Today's guest author is artist, Jeffery Sparks. This article has been edited and published with the author's permission. Find out how you can become a guest author.
Making Time for Your Art Career
Many artists have jobs outside of the studio. I do, and perhaps many of you who are reading this have full-time jobs or family responsibilities that seem like full-time jobs. As working artists, we foster a common belief that if we keep growing, learning, and creating, that at the very least, we will produce a body of significant work. And Just Maybe, (dare we dream?), trade our jobs for a full-time life of art-making. Until then, we try to juggle both, and therein lies the danger.
There was a time when my artwork suffered because of my job. As a retail manager of a high volume store, I am always on call and work in excess of forty hours a week. Travel with my company is unavoidable and takes me away for a week at a time--several times a year. I confess that there were times when a month or two would pass before picking up a paint brush. It is not surprising that my paintings lacked unity -- having numerous stylistic swings. Many were started but left unfinished.
Fortunately, all of that changed two years ago, when I took a workshop with a master artist. He and I are the same age, we clicked, and became friends. Though we did not talk "art" all the time, one day I shared with him my struggle about balancing a demanding job while continuing to grow as an artist. To my surprise he shared that he had gone through the very same thing. I had to know more.
He, had been a director in a large company, a husband and father, and an artist striving to grow and improve. Eventually, his artistic growth produced a level of recognition and sales that permitted him to resign from his position and pursue fine art full-time. After his resignation, both sales and recognition increased at a quickening pace; now, he is one of the more prominent artists in the United States. What he shared with me changed everything for the better, and in the following paragraphs, I'll share what he taught me with you:
The Daily Schedule
My friend had weekends off. Each week night he would do something to prepare for Saturday, his "painting day". After each work day, he first spent time with his family, and afterwords planned for paintings with thumbnail sketches, value and color studies. On Saturday, he would follow up by allocating the entire day to painting. We each have an idea of what kind of planning goes into a painting, but the trick here is to analyze your own painting process and break it down into manageable chunks throughout the week, so that when the uninterrupted
painting day begins, the plan is in place, and the work becomes more enjoyable.
Partner Support
Surround yourself with people that believe in what you are doing. An important barometer of artistic success is the level of support given from a spouse, partner, or family members. This is not to say that, in the beginning, all will understand our desire to commit to our fine art goals--but in the best-case scenario, our family members can, and should want to, support our desire to try. True, some spouses may be apathetic or even antagonistic, and when this is the case, we need to find friends in the arts who will support our dreams.
The "No Interruption" Agreement
Finally, we must establish a day to paint without interruption.
A whole day. This is sacred time, and you are in control of it. By the way, whatever illusions we hold about where we deserve to paint--that perfect studio--should be quickly dashed. Artists do need studio space, and yet, many professional artists use spare bedrooms, attics, utility rooms, garages, or even bathrooms with the doors closed. Wherever we paint, it can be humble,
but our family must agree to give us that time on "paint day" without interruption.
By restructuring my week, building on the encouragement of my spouse, and agreeing with my family to provide for me a "no interruption" paint day, I have grown significantly as an artist. If you have a full-time job or commitments that are like a full-time job, these three ideas will go a long way in helping you grow as an artist and allow you to reach your fine art goals.
All the best,
Jeff Sparks
Prairie Village, KS
www.jefferysparks.
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