Over the years I have been asked by numerous artists how it is that I make time for my painting.
You see, I'm a pretty busy lady. We live on an acreage, I bake almost daily, there is constant work to be done around the house, and I have five children. Yup, you read that right, five kids.
My children are growing up. They're helpful, contributing family members now. I suppose what I mean by helpful is that they do clean their own laundry - when they're down to their last pair of jeans. They can wash the dishes - if there are no bowls left for ice-cream. They even know how to cook their own meals - if I'm serving that eye rolling, stomach turning, tuna casserole again. Yah, I guess you can say they're pretty helpful.
But they haven't always been so independent. Life was busy when they were younger - wait a minute, it's still busy! Who am I kidding. The point I'm getting at here is this; I am intentional - I MAKE time for my art. And today I want to share a few tips on how to make this possible in your own life.
My studio is a separate place from the busy-ness of life.
Not everyone can do this, I know. I am at a stage where I have a separate cabin from the house as my studio. But I haven't always had a studio that I can leave the house, walk into, and simply close the door behind me.
I have tried over the years to find a quiet corner where I could set up my table and supplies. A spot that was not the kitchen table and I could walk away leaving my work behind without feeling like I needed to move it, or clean it up. This would also allow me to walk up to a work in progress, look at it, think about it, and carry on with whatever it was I was doing.
Having your own space is very important to the creative process.
I plan a 'set time' for creating in my day.
Everyone's day is different, and I'm finding as my children are getting older, the look of an average day is changing for me. Right now my schedule allows me to do any computer/administrative work for my art in the early mornings. My studio time is after lunch until the kids come home from school. I try to keep this schedule as regular as possible. Even if it means I am leaving a couple loads of laundry for later - or worse... tomorrow. It means I don't make or take phone calls in the afternoon, and it is a part of the routine I've had since my children were babes. Their nap time was my art time. The difference now is my art time-slot is just getting bigger, and I'm getting more accomplished.
Force yourself to create whether you are in the 'mood' or not.
You know that feeling. You you should paint, or create, but you're just not in the mood. You feel like you don't have it in you and it's so easy to busy yourself with something else. Usually something less creative, and more practical. But the truth is, the more you ignore creating, the more likely it can become a pattern.
To overcome this problem, I head to the studio anyways. It's a choice, a conscious decision. I pull out colours, and just play on paper. Even though I don't feel like it. I do know that eventually something will spark. An image in my creative space, a specific colour, or texture will eventually ignite some creativity, and before you know it.... I have an idea, or am ready to work on a painting. But it's also okay if that doesn't happen, and I choose to head back to the studio the following day to try again.
Believe that it's worth it.
You're worth it! A creative person is who you ARE. Creating is your gift to the world. To ignore it, and tell yourself that other tasks have more value may not be the truth. Too often I've listened to artists talk about this or that taking priority over creating. But months later they regret not spending time in the studio. Will you ever regret being a little behind on your laundry? Will you ever regret leaving a few weeds in the flower bed? Will you regret a dirty floor or disorganized closet?
Believe that the arts are worth your time and energy. I read this little quote and smiled the other day...
Without art the earth would just be 'eh' .
How are you nurturing your creativity today?
You see, I'm a pretty busy lady. We live on an acreage, I bake almost daily, there is constant work to be done around the house, and I have five children. Yup, you read that right, five kids.
My children are growing up. They're helpful, contributing family members now. I suppose what I mean by helpful is that they do clean their own laundry - when they're down to their last pair of jeans. They can wash the dishes - if there are no bowls left for ice-cream. They even know how to cook their own meals - if I'm serving that eye rolling, stomach turning, tuna casserole again. Yah, I guess you can say they're pretty helpful.
But they haven't always been so independent. Life was busy when they were younger - wait a minute, it's still busy! Who am I kidding. The point I'm getting at here is this; I am intentional - I MAKE time for my art. And today I want to share a few tips on how to make this possible in your own life.
My studio is a separate place from the busy-ness of life.
Not everyone can do this, I know. I am at a stage where I have a separate cabin from the house as my studio. But I haven't always had a studio that I can leave the house, walk into, and simply close the door behind me.
I have tried over the years to find a quiet corner where I could set up my table and supplies. A spot that was not the kitchen table and I could walk away leaving my work behind without feeling like I needed to move it, or clean it up. This would also allow me to walk up to a work in progress, look at it, think about it, and carry on with whatever it was I was doing.
Having your own space is very important to the creative process.
I plan a 'set time' for creating in my day.
Everyone's day is different, and I'm finding as my children are getting older, the look of an average day is changing for me. Right now my schedule allows me to do any computer/administrative work for my art in the early mornings. My studio time is after lunch until the kids come home from school. I try to keep this schedule as regular as possible. Even if it means I am leaving a couple loads of laundry for later - or worse... tomorrow. It means I don't make or take phone calls in the afternoon, and it is a part of the routine I've had since my children were babes. Their nap time was my art time. The difference now is my art time-slot is just getting bigger, and I'm getting more accomplished.
Force yourself to create whether you are in the 'mood' or not.
You know that feeling. You you should paint, or create, but you're just not in the mood. You feel like you don't have it in you and it's so easy to busy yourself with something else. Usually something less creative, and more practical. But the truth is, the more you ignore creating, the more likely it can become a pattern.
To overcome this problem, I head to the studio anyways. It's a choice, a conscious decision. I pull out colours, and just play on paper. Even though I don't feel like it. I do know that eventually something will spark. An image in my creative space, a specific colour, or texture will eventually ignite some creativity, and before you know it.... I have an idea, or am ready to work on a painting. But it's also okay if that doesn't happen, and I choose to head back to the studio the following day to try again.
Believe that it's worth it.
You're worth it! A creative person is who you ARE. Creating is your gift to the world. To ignore it, and tell yourself that other tasks have more value may not be the truth. Too often I've listened to artists talk about this or that taking priority over creating. But months later they regret not spending time in the studio. Will you ever regret being a little behind on your laundry? Will you ever regret leaving a few weeds in the flower bed? Will you regret a dirty floor or disorganized closet?
Believe that the arts are worth your time and energy. I read this little quote and smiled the other day...
Without art the earth would just be 'eh' .
How are you nurturing your creativity today?
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