Trusting your gut feeling when it comes to making art can be difficult. I get that you don’t have time and there are other things on your to-do list. As an artist trusting your gut is an important step in the art making process. Without following your intuition you might not be making enough art or the best art. You have to trust your gut and listen to your art intuition.
If your art intuition is telling you to try something to add a different colour, to try a new technique, to make something- you should follow that. Just like any other form of intuition like a red flag warning sign in a bad relationship your art intuition usually isn’t wrong. If the art you are making looks off or doesn’t feel right make sure you are trusting your gut feeling.
For awhile and I mean awhile, I have struggled with finding time to paint and make art. When I was living in Montreal doing my MFA it was easy because I had multiple studio spaces and designated time to make art. I was only working part-time and my main job was being a great art student.
Fast forward a few years, I had a mountain of student loans and was working multiple jobs to pay off the debt quickly. I didn’t have time to make art and was feeling tired, frustrated and unhappy.
Now, my student loans are paid and although I am teaching full-time I have been making more art.
THIS IS A RECENT CHANGE...
Trust your gut when you are playing with new materials like this clay!
I started to make art a priority and stopped saying, “I’ll make art when I have time.” Or, “When I have finished my to-do list.”
I have realized that if you don’t make time for your priorities or what you value most that you won’t magically gain more time later.
There might not ever be a great time to do something.
I’ve made it my goal to make art everyday. Even if it’s something small or just for 10 minutes. I have been doing this for two weeks now and recording the days that I have made art and how I feel versus the days that I haven’t.
I have seen a HUGE difference in how I feel! I have more energy in my day because I have prioritized doing something that makes me happy and provides stress relief.
I encourage you to do the same. Start making time for you and what you enjoy most!
How Trusting Your Gut Feeling in Art Can Be Helpful
You will make better art
You will be making art you are passionate about and not listening to other outside forces like society, family, or the art world pressure
You will feel happier and more proud of your art
You will want to make art more and naturally feel like you have more time to make it
You will feel in align that you are doing what is right
You will feel more confident in your art and naturally in yourself
How to Trust Your Gut in Your Art
Start making it a habit - part of a morning or evening ritual to make art
Schedule a time to make art daily/weekly
Record in a journal how making art makes you feel and on days when you don’t make art how you feel
Try rewarding yourself to establish your art making goals
Lay out your art supplies so they are visible and ready to be used
Write art goals and give yourself deadlines for what you are making
Set reminders/alarms on your phone for when to make art
Remove distractions that might prevent you from making art like leaving your phone in another room or putting it on airplane mode
Once you start making art consistently by blocking out time to make art you will be trusting your gut feeling while you are making art.
Part of my goals that I made in January were related to wanting to make more art.
Here are the goals I made in January-let’s review them and see how I did:
I have written in italics how I have been doing on these goals in the last 6 months.
Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 1-2x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month)
I have posted consistently to instagram usually about 4-5x a week, I have done 2-3 posts on Facebook per week, emailed my list 2x a month and YouTube. I have been blogging 4x a month.
Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!
I have been applying to 2-4 exhibitions or art calls a month. I have gotten a couple of new art exhibitions and grants this year!
Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.
I try to walk every day and plan a hike on the weekend. Although this doesn’t always happen I feel a lot better when it does.
Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income.
I started a Teachers Pay Teachers store a couple of months ago to help add consistent art income. I am continuing to grow my business.
Keep my website updated monthly- I like reviewing my website at the end of each month to make sure everything is current.
I usually update my website every couple of months and I know I can get better at this.
Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 7pm, no marking on the weekend.
I have done really well with this goal which has helped me to have more time to make art.
Make art during school breaks- Teaching full time has made me really miss having time to make my art.
I have been doing this and recently started to make art everyday even if it is something small like a quick sketch or taking a photo.
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How to stay motivated as an artist
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Biggest secret for a struggling artist
Trusting your gut feeling will really make a difference with your art and in your life. I have found that when I make art more often I feel happier and when I am listening to my intuition and making the art I want to make I am also happier.
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