Hi all! I hope you had a fantastic weekend because I’m kicking off my second week of August with a super exciting start to my blog! Let's dive into the wonderfully chaotic daily life of an artist, shall we?
Being an artist is no walk in the park. It’s not always fun, glamorous, or even remotely predictable. There's a relentless push to create something mind-blowingly awesome, and spoiler alert: that's not always doable on a whim. The daily grind of an artist can be, well, unforgiving. But hey, that's what makes the journey so incredibly worth it!
Let’s take a stroll through a typical day as I gear up for a new art show. Inspiration for my solo exhibits comes straight from life's experiences – the ripples of creative outbursts sparked by what I see, feel, and sometimes smell (yes, even that can be inspiring).
Most mornings, like today, I’m up at the crack of dawn – 4 AM to be exact. I’m an early bird, or perhaps just a glutton for punishment. The struggle to avoid coffee is real, but let's be honest, I adore the taste. Depending on my mood, I’ll flip-flop between a cozy Earl Grey with milk and a drop of maple syrup or a robust coffee with frothy milk. A warm drink is non-negotiable. My dear friend insists I’m a VATA, an Ayurvedic body type linked with air and ether – basically, I like to stay warm unless I’m channeling my inner penguin.
With my warm drink in hand, I dive into storyboarding. Currently, I have this monstrous note on my computer outlining my upcoming show. It’s a living document – complete with descriptions, piece placements, and even lighting and display ideas. It’s a constant shuffle as I craft each piece and figure out where it fits best. Honestly, right now, I feel like this takes up most of my time nowadays...because I really feel like starting and finishing a complete vision is going to bring what I have in my head to light, and that's a big part of the whole creation process for me...especially if I feel like the artistic well of creativity is running a bit dry, there's always work to be done, and this is one of them!
Networking and post-scheduling are squeezed in before I morph into my day job role around 5:30-6 AM. It's a long, tedious process, but oddly satisfying. Having spent years in admin roles, I excel at it for others but stumble when it’s for myself. Go figure! This is something I'm determined to improve. Running your own business – be it in art or another field – means you are the CEO, CFO, and janitor. If you slack off, so does the cash flow. I learned this in operations management: keep your finger on the pulse, or it flatlines.
By the end of my exhausting day, self-care is my haven. Falling into neglect is easy when you’re on constant focus mode. Dedication and consistency trump passion any day. Remember to dedicate yourself, but also make self-care a priority. That’s my motto.
Until next week? Follow and subscribe to not miss a post! Every Tuesday afternoon, catch my blog update, and every morning, tune into my podcast for your commute! Love you!
Comments