Creating Art in the Midst of Everyday Life

real Information for real people

It is time now to explore the creative potential of interrupted and conflicted lives, where energies are not narrowly focused or permanently pointed toward a single ambition.
Mary Catherine Bateson

This is me, writing to you.

I have created a career in the arts by snatching, scrounging, begging, borrowing and stealing time and space from my busy family centered life. I raised not one or two, but six children who have blessed me with 16 grandchildren – so far.

Typical of most women, I used to put myself last in line when it came to time and space. Yet over the last 25 years I’ve created a very successful life as an artist – writing ten books, filming three DVDs, teaching worldwide and having four solo exhibits. I’ve contributed art to numerous books and magazines, interviewed almost 100 artists on the now defunct Art & Soul Radio and recently on the Photo Memory Quilts Podcast, juried quilt shows, completed the BA degree I started back in 1970 (magna cum laude, to boot), and was the primary caretaker of my 90 year old legally blind father for four years. For the first 14 years, I did all of this while working in my bedroom. I’m not telling you all this to impress you, but to press upon you that if I can do it despite the challenges, well, I see no reason why you can’t do it, too.

Time and space are not the only problems an artist runs into. There’s fatigue from a long day at work, mom drain, age drain, no motivation to GOYA (get off your @&%), fear of failure, bright shiny object syndrome…the list goes on. These monsters are no longer hiding under the bed. They’re sitting right next to you. They can appear even when you do have all the space and time you need.

Let’s face it, being as creative as we would like to be is not always easy. There are traps and troubles, problems and pitfalls, highs and lows, yeses and nos. Yet we have this innate urge, a longing even, to create. It’s the joy of making and the way it makes us feel that keeps us going. The rewards far outweigh the struggles.

Yet the struggles persist. So what’s the solution? And there’s not just one solution, right? I’ll be sharing solutions with you in the weeks to come.

I know how art changed my life, so it is important to me to do whatever it takes to ensure your success as an artist or maker, whether you are new to art, returning to your art, or are lucky enough to practice some form of art everyday.

Let’s start right now. It begins with making a choice. Are you going to wait until everything is “just right” before you start, or are you willing to make it work? One of my favorite quotes by John Assaraf is “If you are interested, you will do what’s convenient. If you are committed, you will do whatever it takes.” Are ya ready to commit?

Now it’s time for you to write to me.

Leave a comment below and let me know, specifically, how I can help or how you have solved a problem associated with creating your art in the midst of everyday life.

Quote of the Week

Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
Oliver Wendell Holmes