4 Ways to Fit Art Into Your Everyday
Art supplies sit inside a kitchen cabinet, carefully organized in labeled storage bins that make it easy to find what I’m looking for. The cabinet has been cleared of actual kitchen items and sacrificed so that I have a place for my creative interests – one that can be readily accessed when inspiration strikes. Paint and paper and pencils and stencils and ephemera and sketchbooks and more are there just waiting to be used. They are instruments of creativity and imagination. They are the base materials that can evolve into just about anything your mind can dream up. They are the beginning of stories, of self-expression, healing, and awareness. They are passion and power and joy. I picked each one of them with excitement and intention, full of passion and ideas of all the ways I would use them. But doubt creeps in and takes over, and there they stay – idle, unused, and unfulfilled in the dark.
For years after I rediscovered my creativity, I didn’t practice it very much. I had the belief that any art worth making had to have a sacred window of time set aside with no distractions or interruptions. I thought that you had to have a specific place, where you could go and leave your your work space exactly as it was so you would be able to pick up right where you had left off. I assumed that you had to set intentions and make significant progress toward a completed piece in one session.
This is not what art and creativity are about. Passion and joy cannot be scheduled or confined to a specific block of time or space. They are not finite or measurable. They are not stifled by outside influences.
The reality is that those are limiting beliefs. They demand that you put off creating until you’ve reached a specific set of circumstances – circumstances which are almost never going to happen. It took me a long time to finally realize that these “requirements” were never going to allow me the time to make the art that I wanted. In that time, I missed out on many opportunities to make art, to learn and grow, and to express what I was feeling because I thought I had to save my best ideas for an occasion that was “worthy.” I skipped out on making art for the sake of exploration in favor of forced productivity.
I began to rethink my attitude about creativity, and these are a few of the things that help me incorporate my art practice into my real daily life.
1. Carry a sketchbook and pencil with you for when you have downtime – this is hands-down the most important thing. It doesn’t matter what materials you use. Even if it’s an inexpensive spiral-bound notebook and a regular pencil, having something on hand will help you take full advantage of quiet moments. Draw what you see around you or work purely from your imagination. Don’t worry about trying to make things perfect, just get it down on the page.
2. Take advantage of your breaks if you have a job outside the home. Even though you can’t necessarily bring an easel and all your supplies with you to work, you can still bring a few items in a portable artist’s travel kit. A few pencils, charcoal or Stabilo, and a water brush will do for simple sketching. A small watercolor set could easily be included to add color. You don’t need a lot of supplies to exercise your creative muscle.
If you work from home, make sure you take time to step away from your work space throughout the day. Get up from your desk, move your body, and stretch. A change of scenery will give you a mental break and visual inspiration. Bonus: if you’re already at home, you’ll have full access to all of your supplies!
3. I highly encourage you to doodle when you’re bored. Instead of turning to your phone when you have a few spare minutes, grab your journal and get busy. You don’t always need to make something realistic or representational. Make marks or patterns. Add layers to what is already on the page or start with a blank page. Move your pencil along with the rhythm of music.
Look at what you doodle to help identify what kind of marks you naturally gravitate to. Think of what you used to scribble in the margins of your notebook in school or what you scratch out when you’re on the phone. The marks that you return to again and again could become your signature. Do you find yourself making scribbles and swirls, sprawling gardens of flowers and vines, or figures and faces? Are your doodles intricate and detailed or loose and expressive? Are they repetitive patterns? Do you prefer words or imagery? It doesn’t have to make sense and it doesn’t have to be “good.” Whatever it is, you’ll eventually discover a pattern that you can explore and develop.
4. Re-examine your schedule. It may not be ideal, but if you absolutely can’t fit some creative time in during the day, you may want to consider get up a little earlier or staying up a bit later. It’s easier to find your creative headspace when the house is quiet and you have that time to yourself. Are you an early bird or a night owl? I am not a fan of waking up while it’s still dark, but since my creative brain is basically mush in the evenings, getting up early is the better alternative for me. Once I’m up and moving I really enjoy the peace of watching the sun come up with a cup of hot coffee and my art supplies.
Making the time to prioritize your creativity will replenish your spirit and allow you to give more to others. My creative time allows me to process emotions, express what I’m feeling, and just generally unwind. I am a better mom, wife, friend, employee, and daughter because of it.
I hope some of these tips are helpful for you. Keeping these ideas in mind has made me more intentional about using those small blocks of time to create. Remember that everyone is different and that what works for me may just be a starting point for you. The important thing is that you don’t give up – try different things, new routines, and have fun. Find what works best for you and your family. Whatever you do, even just a few minutes here and there will make a difference. Over time, you will hone in on your own style and become more confident.
With a little trial and error, you may find that you had more time available than you thought!
