It's Time to Paint ( or do whatever you're passionate about)

Ginger Jar & Oranges

8 x 10

Oil Painting by Pat Fiorello

 I got a nice message today from one of my blog followers, Nancy, thanking me for sharing some inspiration. In her email, she also commented that she needs to make more time to paint.

 This is something most artists-, whether students, hobbyists or professionals, struggle with. We have pressures of work, family ,health , home projects etc.. all demanding our time so it's difficult to find time for us to paint amidst those sometimes competing priorities. Over the years, I have coached many artists on setting and accomplishing goals and staying focused and this is a consistent issue I hear.

We are always trying to balance what's urgent vs. what's important- and many times the urgent ( or perceived urgent or  even worse- urgent but not important) wins out. Painting, or substitute in your own creative expression- music, dance, jewelry,  photography, making pottery etc..,  is something that's important to us but not necessarily urgent (unless you have a commisison or show deadline in front of you).


The secret to having more time to paint is book an appointment with yourself.

 Mark it down on your calendar each week.  We make appointments with doctors and for haircuts- but painting is  important for our heart and soul. It has us feel good, yet it is often last on the "to do "list. We  think will get to it, if there is time "left over" from all the other stuff.   But making an appointment, actually carving out time on your calendar and making that commitment to yourself elevates your art to have more urgency- it's not something to get to if there's spare time ( who has spare time???? and if you did have some time left over, you'd probably be tired and not in your prime energy to create) .

Carving out a chunk of time- even if it's is an hour or 2-  makes it more urgent. You now have an real intention to paint, not just a hope that time will magically show up. Keep this time as sacred and let others know that you're not available then. Don't pick up the phone. This is your time- You deserve it!.  Try it out for a few weeks and see if it helps to create an art date with yourself ( or better yet with a painting buddy) and let me know how it's going. Or if you have other suggestions for making time to create, please share them in the comments area below so others might try them out too.

And for those of you waiting to feel inspired before you get started , consider this :

"We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action. "       - Frank Tibolt

 Just get in the studio or wherever it is that you have a space to create and get started... that's all there is to do.
Happy Creating!