Back in 2013, I began a project to create a new sketch every day. Initially, I planned to do it for a month to test the waters. However, I quickly found myself extending the project to two months, then eventually to a full year.

According to psychologists, after 70 days of doing something consistently, it becomes a habit. That’s precisely what happened with my daily sketching routine, and nearly ten years later, it’s still a regular part of my artistic activity.

Regardless of how productive or unproductive my week has been, I can always look at my seven daily sketches and know that I’ve accomplished something. About six months into the project, I started sharing my sketches on social media, even though some of them were hit and miss at first. But over time, posting them became just as habitual as the sketching itself, and eventually, people started asking if they could purchase prints.

According to psychologists, after 70 days of doing something consistently, it becomes a habit.

That’s when I opened an online shop on Etsy and, later, on my personal website. I learned that no matter how obscure I thought a sketch was, there was always someone somewhere looking for it. In fact, the more personal the sketch, the more likely it was to find a buyer. Instead of worrying about the subject or quality of my work, I simply pressed on. I post even the loosest and most hurried sketches, which not only shows that we all have off days but also encourages young artists who may feel intimidated by the thought of sharing their own work.

Over the years, my daily sketching project turned into a profession, with businesses contacting me to license my artworks and commissions starting to appear. It’s not an easy path, and I doubt I’ll get rich anytime soon, but I’m doing what I love and paying the bills. I’ve learned a lot along the way and plan to share those findings in this blog. Please feel free to join me, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sean Briggs has spent 30+ years working in the publishing world. He now makes a living as a traditional and digital artist.