Fitting art into a busy life
Do you ever find yourself saying ‘I'd love to make more art, but I just don't have the time?'
Life is so full of commitments and distractions, and sometimes the things that we really want to do can end up being pushed to the bottom of the list. Creativity can be one of the first things to be forgotten- but it can enrich our lives and reduce stress. So here are five tips for getting creative when time is short!
Set a time
Routine can be a huge helper when it comes to building a creative habit. Try to set aside a regular time to draw. If this can be every day- brilliant! If it's twice a week- great! If you're an early bird- get up ten minutes earlier. If you have a scenic commute- pull over for five minutes to sketch the view from your car. If you spend time watching your kids do sports practice- take a sketchbook and draw as you cheer them on! Draw your lunch at your desk or doodle as you're watching tv in the evening.
Size matters
Michaelangelo didn't paint the Sistine Chapel in ten minutes! If you're pushed for time, keep your creations small, or choose a chunky brush or pen to fill a bigger space.
Release the pressure
Do you find yourself procrastinating because you don't want to ruin a good sketchbook? Take the pressure off by working on loose sheets of paper, post-it notes, envelopes or the inside of cardboard boxes and kraft mailers. This is affordable and sustainable. Draw whatever you feel like, and if you don't like your results you can always pop them in the recycling- then try again!
Play, play, play
Now we're all grown up, it's easy to forget that we still need to have fun sometimes! Treat your sketches as a playground or a science lab- an uncharted territory to explore and have fun. Experiment with ideas, materials and techniques- no matter how wacky. The results are secondary to the fun you have when you're creating.
Use projects and prompts
One of the barriers to creating can be deciding what to create! Having a project or using a prompt list can help with this. You could come up with your own list of ideas that you fancy illustrating, or you might like to take part in a challenge like World Watercolour Month (July) or Inktober (October). These often have optional prompts to help get you inspired. Remember, it's ok if you skip a day or five, and it's fine to pivot and try something else if you get bored! It's meant to be fun- not an endurance test. You might also enjoy taking a class (I have a couple here)
Keep your supplies at the ready
If you keep your supplies accessible, you'll be way more likely to use them. When you're tired, having to walk into the next room and open a drawer can be enough to extinguish the creative spark! Try to keep your supplies in the room where you're most likely to create. Have a sketchbook and a small pencil case at the ready on your coffee table, or slip a small watercolour paintbox and pad of paper into a cupboard in easy reach of your kitchen table studio.
Keen to get a sketching habit started? Travel Sketching In The Wild is an online course to help you learn quick sketching techniques that you can use at home or when you’re off on adventures.
Travel Sketching in the Wild is aimed at beginners or intermediate artists who want to speed up, loosen up and get the confidence to take their art into the great outdoors (whether that’s your backyard, the local park or a multi-day adventure). You’ll learn how to create expressive art in just a few minutes.