Yes, use the cheap stuff! I collect junk off of packages to use. Out of magazines, leaflets, the occasional newspaper. When you work with what you have you’ll find it exhilarating. I have three art journals I’m about to disassemble. In a hundred years, no one will know that I existed. All the energy I used within those now gets repurposed. The simple things in life always carry the greatest joys.
Thank you. I promise to post something soon. Currently I’m spending my time caring for my beautiful seven year old dog. He was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma in December, a very progressive blood vessel cancer.
It’s off subject but I mostly buy clothes from Sam’s club or Costco because it’s easy to give away a $10 sweater than a retail sweater that costs much more and I constantly have a new wardrobe that I never get bored with. Ok back to subject I agree with everything you said and creating a little bit each day, especially in the morning makes me so happy, my mood for the day is much better. When I don’t create my husband can tell and he will lovingly force me to my painting area and say do not come back until you have painted something. Loved your article.
I think for many people, creating helps their outlook and mental health. I know there was a time when I wasn't so engaged with my art and making, and I was a bit miserable because of it.
As a quilt maker I am very grateful I have the room to leave my sewing machine out all the time in a room dedicated to my creative endeavors. I know this has helped me to be more creative and productive over the years. I am also an out-of-sight-out-of-mind person but I do need my materials to be organized. My challenge is finding that consistent time of day when I can exercise my creative muscles. Every day it depends on my physical well being of the day.
I’ve created a daily practice with similar parameters: my goal is to carve blocks for printing each day. I keep it simple with limiting designs to 2”, which also makes it less expensive to do. I do all my prints onto index cards, also because they are cheap! My routine is to do this during my late-evening TV time with my dog.
To facilitate this, I have two small boxes with everything I need in them that I can easily carry to any table in the house: one for carving tools/supplies, one for printing tools/supplies. I don’t leave everything set up to keep the peace with my husband, so the box system is my version of keeping everything handy.
One unexpected benefit to this system of practice is the discovery that constraints and parameters are actually helpful. With the smaller size, I’m forced to break down bigger ideas and concepts and do mini-studies which has helped me to understand what individual components and techniques go into doing something that I would have deemed too “advanced” for my skills if I were able to work bigger.
Yes, having parameters definitely forces you to think differently. I make 2x2 inc collages, and I love how I have to think differently about them then my larger collages.
Eric, thank you for taking the time to write and post this. It is very encouraging to read about your simple but useful way of developing the habit of daily creation. 🙂
Yes, use the cheap stuff! I collect junk off of packages to use. Out of magazines, leaflets, the occasional newspaper. When you work with what you have you’ll find it exhilarating. I have three art journals I’m about to disassemble. In a hundred years, no one will know that I existed. All the energy I used within those now gets repurposed. The simple things in life always carry the greatest joys.
I'd love to see some of your work!
Thank you. I promise to post something soon. Currently I’m spending my time caring for my beautiful seven year old dog. He was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma in December, a very progressive blood vessel cancer.
It’s off subject but I mostly buy clothes from Sam’s club or Costco because it’s easy to give away a $10 sweater than a retail sweater that costs much more and I constantly have a new wardrobe that I never get bored with. Ok back to subject I agree with everything you said and creating a little bit each day, especially in the morning makes me so happy, my mood for the day is much better. When I don’t create my husband can tell and he will lovingly force me to my painting area and say do not come back until you have painted something. Loved your article.
I think for many people, creating helps their outlook and mental health. I know there was a time when I wasn't so engaged with my art and making, and I was a bit miserable because of it.
As a quilt maker I am very grateful I have the room to leave my sewing machine out all the time in a room dedicated to my creative endeavors. I know this has helped me to be more creative and productive over the years. I am also an out-of-sight-out-of-mind person but I do need my materials to be organized. My challenge is finding that consistent time of day when I can exercise my creative muscles. Every day it depends on my physical well being of the day.
It's so nice to have a dedicated space where you can create. I'm very fortunate that i have time in the morning to make and create.
I’ve created a daily practice with similar parameters: my goal is to carve blocks for printing each day. I keep it simple with limiting designs to 2”, which also makes it less expensive to do. I do all my prints onto index cards, also because they are cheap! My routine is to do this during my late-evening TV time with my dog.
To facilitate this, I have two small boxes with everything I need in them that I can easily carry to any table in the house: one for carving tools/supplies, one for printing tools/supplies. I don’t leave everything set up to keep the peace with my husband, so the box system is my version of keeping everything handy.
One unexpected benefit to this system of practice is the discovery that constraints and parameters are actually helpful. With the smaller size, I’m forced to break down bigger ideas and concepts and do mini-studies which has helped me to understand what individual components and techniques go into doing something that I would have deemed too “advanced” for my skills if I were able to work bigger.
Yes, having parameters definitely forces you to think differently. I make 2x2 inc collages, and I love how I have to think differently about them then my larger collages.
Eric, thank you for taking the time to write and post this. It is very encouraging to read about your simple but useful way of developing the habit of daily creation. 🙂
I hope that they can give you some inspiration and a creative nudge!
I just bought the book. I agree with your four strategies, anyway. It’s all about the practice.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!