I'm here to tell you that it is indeed possible to make time for your art practice, even when life is hectic. Not only can you make time, but you can do so without external pressure.
This is one of my absolute favorite ways to approach art in bite-sized chunks of time.
Ready for this?! 🥁🥁🥁🥁
Create art on the go
This is one of the ways I’ve constantly worked on my own art. I’ve made my art practice portable by choosing supplies that I can take with me on the go.
Here’s a list of examples for opportuned times to squeeze creating in:
- Commuting: Use public transportation time to sketch, paint, or work on a small project.
- Waiting in line: Make use of time spent waiting in line by keeping a sketchbook and a set of pencils or pens in your bag (I’ve done this SO much!)
- During a break at work: Use your lunch break or another break at work to work on a small project in between bites.
- Traveling: Bring along some art supplies to keep you entertained during the journey. I can’t tell you how much quality work I’ve made from time on planes and waiting in airports. It’s some of my BEST creation time.
- During a conference or meeting: Yes seriously. Even if you can’t work on your ideal project, you can certainly take notes or create mind maps in a whole new way. Maybe you incorporate doodles or “highlight” key points with paint. Or maybe you completely refresh the way you take notes, because if you lay it out visually, it just makes more sense. This could spark new ideas in your personal creative work.
- While watching TV: Use commercial breaks to work on a small project (or just do it while the show is on). There’s so much missed creative time during show time!
- During a long phone call: Keep your hands busy with art while you chat.
- In a waiting room: Use the time to create and relax while waiting for an appointment.
- During a road trip: Take breaks to work on a small project or create a travel journal. I started doing this a few years back and it became one of my favorite mediums (if you can call it that?) and I loved it SO much, I even made a whole class on it!
Stuck for what supplies to get? I gotchu - grab my ultimate list of creative supplies and resources for a easy, stress-free reference of all the things I love.
By making your art practice more portable, you can squeeze in some creativity during moments when you would otherwise be idle.
But that's not all! Another strategy that has worked wonders for me is to create mini projects. Choose small art projects that you can complete in a shorter amount of time. For example, you could create a series of mini paintings that only take 10-15 minutes to complete or work on a series of quick sketches during your lunch break. By breaking your art practice into smaller, manageable projects, you can still make progress and stay creative, even when you don't have a lot of time.
Not only are mini projects a great way to stay creative, but they also have some other added bonuses. For one, they will almost certainly get you to explore new techniques because your brain will be working in these small chunks to figure out how to finesse with less, and in turn, develop a signature style when you aren't overthinking. Secondly, your skills will improve as you analyze your work without judgment and each time you visit your 15-minute block of time, you'll inevitably test or try something new. Lastly, mini projects can shift your priorities subconsciously as you get in your zone and begin to prioritize your creative practice over other tasks.
Incorporating these two strategies into your art practice can help you make time for your creative pursuits even when life is busy. And remember, start small and choose just one strategy to incorporate first. You might be surprised by how much progress you can make in just a few minutes a day.
Stay tuned for more goodies and tips coming VERY soon and in the mean time, choose ONE from this list to incorporate THIS WEEK. Yes seriously, do it.
