I often get told by my students and others, “I have no time to paint, but I would love to”.
Lately I have been thinking a lot about this and realise we all lead very busy lives nowadays, especially those with young children. I feel we make time for sporting events, dancing, swimming, music, etc. involving our young family, but we take no time for ourselves.
How true is this for you? If you feel there is just no time, please read on.
Perhaps you have no kids, or they are living their own lives.
Retirees can lead very busy lives too, with social engagements, shopping, travel, doctors and hospital visits. Don’t worry, I fall into this group and know all about being time poor, or not feeling up to actually going to my studio and painting. However I have a few ideas to keep you feeling connected to your art.
“Painting” doesn’t always mean settling down at your easel in a studio, with lovely music playing in complete peace and alone time.
Look at how you spend your time in general..Find some more time.
We feel we need more… never enough hours in the day.
Once you start looking at how you spend your time, you may be surprised just how much more you really have.
How about integrating your art into your normal day? Doing the “must do’s” and some creating at the same time.
The best therapy from a busy life can be drawing or painting. Your thoughts wander to another place and become “your happy place”, free from the everyday hassles that life serves up, if only for a little while.
In other words, take a little time out for yourself and make it happen. Baby steps, baby steps at first. :}
While your sitting down having a rest and a cuppa you can do some of these steps.
What you can do instead of studio time and painting?
Start by looking through old photos or magazines for something you would love to draw or paint? Pinterest is a personal favourite of mine, but watch out, you can get lost in there for hours!
Sketch outlines and ideas in a sketch book when you are waiting
- Kids to come out of school
- Sports practice
- Partner doing the shopping
- Airport pickups
- Doctors and hospital visits
- Watching TV
- Travelling
- Having a well earned rest and cuppa
Research ideas for paintings
Observing nature whilst on a walk or relaxing or watering the garden can be very inspirational for your art.
Put your artist hat on..maybe take a picture on your phone?
- gardens/plants
- sunsets/sunrises
- beaches/creeks
- bird life/insects
- cloud formations/storms
- mountains/hills
Take lessons and learn from other artist’s techniques online
- how to paint your wonderful ideas
- products they recommend
- tips and techniques
- inspiration
- find and connect with like minded people in art groups
I hope this post inspires you to make some time for your art, no matter how busy you are, if you are ill, or taking care of everyone else.
Have you visited my online teaching hub? There are plenty of how-to videos and a closed Facebook group for students.
If you would like to learn more head to:
Please leave your comments, or follow me (Lyn Olsen) on all the social media channels and share how you are now making more time for yourself, and your passion.
Yours in art,
Lyn
