Lovely to see your process. I’ve been doing a year long mixed media/ journaling style art course this year, with another abstract art challenge starting in July. If I’m working with something like that I feel a social pressure to join in and keep going. It keeps me anchored to my art practice. Having said that I failed miserably at day 11 of the 100 day challenge. It was too much and thankfully I respected myself enough to bow out. Currently I’m in the process of making birthday cards for friends and family.
There are so many art challenges (via instagram and FB) and small free and paid courses throughout the year that can help with momentum to keep doing art.
Hi Kim, I failed right around day 11 of the hundred day challenge too. You're not alone! I have signed up for so many mixed media art journaling courses I've lost track by now. It really is challenging for me to prioritize my art. So cool you've been doing a year long mixed media journaling course! That's inspiring.
Thank you Judy. I should point out that I’m retired and have no carer or other duties (other than general housework) but somehow the day just evaporates. Have you tried working small? Yesterday I worked on a 12cm x12cm piece and also with watercolour which takes less time to clean up.
Also sometimes I try to just do a page of markmaking to be expressive so not exactly an art piece.
HI Kim, There's always so much to do whether working outside of the home or not. I have tried working small and I do like the 12 x 12 format. Thanks for reminding me of this. I also love the idea of just doing mark making and not trying to do a completed piece. Thanks so much for your well wishes. I wish you well with your art practice too!
I can see how year long art classes can really help keep the momentum going. The abstract art challenge sounds interesting; which one is it? As for the 100 day project, it can easily get too much. I’ve found the most success at sticking with a 100 day challenge when I chose a subject that I was really interested in developing. I also never put pressure on myself to finish my project in 100 days — most times it took me almost half a year to finish the 100 days, but it was enriching, each time that I completed it.
I’m doing it with Lin Cheung via Mighty Networks. Lin is on instagram. She ran the course last year. It’s about shaking up your practice.
I have such a full July coming up too ☺️🥳 not sure how that happened.
At least you did the 100 days. I’m good for up to 30 days. In January I do a 30 day one with Cheryl Taves -also on instagram with the #insightcreative30daychallenge - there’s a nice bunch of people who turn up to do it. It’s the same prompts every year but so many ways to interpret.
In terms of my year long class - I’ve fallen behind but I have the videos for life, and if I’m honest not all the subject matter appeals.
Thank you so much for this entry! I really resonated with this line: "with seemingly never-ending to-do lists and responsibilities that sometimes make us wish we could run away into the woods and live alone in a cottage by a stream"---That is my dream!!! And yes, in that cottage by the stream time stretches out and I sit at my art desk and create to my heart's content. But, alas, I must work and pay the bills. I also really appreciated the excerpts from the Mary Oliver Poem--such a sobering reminder to prioritize what is truly important on a soul level. This is very hard for me to do. I love, love, love that you share your art process with us in your journal. It is so satisfying to see each step and see what emerges on the page. Your art is so wonderful and soulful.
I find time to do art just as you described--in pockets of time between things on my to do list and during those rare weekends when I can spend hours and hours at my desk lost in the process. I plan to set aside some time this weekend.
Ah, Judy! I’ve day dreamed about that cottage so often, imagining all the different ways and places where I could set up my studio, lol! But alas, the bills do need to be paid, don’t they? Which is why I love Mary Oliver’s words, as a reminder that if I don’t balance the mundane acts of living and earning a living wage with the magical act of making time for my creativity, mine would be a soulless existence indeed. Hope you had a wonderful time creating this weekend!
Recently, I realized that I need at least an hour daily to work on my novel. I'm not at a place where I can do that, yet, so I'm working on lowering some of my other commitments so that I can make that possible. That question has definitely been floating around in my mind for a bit!
That realisation is an important first step, Marissa. In addition to lowering commitments, maybe you can also consider how much time you spend on social media, etc, and see if you can lower that in favour of writing time?
Man, I love those Mary Oliver lines. And as someone who has never had an art journal practice, seeing yours stirs something in me!
Lately, the most effective way I’ve been making time for my creative practice is by being in community with other writers (and accountable to show up for workshops, writing groups, etc.) For years I thought of writing as a solitary practice for me, but I’m being proven wrong in the best way. 💛
What a tremendous visual answer!
Thank you for the juicy question!
I so enjoy your writing and watching your journal page come to life ✨️
Thank you so much, Monette.
Lovely to see your process. I’ve been doing a year long mixed media/ journaling style art course this year, with another abstract art challenge starting in July. If I’m working with something like that I feel a social pressure to join in and keep going. It keeps me anchored to my art practice. Having said that I failed miserably at day 11 of the 100 day challenge. It was too much and thankfully I respected myself enough to bow out. Currently I’m in the process of making birthday cards for friends and family.
There are so many art challenges (via instagram and FB) and small free and paid courses throughout the year that can help with momentum to keep doing art.
Hi Kim, I failed right around day 11 of the hundred day challenge too. You're not alone! I have signed up for so many mixed media art journaling courses I've lost track by now. It really is challenging for me to prioritize my art. So cool you've been doing a year long mixed media journaling course! That's inspiring.
Thank you Judy. I should point out that I’m retired and have no carer or other duties (other than general housework) but somehow the day just evaporates. Have you tried working small? Yesterday I worked on a 12cm x12cm piece and also with watercolour which takes less time to clean up.
Also sometimes I try to just do a page of markmaking to be expressive so not exactly an art piece.
Wishing you well with your art practice!
HI Kim, There's always so much to do whether working outside of the home or not. I have tried working small and I do like the 12 x 12 format. Thanks for reminding me of this. I also love the idea of just doing mark making and not trying to do a completed piece. Thanks so much for your well wishes. I wish you well with your art practice too!
The course overwhelm is real!! I’ve got a list of all the courses I’ve signed up for on Notion. That helps me to keep some sort of track of them.
I can see how year long art classes can really help keep the momentum going. The abstract art challenge sounds interesting; which one is it? As for the 100 day project, it can easily get too much. I’ve found the most success at sticking with a 100 day challenge when I chose a subject that I was really interested in developing. I also never put pressure on myself to finish my project in 100 days — most times it took me almost half a year to finish the 100 days, but it was enriching, each time that I completed it.
I’m doing it with Lin Cheung via Mighty Networks. Lin is on instagram. She ran the course last year. It’s about shaking up your practice.
I have such a full July coming up too ☺️🥳 not sure how that happened.
At least you did the 100 days. I’m good for up to 30 days. In January I do a 30 day one with Cheryl Taves -also on instagram with the #insightcreative30daychallenge - there’s a nice bunch of people who turn up to do it. It’s the same prompts every year but so many ways to interpret.
In terms of my year long class - I’ve fallen behind but I have the videos for life, and if I’m honest not all the subject matter appeals.
Thank you so much for this entry! I really resonated with this line: "with seemingly never-ending to-do lists and responsibilities that sometimes make us wish we could run away into the woods and live alone in a cottage by a stream"---That is my dream!!! And yes, in that cottage by the stream time stretches out and I sit at my art desk and create to my heart's content. But, alas, I must work and pay the bills. I also really appreciated the excerpts from the Mary Oliver Poem--such a sobering reminder to prioritize what is truly important on a soul level. This is very hard for me to do. I love, love, love that you share your art process with us in your journal. It is so satisfying to see each step and see what emerges on the page. Your art is so wonderful and soulful.
I find time to do art just as you described--in pockets of time between things on my to do list and during those rare weekends when I can spend hours and hours at my desk lost in the process. I plan to set aside some time this weekend.
Ah, Judy! I’ve day dreamed about that cottage so often, imagining all the different ways and places where I could set up my studio, lol! But alas, the bills do need to be paid, don’t they? Which is why I love Mary Oliver’s words, as a reminder that if I don’t balance the mundane acts of living and earning a living wage with the magical act of making time for my creativity, mine would be a soulless existence indeed. Hope you had a wonderful time creating this weekend!
Recently, I realized that I need at least an hour daily to work on my novel. I'm not at a place where I can do that, yet, so I'm working on lowering some of my other commitments so that I can make that possible. That question has definitely been floating around in my mind for a bit!
That realisation is an important first step, Marissa. In addition to lowering commitments, maybe you can also consider how much time you spend on social media, etc, and see if you can lower that in favour of writing time?
Man, I love those Mary Oliver lines. And as someone who has never had an art journal practice, seeing yours stirs something in me!
Lately, the most effective way I’ve been making time for my creative practice is by being in community with other writers (and accountable to show up for workshops, writing groups, etc.) For years I thought of writing as a solitary practice for me, but I’m being proven wrong in the best way. 💛
I think we can find some inspiration from Mary on almost any subject!
I’m so happy for you that you’ve found a community that supports your writing practice, and the accountability that comes with it, too!