Stamina

[SB Wang]

Those goods will be good for your energy:
Tea,
flounder,
ginger,

[Joan Breckwoldt]

I have found this thread very interesting. I am impressed that so many artists can find the time to paint for long stretches at a time because I have such trouble with that. I have two children ages 9 and 13 whom I drive to school every morning and then pick up each afternoon. They go to a private school so there is no bus. HOW do some of you do it? Between the time I get home from droppig them off at 8:15 a.m. and the time I leave to pick them up at 2:45 p.m., that's 6 1/2 hours which sounds like a lot of time to me. But, it just seems to disappear. I try to exercise most days, and there's the grocery shopping, little errands, some volunteer time at school, a weekly bible study class, doctor's appts, hair cuts, phone calls, it just all adds up. I am not complaining at all, I feel blessed that I'm able to stay at home and do all these things but I need to paint.

I feel like I am a pretty organized person but it's difficult to get time to paint. I finally have a space I can leave my supplies out in, I have half of our 'computer room' and I call that half my studio. Those of you that can successfully find time each week (or each day!) to paint, how do you do it? I can see maybe a couple of hours each afternoon before I get the kids, but how is it possible to paint 5 or 6 hours a day or more? I would love some insight into how to make the leap!

Joan

[Michele Rushworth]

I made the decision a couple of years ago that if it's not related to family or painting, I don't do it. The time that the kids are in school is my painting time -- period.

At many points in my life I have found that I only paint if I put it ahead of just about everything else, not when "I have time for it." I exercise before the kids go to school and I do the groceries with them tagging along, after school.

Painting is my "job" and I plan my time around it like any working mother would.

[Heidi Maiers]

I think that most people on this forum would agree that to them, making portraits is not a hobby, or something that they feel obligated to make time for, but rather it is a deep rooted need.

Although it is not my main job, I make time for it because if I don't, I am miserable. I had a 7-year stretch a while back where I was working from 7PM to 7AM and slept while the kids were in school. I didn't make time to make any art at all mistakenly thinking I couldn't do both. Those were the worst 7 years of my life (which possibly begs the chicken and the egg question?). I think I read a post from you Michele that you had an unhappy 7-year absence from your art yourself.

It's easy not to set up a disciplined schedule for working when your studio is part of your home and it is also easy to fall into the procrastination trap thinking that you have plenty of time left and will just do "such and such" first. Before you know it, time's up for the day. If at all possible, I would suggest renting out some studio space or cheap loft somewhere apart from your main home. That way, you can drop off your kids and go to "work" without any other distractions or interruptions until your "shift" is up for the day. If you want, you'll have the freedom to plan one day per week as an errand day to schedule appointments, etc., that are only open during business hours. You are indeed lucky to be able to stay home and take care of things there while working on building a career as a portrait artist. Make the most of it and good luck!

[Linda Brandon]

Originally Posted by Joan Breckwoldt

I try to exercise most days, and there's the grocery shopping, little errands, some volunteer time at school, a weekly bible study class, doctor's appts, hair cuts, phone calls, it just all adds up.
Joan

Joan, cut out everything except the regular exercise. Pick a day (Fridays?) when you schedule miscellaneous doctors appointments and errands and try to stick to that.

As for the daily things you have to do, try this: set a kitchen timer for 45 (some days I only set it for 15) minutes and race around and get as much done as you can. When the bell rings you're free to paint.

I think you have to be ruthless with yourself (and sometimes others) to get work done. It helps me to think of myself as a Painting Machine.

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