Finding Time for Art
When you don't have time
I’d bet you’re like me. Trying to find enough time to be creative with the thing that fills your bucket and feeds your soul. It can be a challenge sometimes when life, so fabulous, and always getting in our way.
I’m trying to make it easier on myself. There are just phases in life, seasons that are harder than others. It’s so busy for me right now, but I wanted to take the time to put into words what’s working for me right now.
One thing I’ve done is I’ve packed a new little sketchbook pack to carry with me in my purse or vehicle.
Another thing is I’m keeping a ready-to-go set of supplies so I can easily drop everything a get outside for some plein-air artmaking.
Also, I’m scheduling my ‘Studio Time’ as I would any other appointment or shift.
Another is also making a mind-shift that reading the book I just started as being my pleasure time to fit in, and my studio time as a thing I do, as often as possible with no apologies.
Some short-length videos I made recently:
The Best Ways to Clean Paint From Your Brushes and Hands
I Fixed the Spine of My Sketchbook, Here's How...
Did I Find a Good Deal? Budget Watercolor Brush Review
How I Used Up Bad Paint & Turned a Journal Into a Sketchbook
I Organized My Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors, Here's How I Did It.
Some Short-form Videos I put out recently:
A Blooper Starring The Same Photo-bomber as Usual.... Yep, it's Hobbes
So cool! An Acrylic Skin Surprise While Making Acrylic Skins.
Fabulous & Satisfying! Peeling Off the 1st Acrylic Skin.
Should You Dry Out This Gouache In A Palette?
Here's How My 1st Acrylic Marker Turned Out, I Love It!
Watercolor Powders + A Little Creativity = Wow!
Satisfying Acrylic Art Skin Peel You Have To See!
Some recent Substack posts to check out or re-read:
Things of interest to me lately
I’m reading ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ by John Steinbeck (Amazon link)
Supplies I’m using a lot this season so far are about 5 sketchbooks laid out, rotating as one dries. I’m using a lot of soft pastels, deep black charcoal, Stabilo ALL pencils, Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils, and Art Graph in a tin.
These can be found on either the Blick or Utrecht websites.
I’ve been working on value studies. Examining shadow & light.
I’ve been listening to podcasts as I paint in my studio on Spotify. I recently finished ‘Strike-Force 5’ (Kimmel, Oliver, Meyers, Colbert, & Fallon), ‘Ultra’ from Rachel Maddow, ‘Bag-man’ also from Rachel Maddow.
I’m planning to see a great exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. I also plan to check out a gallery about an hour from me with a college art friend.
I’ve been Plein-air art-making as much as possible, even if it’s just in my own backyard. I’m making the time when permitted.
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I hope this finds you well. Take care of yourselves and one another.
Until next time,
Ciao, Elizabeth
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