You asked some great questions..... I put a post on Instagram asking what you might like to read about in my next newsletter, and I though I was going to pick just one topic. But no...i want to answer them ALL, because they were just so interesting to me.... How you sustain your practice? Like anything in life, I listen to when I’m tired and rest. I make sure I am doing creative work that is truly interesting to me and this feeds me with fresh energy. I get input from my artist friends, through Social Media or even better, in real life. I have a chair in my studio that I can fall asleep in…little naps are the way forward. I do a lot of exercise and I reckon this really helps my stamina. Most mostly, I am doing what I love, and so the motivation just keeps on coming. Source material and all those bits of inspiration that accumulate... What do you do with all the photos, ideas and snippets that inspire you but don't feed directly into your work at the time? For me, it is the noticing what inspires me that is important and not so much the keeping of that information, though believe me, I had a ton of photos on my phone! It all feeds into my work, and I just trust the process. I tend to work in a series with a focussed brief in mind – some words that direct me, and I will have visual references that support and stimulate those ideas. These visual prompts are close at hand on the studio wall. Christine, what do you do in the studio that propels you when you feel uninspired or weighed down by the world’s problems? I feel the sadness and I turn off the news! And I look to what is giving me pleasure in my work. I can play a small part in the world’s problems by being happy and productive and sharing what I love doing. Happy people don’t start wars. I would be interested in any thoughts/tips about how you structure time! I have a lot of work on, commissions, preparing for exhibitions, Quoting for projects etc. but find myself slightly panicking and being a little overwhelmed which is not helpful when I need to make progress! I guess what I mean is any tips on how to calm my mind, I need to get on with the painting on my easel but find I am distracted by all the other things to do. I make lists. Structure helps me get less overwhelmed. In a similar way to when I am training for an event – half marathon say, I get a plan, I start the plan, and I stick to the plan. I use a sports coach for this which is tremendously helpful and I apply the same methodology in my studio practice. I make a plan. I follow the plan, and I take time off. Rest days. Never underestimate the power of rest. Hope you found them interesting - would love to know what you think...
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