All in daily practice
You don’t always have to ‘think big’. There is a move back to sustainable and small, like tiny houses that use less space and resources. So too with art, small is making a comeback with so many end of year exhibitions asking for artworks less than 30cm . It’s a great way to make art affordable and accessible for buyers and especially requiring less time and outlay for artists.
Small children find magic all around them. When does that enchantment with the world dissipate? As adults its easy to become busy and disconnected from nature. I have been searching for ways to reignite my enchantment with the world through small daily acts which start a flow of gratitude.
Doing a small art piece everyday helps you feel ‘in the flow’. It’s like exercise or music, you need to practise to have a practice. I discovered how rusty I was at making an image using simple drawing techniques. Time to get serious with a daily practice again to regain confidence.
Stretching yourself is important in art as it is in life. What is also important is to acknowledge and celebrate each milestone, big or small. Like finishing a project or even touching my nose with my knee!
The beginning of a new year is often a time of indecision for me. What sort of format and theme will I use for my daily artworks? There is always a moment of hesitation but I know that I have to start somewhere, anywhere, then the path forward will appear.
I think of the notion of taking care as we begin a new year. Taking care of our expectations, setting our direction and steering into the future. People say ‘take care’ when you are about to set forth on a journey or project. But it can equally apply to so many aspects of your life.
How do you become unstuckable as an artist? When inspiration dries up, or you’re feeling too tired or stressed to create, what do you do? That’s where a daily practice can save your day and inspire you to keep going.
I’ve written many blogposts about having a daily practice, for experimentation, documentation and accountability. What I now realise is that it is also an important tool for reviewing your own artistic development.
