Making Time for Your Art

We all lead busy lives I know...there’s always another job to do, an errand to run, or a list that seems to get longer every day. But if you really want to see progress with your art, one of the most helpful things you can do is set aside regular, dedicated time for your creative practice.

I’ve found that if I don’t put things in my diary, they simply don’t happen. I can easily race from one task to another, and before I know it, the week has vanished. But when I schedule time for art, even if it’s just an hour on a Sunday afternoon, it becomes part of my routine. Time just for me, to relax, to slow down, and enjoy making art.

Routine Builds Confidence...

By giving yourself this kind of gentle structure, you’ll start to notice real progress...“little and often” is a wonderful approach, especially when you’re learning new skills. It’s not about producing a finished masterpiece every time you sit down. Sometimes the best progress happens during quiet, unhurried moments of play and exploration.

For example...try just spending half an hour experimenting with how many different marks you can make with your brushes, what effects can you simulate for texture with them?...or practice colour-mixing to see how many shades you can achieve from two of your favourite colours. Short, focused sessions like this are so valuable, helping you to build knowledge and understanding, as well as your confidence over time.

Think of it like learning an instrument: a pianist doesn’t perform a concert after their first few lessons. They practise scales, make mistakes, learn what went wrong, and slowly get better and better. Art is exactly the same, theres no quick fix.

Let Go of the Pressure to Produce...

It’s easy to feel that each time you sit down to draw or paint, you should end up with something complete and “show-worthy” but that’s not always realistic, it takes time and practice to gather together the skills we need.

With art there’s always something new to learn, that’s what’s so exciting about it, but that learning needs to happen in small chunks, so we can absorb the information thoroughly. When we understand why we are doing something a certain way, or why a particular material is reacting the way it is, we’re more likely to achieve a successful result.

Sketchbook studies, colour swatches, getting to know our tools...they all count as progress. In fact, they’re often where the biggest learning happens. So if your painting session ends with a few messy pages rather than a finished piece, don’t be disheartened...you’ve still moved forward and built on your knowledge and skills. ...and if anyone (however well-meaning) asks why you haven’t painted another “masterpiece” yet, just smile and kindly remind them that its not always about the finished result. Every artist has to learn about their materials and tools before creating their best work.

Be Kind to Yourself...

Creativity thrives in positive environments, not pressurised ones. When you’re too hard on yourself for not getting something right straight away it generates a feeling of failure, but making mistakes is actually a positive trait when it comes to learning (see my Thoughts on Mistakes are Good) If you continue to feed these feelings of doubt, that you’re not very good, then your art practice starts to feel like another job on your to-do list, and that’s the last thing we want.

So be gentle with yourself, progress takes time. Give yourself permission to be a beginner again and again, always learning, always developing, trying new things. Absorb new information slowly, don’t rush...revisit things often (practice), and allow your skills to develop naturally at your pace. A little patience and self-compassion will take you much further than frustration ever could.

Protect Your Creative Time...

For many of my students, the only time they make art is during class, and while that’s a lovely activity to do, it’s even better for your progress if you can carve out a little extra creative time at home too. It doesn’t have to be long, even just an hour or so, one afternoon a week will make a difference.

Think of it as your creative appointment...block it out in your diary, protect it from interruptions, and treat it as something sacred. This small investment of time in yourself can really help develop your skills and has the added benefit of giving you some well earned ‘you’ time each week too. Before you know it, those small sessions add up, and you’ll be amazed at how much more confident and capable you feel.

The Gift of Time...

So, hopefully you can see now how important it is to give yourself time...to learn...to play...to develop your skills. Don’t rush the process or measure your worth by what you produce. Measure it by what you learn, by your progress, and by the enjoyment that comes from creating something just for you. Art isn’t about speed or perfection, it’s about the quiet, steady progress of growing at your own pace.

A Little Encouragement...

If this post inspired you to carve out more time for your art, I’d love to hear how you’re getting on so feel free to tag me at @jowatsonartist with #MyCreativeTime on Instagram or Facebook.