Sitting at the dining room table this morning, I was thinking just how much I'd like to be creating art today. But gee....the dishes still need to be washed, the dogs need walking, I have a few emails to answer, laundry to fold and I need to get dressed. And, oh, I need to go to work.
Since I have not been "discovered" yet as an artist, I still need to work full time to pay the bills. I have a hubby who is well-cared for, 3 furry children that need to be fed, walked and need loads of attention. I still enjoy cooking every night and my house, while not immaculate, is kept reasonably clean. And not to mention all the time spent at the computer. Keeping up with email is a task in itself but now there is a variety of social media calling to us. I have a Linked In profile, a personal facebook page, a business facebook page and belong to several online artist organizations which all vie for my attention. I haven't even attempted the numerous other social media options so I am sorely behind the times and yet, I have no time left.
So when do I find the time to create art? Not often enough!! So my question to all of you artists in the same boat as myself, how do you do it all? I guess until the day becomes more than 24 hours long, I'll keep asking the question. Meanwhile, I'm going to make a concerted effort to do something artistic everyday. Even if it's drawing or painting just one stroke. Sooner or later, I will have art. And art is calling my name!
3 comments:
My solution was to "retire" after I was laid off from my job. I had the good fortune to be at a time in my life when that was possible. But even now, without a full time job outside the home, it can be difficult to make time for art. Life just has a way of crowding in.
I think each artist has to figure out if they can work at their art in bits and pieces or if they need big chunks of time to really make progress. Either way, finding the time might mean sacrificing something else that is nonessential, having a family pow-wow to see how a small change or two in when/what gets done by you might give you more time for art, or just deciding to sleep less and use some quiet time in the late evenings a couple of days a week for your art.
Having a dedicated space so you don't have to assemble and disassemble your working materials every time can be a great time saver. And it gives you a sense of being in a haven dedicated to your creativity. I have a studio in my home, but before I had this dedicated space, I seemed to always be crammed into a corner of a bedroom or the family room.
Oh gosh, it's definitely not easy... especially when family takes precedence over everything. I usually draw every few days or so, and most of the time it's in the middle of the night when it's quiet. I would love to produce something new every day or more often than that like some other artists do (I am amazed at their dedication), but I just can't find the time between family, my websites, and other real life drama! If I could only add more hours to each day... but that would probably still not be enough. :)
I too work full time at a job. My jobactually requires a bit more than full time. Every week, I say I am going to devote one night a week and one weekend period of at least 4 hours to it.
It is only when I schedule it (I am going to paint Tuesday, beginning at 6) that it happens.
This week, I am missing out on a movie, but I will paint this evening.
I totally agree with needing a separate space. Mine tends to get disorganized, and then I have to "waste" painting time to get it back to being a useful space.
It's hard because I truly believe that I could make a living at my art if I had the time to devote to it. I battle depression because I often feel my days are wasted.
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