How to find time and energy for art.

I struggle with the same problem every creative person has: where do I get the time and even more so, where do I get the energy? I must admit that recently I became much better in finding time and in overcoming my urge “just to lie down”.

I realized that my life is short and this deep understanding of a very finite time line helps my try the things that interest me. I don’t want to think about it, not talk about it – I want to do it. I want to be a perpetual student. I want to get my hands dirty. Plus, I want to be cooler than my kids.

There are few things an artist needs.

Space.

Designate your own space. Not your spouse’s, where he drops the keys and junk mail. Not your kids’ space where they come because they need pencils, markers, scissors and glue. And most of all, this space does not belong to your cat.

Your own, claimed, sacred, beloved space. No one touches, no one moves, no one looks at it. It is there, always ready. Available for your everyday fifteen minutes or more of respite.

The reason for this small or hopefully not so small space is that one cannot continuously take out and put away materials. That already is 30 min into the day and energy consuming. No. Won’t work. One has sit or stand and be able to do what one processed in his mind.

Gobekli Tepe, Turkey, 2017 (sketch)

Idea.

On occasion a person may struggle with ideas for his creativity. This is something I relate to and what I want to dwell on in the future. If art represents the artist, the artist must first know himself. It is not always easy to go into that space. It is necessary though, for authenticating oneself. It takes patience and courage to slowly take off all the layers of what we presume is oneself. The reward is the truth in life and in art.

Curiosity.

Living a routine life may make us sedentary not only physically but also mentally. There is an amount of a fight one has rage against this conformist. Artists for most must try to stay enthusiastic, not succumb to depression, and not allow easy answers. Artists must make a point to experience physically and mentally. Artists must want to learn.

Rebellion.

…and that is a focal point. One must not agree with status quo. This tension makes the world revolve. An artist welcomes change.