I love art journalling. It's bloody brilliant and I think everyone
should give it a go. Spending some quality time purging your busy brain through
writing, painting, collaging; whatever medium you like. I always get a
wonderfully wholesome and nourished feeling after a long, cathartic art
journalling session.
But.
(There's always a but!)
I don't have a lot of time! And for me, art journalling
takes a lot of time!
Recently I found myself more and more strapped for time
(being out the house 12-13 hours a day can do that to you!) I want to spend
quality time with my art journal, as well as painting on paper/ canvas as well
as writing my blog as well as marketing my business as well as seeing friends
as well as keeping the house from looking like a post apocalyptic ruin... You
get the picture!
With art journalling - and even more so since I went back to
working full time - I have to make time and sacrifice something else to do so. Don't
get me wrong, for me, art journalling and all those other things stealing away my
precious time ranks pretty damn highly on my list of priorities. And although it
might seem like it, this isn't actually meant to be a long rant about how I never
have spare time!
I actually want to share with you how I am overcoming the
"I never have time to do art journalling" feeling. And how I'm also
applying it pretty much everywhere else in my life.
Just like my life and business goals; I don't worry anymore about
getting everything done in one go. I break it down into bite-sized pieces.
I used to be terrible with starting a piece of art and if I didn't
finish it in that session... Buh bye! Deserted and abandoned on a pile of other
"took too long"s. Nowadays, I just don't have that luxury!
If I abandoned every artwork - canvas or journal - I'd never
actually get any artwork done at all! So I had to work to change my attitude towards
my work. Now, before I start a painting I go into the painting already
accepting that it will not be finished in this session.
It seems like even just having that mentality of "this
is a work in progress and that's okay" kind if wins half the battle. I
also leave my painting/ journal on my desk with the supplies I was using; not
tidied away. I'm lucky enough to have my own space for creating so leaving
things a little messy isn't really an issue. Lastly, I remind myself through
looking at photos, having recently finished art around me and looking back through my journal. I've realised through looking at these
past entries that when you spend time on things, be it a long session or
several over the course of a fortnight; your art has so much depth to it.
Who cares that an art journal entry based one evening on
letting go of fear the next evening morphs into embracing change? As a person,
you or your feelings do not just stop each night and reset. You're an ever
growing, ever changing and complicated human. Every day you finish just adds
more layers to who you are.
I really enjoy the lack of pressure this realisation gave me
and the new depth it is bringing to my art. I now feel quite comfortable
breaking art sessions down into smaller time frames.
Blogging is the same. This post was actually created in 3 sessions:
last night on the train home from work, this morning on the train to work and editing in my lunch break. I
also read my book in 20 minute bursts twice a day when I am on the tube.
Even though it is in shorter sessions, I actually am finding
myself more productive! I'm keeping up to date on the blog, I've read 5 books
this month and I've used my art journal consistently.
Give it a go! Take something your used to spending hours on
and break it up or use your commute to work for something other than staring at
your social media!
You never know; you might just find you have more time.
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