Tag: NZ artist

I used to think that being organised belonged exclusively to the corporate world. When I started taking art seriously, I never bothered to organise because there is the common notion that artists are disorganised and work “freely” without any sort of pattern or routine. All these changed when I became a mum…

I can now only do art or write in short windows of time unlike the long stretches of hours I used to have when I didn’t have a child yet. I had to make certain adjustments to make this work.

Choose doable projects suitable for the way I work.. for now.

I have a pipeline of work I wanted to get done but I realised because of all the constraints I have, I should choose the most doable ones for now, just to still have a sense of satisfaction in creating. I still have a printmaking project needing to get done but it was just too detailed. I am not able to get physically close to the projects I am making because I usually have a baby in my arms so projects like those would need to be parked for now.

I can pursue the more complicated stuff in the future, when bubba is more independent thaan he is now.

Set limits on the materials you use

It’s amazing what putting limits can do. With me, once my parameters for working and the materials I am working with are set, I become freer to create. Putting limits allows me to focus on the task at hand and not be mesmerised by the possibilities all my tools and materials promise. It also gives my physical space to work because I won’t have to deal with the clutter of working with several mediums at a time.

Have tasks broken down into small chunks

This comes in handy for when baby is napping. I can just run to my workspace and get things done. It would be another layer of work if I come into my workspace not knowing exactly what needs to get done so if I already have a list of tasks just waiting to be accomplished, it’s easier to get things moving and tick things off my list.

Have your thoughts/ organisecd in one space for easy reference

I used to have several notebooks for different types of projects and/or ideas but it just isn’t practical to have those now. A visual diary which is with me ALL the time is useful so I can jot down or sketch all my ideas and find them in one place instead of combing through different notebooks/ sketchpads.

Pack away materials and equipment as soon as a project is done

So clutter does not accumulate and you’ll have plenty of space to work on your next one. I used to miss out on this task because there would “always be another day” to clean my mess but that’s just adding on to my endless list of to dos if I don’t get it done straight away.

Accept that you may not be working in the studio exclusively

My home studio used to be my exclusive working space because I hate clutter in other parts of the house but I’ve learned to accept that my whole home is my work space for now because it’s how I get more done. My painting stuff are in the living room, my sketching materials are lying on our coffee table, and I am currently writing this on our dining table. It is what it is!

Show up

Some days I find myself wanting to just lounge around but because all my materials are at arm’s length, I can quickly get something done. I haven’t done a lot that I am proud of recently, but I get things done nevertheless. It’s so tough pausing and then getting back to creating – I felt like I lost all the skills I’ve built upon in the last years because of the 4 months I was not creating. Now I’ve decided to just show up. I allot at least 4 hours broken into my day to create. It may be quick sketches or just a layer of primer on my canvas but I do it anyway. Helps me to have a continuous art practice which adds to my repertoire of skills.

Have hope that things do change

My son used to sleep on my arms for the most part of the day, now I can leave him for his day naps for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours. My way of working has changed together with the changes my son is experiencing.

In saying that, an artist mum should be flexible readjusting the way she works depending on the stage of development her child is in. I, for one, am, looking forward to the day I can start creating art with him!