The Global Impact of the #OneWeek100People Challenge

The #OneWeek100People challenge, co-founded by artists Liz Steel and Marc Taro Holmes, invites participants to sketch 100 people within a week. Launched in 2016, the initiative has grown into a global phenomenon within the Urban Sketchers community, encouraging artists to engage with their surroundings through drawing. The challenge emphasizes enjoyment and personal growth rather than perfection, allowing anyone to participate and share their work using the hashtag.

The Guardian

Liz Steel, an architect turned art educator, and Marc Taro Holmes, also an art educator, initiated the challenge as a way to maintain their artistic connection after meeting at the International Urban Sketchers Symposium in Lisbon in 2011. Their goal was to create an ambitious yet accessible challenge that promotes drawing without the pressure of self-criticism. Holmes notes, “Quantity is the only goal, not quality,” highlighting the importance of practice over perfection.

The Guardian

Participants like Quincy Nadel, who began sketching in her thirties, describe the challenge as a form of “exposure therapy” for their perfectionism. Nadel emphasizes that sketching allows her to observe the world more closely, stating, “My sketchbook has become a record of me being ‘here’ instead of ‘online’.” She finds beauty in the interactions of strangers and aims to capture the small details that tell stories, rather than striving for perfect likenesses.

The Guardian

Steel and Holmes argue that sketching fosters a deeper engagement with the environment. Holmes explains that drawing requires active observation, contrasting it with the passive consumption of media. Steel adds that sketching creates a “tactile relationship” with the surroundings, allowing artists to remember not just the visuals but also the sounds and conversations of the moment. This immersive experience can lead to increased empathy and gratitude for everyday life, as noted by Nadel.

The Guardian

The challenge is designed to be inclusive, with no expensive materials required. Steel advises participants to simplify their sketches and use limited tools, making the challenge adaptable to individual preferences. She encourages participants to focus on sketching more than usual, regardless of whether they reach the target of 100 sketches. “We wanted an activity that you can’t fail,” Holmes states, emphasizing the fun and gamified nature of the challenge.

The Guardian

The #OneWeek100People challenge not only promotes artistic practice but also encourages participants to engage with the world around them. As Nadel suggests, putting down phones to observe life at eye level can reveal a wealth of experiences often overlooked. The challenge serves as a reminder of the beauty in ordinary moments and the connections formed through shared observation.

The Guardian