[Chris Saper]

Dear Joan,

I agree that part of the key to making your time as productive as possible is being able to keep your easel and work in process set up, so that you are not spending the first and last 1/2 hours of your time setting things up and putting them away.

The very moment I return from getting my kids dropped off at school, I come in the house and go straight to my easel (it is important to get your Diet Coke on the way), typically by 8:25 every day. I paint straight through, usually till about 2 or so, and by then I am usually tired. Any errands that have to be done, (groceries etc) get done before child #1 gets home...then it's #2, homework, dinner, etc. Yes, you get very tired by the end of the day. However, I find the routine works well for me, as I do the most demanding part of the day when I am freshest (wow, sometimes that's a stretch). You, however, may need a different routine, the operative word being routine.

It's important to just get into the process of painting..once I am through the first 5 minutes, the process takes over and I only notice the time when my feet start to hurt. I agree that it's best to just START. Mike is absolutely right, having to walk by your studio or easel throughout the day is the best invitation to get back to it.

Good luck, Chris