Even a quick, small sketch 4.5" x 6" on some note paper can get the creative juices flowing
“How am I supposed to make
art, promote it, take care of my family, exercise, and stay sane?!”
How
often have you hard this complaint—and it is a complaint—or said it
yourself? In other words, people want to know how to juggle all of the tasks in
one’s life—or at least all of the tasks that someone WISHES they could
fit in.
Here’s
the fact: You can’t do it all.
You will never be able to get everything done that you want to do. Get that
straight and get on with things. Give up whining about not having enough time
and, instead, spend your time getting stuff done.
What
is most alarming to me are the artists who want to build careers but are
struggling to find time to work in their studios. Here’s another fact: You cannot be a
serious artist without regular
studio time! You must find a way to make art on a
consistent basis.
If
you are one of the artists wrestling with a commitment to your studio, I have a
solution:
(Read
the rest of the article by Alyson Stanfield
here.)
Spend
just 15 minutes a day checking in with your art. This is all you need to
promise yourself at this point. If you go longer, great! If it’s just 15
minutes, well, that’s okay, too.
You
could spend your 15 minutes making art. This is fine if you work quickly or on
a small scale, but what if you have to haul out oil paints, lots of tools, or
heavy machinery? In these cases, consider spending your 15 minutes doing any of
the following :
· Sketching
or going through previous sketches
· Taking
photographs for inspiration
· Preparing
to make art (sharpening tools, priming canvases, cutting paper)
· Studying
and analysing a piece of your art
· Studying
someone else’s
art in relation to your own
However
you decide to spend your 15 minutes, I suggest that it be done IN your studio
or, if that’s not possible, at least surrounded by lots of your art...
Of
course you cannot build a career as a professional artist by spending only 15
minutes a day in the studio, but you can use your 15
minutes to work toward a larger goal. Or, the 15 minutes can help you move past
a creative block.
The
point of the 15 minutes is not to try to create a masterpiece within that short
time frame. The point is to stay connected with your art every day. This
connection will feed you. It will make you a happier person and a less frustrated
artist.
FINAL
WORD: If you’re
in a slump or need to reconnect with your art, devote 15 minutes a day to the
studio. It shouldn’t be the last thing you do! Studio hours should be scheduled
for your peak creativity time. When you procrastinate studio time, you
procrastinate your career. You’re telling yourself and everyone in your life
that making art is your lowest priority.
