Successful Artists Paint Every Day

Well, it's been a great summer for me, and if you're wondering why I haven't put out any blogs for you to read, it's because I've been on a painting and writing hiatus for Watercolor Magazine.

I've got about 10 topics lined up -- most concerned with Time Management for Artists.  For for this first blog, I'll examine the various reasons why we don't have enough time to do all the things we want to do, plus those we have to get done... AND schedule in time for rest and relaxation. Yes, R&R is important if we want to remain sane and keep close to friends and family.

I believe that the real truth of the matter is that: WE CANNOT POSSIBLY DO IT ALL. I don't care what the books say! One of the reasons why we don't have enough time is because we try to juggle too many tasks – all with equal importance in our mind. Some things have got to go!

If I need more time, I have to do fewer things.

If I'm serious about the success of my art career, then I must raise it to a higher priority, which means that some tasks are going to move down the latter in imporatnce. The first step is to take a good hard, look at what really needs to be done and what my imagination thinks needs to be done.

We all have tasks that are essential to healthy and organized living – you know what yours are. Then there are tasks which I add to those – and erroneously give them the same priority as what is truly important. For example... during my morning walk (which is an activity that is essential to my physical and mental health), I saw that one of our neighbors had beautiful mums. With that observation, I added, “Buy Mums” to my To Do list. Now that is just a crazy idea! The yard looks perfectly presentable, and as a serious, professional artist, I don't have time to add tasks to my current list. My "imagined" list also contains: reupholstering a couch and chair, kayaking, visiting a bookstore, visiting friends; and I might add, write an instructional book, do outdoor shows, get into two new galleries, enter national competitions... well you get the idea. Because I am a creative person, my thinking easily migrates to being creative with my time, but the only problem is. If I do all those things – instead of the things I truly need to do, I'll never get to the easel.

I'm not saying any of the stuff on my list is unimportant – what I am saying is that some items should have a lower priority. I'm pretty sure we all instinctively understand what tasks are imporatant to life and which ones are are just “want to do's” So today, I will make a list of things I'm currently doing which need to be done, and which are things I just want to do. When the NEED stuff is well under control, then the WANT stuff can be attended to.  Another list: Ways in which I waste time on a daily basis. Again, none of these things is bad in itself - only in that they keep me from accomplishing the long term desires of my heart.  I'll share my lists with you on a later blog, but for now -- I gotta hit the canvas.

Sincerely,

Lori Woodward Simons

www.woodwardsimons.com