Comments on: Returning to the Studio

By: Amy Evans

Amy Evans — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:17:53 +0000

I schedule specific studio time…if the weather is decent then I work in my outdoor studio..if not I work indoors. Having time devoted to art makes it a top priority and that has had great results for me: my work is growing in quantity as well as quality.I agree with the others…just do it!Thanks Alyson for reminding us how important it is to Leap..over those ruts… and Grow!

By: Deb Trotter

Deb Trotter — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:36:43 +0000

I have two sure fire ways to jump start my brain & get myself out of a slump. 1. Take the phone off the hook, turn on some music, pull out my sketchbook & a photo for inspiration, and go to town. There’s something about drawing that puts you in a “zone.” Free up your mind. Erases the self doubt. I had heard this from several other artists, but never believed it until I took drawing lessons. It’s true! 2. Go to the local Buffalo Bill Historical Center (any art gallery or art museum will do)& get lost in one of its art galleries. Go slowly. Spend time studying a favorite piece – or find a new favorite piece & ask myself what draws me to this particular artwork. Whatever the fascination is, it will typically be something I try to emulate in my own work. There is something about discovering something I love in someone else’s work, and realizing that there is something similar in my own work that validates the technique, color, or concept for me. One of these two approaches works for me every time. But, I have one more approach. JUST DO IT. Start to paint. Or draw. Or sew. Whatever it is that begins your creative process. Don’t overanalyze or think ahead. If you do, you are lost. Just let happen what wants to. If you are open to possibilities, the muses will usually vist. Deb

By: Jennie Rosenbaum

Jennie Rosenbaum — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 04:19:47 +0000

Like many others I schedule my time carefully to allow time for blogging, reading and responding to emails, and studio time. I also allocate time on different days of the week to work exclusively on marketing, organization, looking for opportunities, processing applications and learning new things. I find if I allocate time each day for those things I can focus on them when I need to and paint the rest of the time. To get out of a schlump I draw mostly, sketching, watercolors, trying new poses out – I find before long I have learnt new things and have all new inspirations coming in. there is something very freeing about drawing for the fun of it.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:15:51 +0000

This is something I’ve really been working on — more time in production. You can spend all the time in the world with creative marketing ideas and foolproof organizational strategies, but if there’s nothing new to market or organize……. Not only is the creating part the reason WHY I do this, it just makes me feel so much better. I have a skip to my step, I smile more, I work harder on the days I can spend time in the studio!

By: Sunni Mercer

Sunni Mercer — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:49:03 +0000

Hey Alyson, perfect article for the after holidays slump! I know myself well enough to know that I will tend to the urgent and overlook the important every time. My mantra,” get in over your head!” I try every year to get involved in an exhibit where my deadline for delivery lands near the end of January. By doing this I inhibit myself from getting into the inertia of studio procrastination – drives me nuts but works every time! Would love to chat more, but gotta get to the studio!

By: Gay Pogue

Gay Pogue — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:53:54 +0000

Alyson, you mentioned in your newsletter article something about rituals surrounding making art. In a video I watched this weekend, there was a shot of Dale Chihuly in his bathtub. He needs to be in or around water to feed his muse. I would be interested in hearing about rituals that other artists use to help them be/feel creative.

By: Julie Thompson

Julie Thompson — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:55:07 +0000

Amazing timing with this entry! I’ve been attempting to invest at least 3 hours every day in the studio. There’s a big home show whose date is looming heavily, and it can be a trick to invest ample time to creativity without burning out. I have been pushing myself and putting in more than those three hours every day. When I start to notice that burn-point and I start to hit a brick wall in creativity, I stop everything. I load the ten essentials into my daypack, and I go find a trail. A good hike loosens me up and replenishes that inspiration so that I can get back into the studio all refreshed and get back to work.

By: Debi

Debi — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:23:39 +0000

I used to have an outside studio. I didn’t paint as much as I wanted because I had to make the time to go there. So I moved it into my dining room. We never used it before. I put in a cute large table, and two armoirs to hide everything if I have to. I paint at least 5 days a week now. I follow a schedule too. Return emails. Make a list of things to do. Paint from 8:00-12:00 Pack art for shipping, then I’m free around 2:00 or 3:00. Debi

By: lauren

lauren — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 22:26:13 +0000

I’ve started a new habit to try and get out in my studio every afternoon, whether I feel like painting or not as long as I go out there and do a little bit each day. It makes a big different to my painting as it feels more continuous, rather than stopping and starting all the time, it feels like I am growing at a quicker rate and have more time to experiment and continue with ideas. That, and I paint quicker now too.

By: Alison Nicholls

Alison Nicholls — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:55:03 +0000

Hello from another Alison! I paint African wildlife in watercolor and spent nearly nine years living in the southern African countries of Botswana and Zimbabwe. Since moving to New York in 2002 I have been painting wildlife art full time. I find many useful ideas and comments through your website and wanted to let you know how I make sure I spend enough time in the studio. I allocate one full day a week to marketing. This means that on Fridays I can spend a full day on marketing without feeling guilty about not being in my studio. It works for me, hope it helps someone else! Alison