FINDING MY FEET, AND ROUTINE

Writing a blog is a new experience for me, so it could be a while before I settle into a routine. Though perhaps routine is not a word I associate with myself…

Freedom. What a word! It sounds wonderful – we all strive towards it – yet sometimes, it can be hard to manage. Over the years I have found that a bit of routine is good, something to get you started. A whole week stretching out before you can be exciting, yet it can also be intimidating. For me, a working week punctuated by little routines, can at least get you out of bed.

As an artist, I have many little tasks that serve as rites of entry into the ‘serious’ work of creating. These can include sweeping the floor (not done too regularly), clearing the desk (ndtr either), priming boards, cutting and tearing (there’s a destructive element to be catered for!), reading, drawing, walking, taking photos, thinking, drinking coffee, piecing bits together to form collages, etc. Sometimes, it boils down to just sitting in the workspace, looking at works in progress…

There is nothing like the feeling of being on a roll. Looking back on work done however, finds aspects that work well (inspired even), and others that are disastrous. Time is the artist’s best ally. That and an ability to examine objectively and critically is as important as the flow of inspired creativity. One without the other is, at best, exercise… like a pianist performing scales at a concert!