all the time — podcasts, T.V., Youtube, Tiktok, and Instagram to name a few, it can feel really good to make things and contribute to the world instead of just absorbing it all mindlessly.

I’m about two months into my year-long art challenge and the benefits from making things daily are showing me how profound it is to use my hands to make things instead of my eyes to guzzle up all the media that surrounds me on a daily basis.

I’ve learned a few things from this experiment that I’d like to share with you so that you can also make more things and get intentional with your time.

The last few weeks have been a season of go, go, go and I was not loving it. My spirit much prefers time to paint, ponder, coach, and not go anywhere in my car for a few days at a time. However with the end of the school year and three kids being in school, I’ve been trucking kids around and running errands non-stop. And if you add in the fact that I got strep throat again this week for the fourth time this year since January, it’s been pretty exhausting. However, I continue to paint and have been working hard to keep up with my promise to myself to stay on track with my 524 paintings in 365 days. So far I am 43 days in and have completed 19 paintings. I have some catching up to do.

It is day ✨SIX✨of my 365 day challenge and today I wanted to paint something to remind myself and anyone who sees this to never underestimate the power of hope. Without hope we have nothing. I am loving this challenge and having the purpose each day to create something new and something different from the day before.
If you have an idea for something that you want me to paint, I would love your suggestions. I have been loving painting birds, little animals, butterflies, flowers and of course doing my signature hand lettering. So basically, I love anything nature related. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for me? Reach out at hello@brookedeboer.com.

There’s a strange kind of beauty in art commissions. Two commissions came in today from my college roommate Emilie for her two daughters new rooms in their new house. One of the girls asked for a beluga whale and the other asked for a polar bear. I’ve never painted either of those animals but I am always up for a challenge and pretty sure I can do it! Stay tuned in the next couple of days for videos of me painting them to come out on Instagram.

It’s Day Two in my 365 day challenge to paint 524 paintings. So far I’m up to five paintings and things are off to a strong start. Yesterday and today I time-lapse filmed myself painting and made little videos using the Vixer app to share on Instagram. I’ll link what I did below so you can see what my painting process is like. Today’s painting was of four pink and red poppies amongst some greenery and whimsical detailing.

I recently was inspired by an old movie I watched where the main character makes 524 recipes in 365 days. The movie was called Julie and Julia and was based on a true story involving French-American chef Julia Child and New York writer Julie Powell. Julie Powell was feeling a little lost in life and so she decided to embark on a year-long challenge where she would cook her way through Julia Child’s famous cookbook within a year.