A peak at my home studio
Let’s be real – finding time to create can be a challenge, but it can be done.
Many others before me have done it, like JK Rowling from Harry Potter fame and Joseph Cornell the collage artist, who both had full time jobs as they created their art. To give me an inspirational kick in the pants, I read about dozens of artists in Daily Rituals, an eye-opening book describing how 161 artists fit art into their lives on a practical level, starting with what time they got up each morning and what hours during the day (or night)they did their art. By the time I had read half the book, I realized what was missing from my commitment to create art – time to do it! So…
I needed a schedule, a VERY structured one, that would keep me focused on what matters most – creating art – while also nurturing my marriage, friends, community, and of course, my health.
Adding to this challenge is that my day gig often requires Monday-Friday travel, 3-4 weeks every month. For years I made my traveling lifestyle an excuse for not doing art. This ended on January 5, 2015, when I made a conscious decision to restructure my free time around what I most treasured, and to stop frittering away time on things that matter little to me (t.v., surfing the web, etc.). Now with a revamped website and many new collages, I can say that’s it working, while still a work in progress.
So here goes, my Monday – Friday daily ritual that I have been loosely adhering too since January 2015.
My schedule when home:
| 5:00 am | Alarm goes off |
| 5:15am | Make green drink (Dr. Axe green powder with juice from one lemon and 12 oz of water), meditate, read inspiring book, journal |
| 6:30am | Make breakfast, eat while checking personal/art email |
| 6:45am | CREATE ART |
| 9:00am | Exercise, lift weights |
| 9:30am | Shower |
| 10:00am | Start my day gig |
| 7:30pm | Stop day gig |
| Make and eat dinner, hang out with my love Robert | |
| 9:00pm | Optional, but ideally – write blog article and create more art |
| 10:00pm | Lights out! Sleep like a baby zzzzzzzz |
My on-the-road, living in a hotel schedule:
| 5:00am | Alarm goes off |
| 5:15am | Make green drink, meditate, read inspiring book, journal |
| 6:15am | Exercise and weights in hotel gym |
| 7:00am | Breakfast, shower, get ready for day job |
| 8:00am | Start teaching a wonderful group of engaged souls |
| 5:15pm | Day gig done for day |
| 5:30pm | Figure out dinner, preferably room service! |
| 7:00pm | Answer day gig email |
| 7:30pm | Create art, blog, rip a magazine or two, business of art |
| 10:00pm | Lights out! Sleep like a baby zzzzzzzz |
In addition, on the weekend I am carving out as much time as in humanly possible for my art biz, while paying attention to my sweet husband and community of friends.
Yes, I have been kinda doing this schedule for many months, but it is time to ramp up my efforts and make this a REAL daily ritual, and not just the ideal that I’m shooting for.
Great blog. I enjoy reading about your goals and your discipline style. You’re an inspiration!
Fred, Sorry for the delayed reply. This site is new, and I’m learning as fast as lightening how to use it! Thank you so much for your sweet comment. Feels so good to finally be doing MY art again, in addition to our 3-D bikes. Hope that our paths cross again. You were a joy to be around. Catherine
Hey lady. So good to hear your are still making art. I was just thinking of you the other day and wondering where you had gotten too. Would love to catch up.
Debra
Debra, I JUST saw your blog comment because it got caught in my spam folder. Would love to catch up too. Lovely to reconnect here! Hugs, Cat