Day 18: Keeping the matcha green

Hey, I’m Susan! I’m an artist, and I’m doing a 100-day sketchbook project: painting daily, and writing about it here. Sharing the ugly and pretty pages. If you enjoy it, I’d love if you share it.

I painted early yesterday, but the writing… that’s where it all slowed down.

I’ve noticed a pattern: I keep delaying my Substack writing, and perfection always gets in the way. I kept rewriting, editing, tweaking, wanting it to feel just right. And before I knew it, it was past midnight!

The post went out, but just one second late and it looked like I’d skipped a day. I was so annoyed with myself.

Now it’s all messed up.

Later I reminded myself that this is an experiment.

This project is about practicing how to show up with my writing as much as with my daily painting and to find some rhythm between the two.

It’s not about striving for perfection. After all, who cares!

I kept the green today. Some people said they liked it when I shared it on Notes. Since I still had paint left, that became my starting point. I limited myself to four simple shapes again, but of course, I couldn’t resist adding some details.

Simplicity and perfection come and go. Maybe the real practice is noticing when to let them go and when to let it lead.