Between being on vacation and returning to a mountain of assignments, I slacked off on doing my 15 minute-a-day exercise. This is not good thing. For me, at least.
I think it's true that you lose your train of thought, your connection to the creative stream, if you don't dip in to it every day. And what's amazing is that it only takes a small amount of time! But you need to make that time. It's so much harder to start again once you've stopped. I wonder how it works for others.
The funny thing is, my "day" job-- making illustrated maps-- is a creative one. And then there are assorted other projects I'm plugging away at. So it's not as if I'm not doing anything creative all day.
I guess it's the time to let my mind ramble-- to play, practice, toss out new ideas-- that I crave. Ooh, do I get crabby without it! It keeps me moving forward. Any thoughts?
10 comments:
Yes- you've got it right jennifer. I've fallen off the everyday art producing wagon and it's hard to get back on. It's important to stay in the "zone". Nice chickens!-Kelly
love your chicks Jennifer....great sketches!
Thanks, Kelly and Diana!
Play is very important.
or doing exercises or anything that gets you out of a rut.
Your chicken sketches are delicious......
as a fitness instructor i remind my participants all the time that it takes '21 days to make a new behavior a habit'....i would think that principle applies to anything. i say, get back on track, make a point to schedule it into your day and it will soon be just another bright spot in your creative day!!
Glad you like my chicken scratchings, Elizabeth!
And you are so right, Christine. It really is about scheduling. Exercise is the perfect analogy... I feel "off" if I haven't done something every day. Same with the creative stuff.
True your job is creative, but it something you have to do. Though may truly enjoy what you do, the looming deadlines and creative "restrictions" make it less fun, and thus leaves you longing for your 15 minutes. I go through this almost every day. As a graphic designer, I get to be creative, but I have "withdrawal" if I haven't been able to draw or sketch something in a while! :P (Sometimes that is my own fault, as the time I could be drawing, I spend surfing the blogs and web.)
The 15 minutes (or however long you can get) allows those creative impulses to be released that can't get out any other way.
Hi Tom-- Isn't it nice at least to know that so many artists go through the same thing? Makes me feel normal! ;-)
Ha, Tom's comment made me laugh. It's true. I can't complain about not having the time if I am on line surfing blogs right?
Oh well.
Just back from three weeks vacation and I am ready to get back at it, but it does take some time to get the gears turning.
I think those 15 minute exercises are a real good way to loosen up and get creative. It is a different type of creative when it's not for a job. Like you said, just toss out new ideas.
Frank-- I know-- I am seriously limiting my blog reading time. (Well, trying to, at least!) It helps if I use it as a treat after doing some work.
I think it takes at least a week to get back in gear after vacation. Baby steps! Hope you had a great one. :-)
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