If you’re reading this, chances are art is a big part of your life. It’s something that you look forward to doing and that brings you a lot of joy and satisfaction. But what happens when life gets in the way? You have a big project due for work, family comes to visit, a loved one is ill. I’ve noticed for most people I work with that the art time is the very first thing to go. I’ll get to that later when I have more time – when my mother’s illness clears up, after my trip, after I get that closet cleaned up, when the kids are settled in school, when the remodel is complete, when I retire, etc. At first, when you pass by your work area, you feel that pang of longing and regret. Eventually you learn to close off those feelings and suppress that longing to be creative again. I’d like to propose that, as artists, the basis of a well-composed life be laid upon a foundation of the following non-negotiable items:
I used to think I had to spend long days in my studio to get “enough” art time in. But strangely, I never felt like there was quite enough time for my art. It felt like a battle between my art time and all the other responsibilities in my life. From the start, I had a disciplined and regular studio schedule, yet my creative time often felt like feast or famine. Some days were reserved for teaching and others for the studio. On my studio days, even after being there for many hours, I couldn’t tear myself away. I would stay way too late and leave feeling over-tired and over-hungry. That changed dramatically when I was invited to be in an exhibition in which I had to complete a work of art each day for five weeks. So I set aside time each morning to create. Sometimes 20 minutes, sometimes 90 minutes. I was amazed at how connected I felt to my art with such a minimal commitment. Once I got in a groove, I found myself thinking about my pieces all day long. I was working on them in my head even when I wasn’t in my studio. Although my regular studio practice involves working 4 days a week for longer periods of time, there are intervals in my life when I am on the road teaching or have consuming non-art projects at hand. For these times, I created what I call 15 minutes a day. I found that even devoting just 15 minutes each day to making art, I am able to make startling progress on an idea or project. I set a timer for 15 minutes and when that timer goes off, I am free to get up. I don’t worry because I know tomorrow I can pick up where I left off. I’ve found this 15 minutes a day works best first thing in the morning before life’s demands begin pressing in. I’ve shared this practice with the artists in my Artist Mentorship Program and it’s been awesome to watch a dedicated studio practice bloom where previously there had been none. By setting aside even a small amount of time daily to be creative, you will find yourself with more energy, a greater sense of contentment and a capacity to give generously of yourself to others having tended to your deepest needs first. Your creative energy will gather steam and ideas will flow more freely. You’ll be more at ease with the process, allowing for greater experimentation and more accepting of the inevitable “failures” or mistakes”. Most importantly, you will start the day with the satisfaction that you have made time for that which matters most – that connection to your deeper self – that creative Source within. All from just 15 minutes a day.
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Responses to “In Just 15 minutes a day…”
Sue Sullivan
Michele, I love this concept. I was doing my drawing and painting regularly, then in 2008 we decided to build a house. It was my giant art project. The only thing is once the house was finished, I didn’t return to drawing and painting. I’m going to give this idea a try to go my artistic momentum moving again. Thanks!
Michele Theberge
Yeay! Let us all know how it goes!!
Joy Resor
Hi Michele,
Love your post!
Thank you so much. I plan to try your idea, and I’ll let you know how
it goes.
Many blessings,
Joy
Michele Theberge
Joy, I look forward to hearing what happens when you try this. I hope you’ll post here so we can all support each other.
Cari Cole
Hi Michelle,
This is such wonderful advice — love the 15 min a day thing. I’m going to suggest that to my songwriting students, what a great idea! I love your posts, and I love how you always bring such concrete and constructive tools to artists peppered with such a beautiful spirituality. And – what a gorgeous piece of art at the bottom, love the white on brown… You are such the incredible artist and teacher! Kudos.
Ursula
Michele, this is so inspiring! I love the idea of setting time aside each day, and 15 minutes is totally do-able. You’ve rejuvenated my resolve to make this an ongoing practice – thank you!
Christine
This is very inspiring! Your suggestion to give oneself time and permission is very manageable.
Sometimes I get caught up in thinking it is better to practice like a student would – devoting blocks of time everyday – but that just is not always practical and then I end up doing nothing and feeling worse for it!
elizabeth
I love the 15 minutes a day idea. It’s so great to set such a do-able goal. Plus, isn’t getting started always the hardest part? It is for me. I also find that with my writing and music, if I don’t take the time first thing, it is SO easy to get distracted by a million other things.
Thanks for breaking it down and making creating art super simple and unintimidating. Every artist I know needs more easy, simple ideas for approaching their work. xxoo E
Michele Theberge
Elizabeth! Absolutely, the getting started is the hardest part I find. Allowing the brain switch gears and to settle into a creative rhythm is the essential first step that can be such a challenge. Once you commit to the 15 minutes a day, it’s amazing how some days you find even MORE time. You just don’t want to stop. But *shhHH!* that’s the secret! First, we just want to entice ourselves to sit down to work and commit to ONLY those 15 minutes. Anyway, I am amazed at what can be accomplished in that time frame!
Valerie
like the idea of 15 minutes a day! that is manageable
Colleen O'Grady
Thanks for the reminder Michelle that it is not all or nothing. I especially liked your comment about working on it 15 minutes a day. It is so true that if you work on it for 15 minutes in the morning you end up working on it in your head all day long.
Melissa Dinwiddie
For years the only time I made art that wasn’t commissioned by a client was a few days in the spring at my annual retreat with my calligraphy guild. I would leave the retreat energized and inspired, with dreams of creating blocks of time at home — maybe an afternoon a week? a full weekend once a month?
It never happened.
I just longed to be more prolific, but somehow couldn’t get myself to create the art!
What made the difference for me was a simple 15 minutes a day commitment (inspired by you, Michelle!) I’ve been more prolific in the past month and a half than in the previous several years!
Frequently I’m still frustrated that I’m not getting days on end to focus exclusively on my art, but even just 15 minutes is enough to at least stay *connected* to my creativity. To remind myself that yes, I AM an artist!
Sometimes the 15 minutes are counted practically to the second, and sometimes they don’t happen til the wee hours of the morning, but just as often I let the session go until I feel “complete.” The other, “more urgent” stuff in my life somehow still gets done.
And as Colleen said above, putting in even just 15 minutes with my hands translates into all day long in my head. 🙂
Brilliant!
Beatrice Lacoste
This is sterling advice! As a writer, procrastination is always a temptation, and the more one procrastinates, the greater the threat of the empty white page, the writer’s block…! Getting started, and getting started at the beginningof the day, in the morning, is the perfect antidote!
Thank you so much Michele for sharing your insights. I also love the artfix and the quotes that go with the drawings!
Michele Theberge
You all have inspired me with your enthusiasm for and willingness to try this concept out. I have just started an 11-day teaching tour in the Pacific Northwest, so have had to leave my 4 day a week studio practice and extended time periods in the studio. I believe all ideas are meant to be shared and circulated and although I initiated this, you have given it back to me. Thanks to you, I am going to set up my painting stuff right now and get to work before I do anything else today.
Art comes first.
Shakil Jefferson
I read through your book and have been consistently contributing time to developing both my digital and traditional art. I kinda took it to the next level, doing at least an hour everyday for the past 2 months or so, but I’m just letting you know that your advice has been influential. The hardest part was getting into the habit, but now it’s 2nd nature.
jewel lentz
Hey Michele,
Interesting, you described a lot of my weaknesses as an artist, ha ha, distraction. You asked the question in what way does my art affect people. Mostly, I hope they hear and see in the painting I paint for them something to inspire them to hope for the more in their lives and follow that inspiration. I love it, when a painting hits somebody in the heart, then i can say, my message was sent. I mostly work in abstract because as I keep whomever I am painting for in my heart, the things they need inspiration for seems to spill out into the painting. I am able to paint with my hope and faith together, so what pours out of my heart becomes evident on the canvass, in whatever form I need to see or others seem to see. Jewel
jewel lentz
Michele
I very much appreciate Michele, your keen heart to put out this blog, and spread around your wisdom and experience. Thank you very much Jewel
Andrea Christine Mueller
Dear Michele,
Thank you very much for sharing your inspiring concept, insights and ideas about drawing 15 minutes each day. I love your vivid, authentic way of your writing, the practical suggestions you give in the ebook “seven essetial practices for the professional artist”. I now commit to give it a try, 5 days a week in the beginning, allowing myself to settle into my creative rhythm. My dancing teacher also suggests her students to practice at least 15 minutes a day – the results are amazing. If I embrace some resistances and get started I am always very happy and satisfied. I guess the same is with painting, drawing. I am in the beginning of my artistic career!
Deborah
You asked how does my art contribute, especially since I am one of those “not for profit” artists. My studio is in a large area with many other studios. Everyone else paints very representational. I paint non-objective. I think over this past year, that some of the other artists have felt more freedom to stop copying photographs and paint what they feel.
Marge Knhyper
I have taken art classes, shown some, and now I look forward to teaching a little painting workshop to breast cancer survivors, to get more creativity and fun in life. I would like to do more of that.
Marie Fontaine
Michelle! I love hearing from you! Your artist mentorship program was so helpful. I am implementing many of the things you suggested. Thank you so much for your kind inspiration.
You will be happy to hear I’ve finally broken through my artist’s block and am painting the children’s book illustrations almost every day! (I just had to let go of my earlier life’s standard of ‘professionalism’and create it for myself and my family.) Once the flow started it was like a whirlwind that has kept on going steadily and now is becoming a balanced stable practice that is integral with my life. The block was my perfectionism. AND because I am at play, the art is a vibrant expression of spirit. Your artist’s prayer is on my fridge.
Including the ‘hybrid artist’ lecture in your recent email helped me understand why I’ve fought the ‘verticle system’ all my life. In my heart I’ve not really wanted to participate in that way. I just didn’t know why. Now ‘success’ in the world may happen– but it doesn’t HAVE to. It’s not the goal. The work is the goal. I love the Balinese way of thinking; that we are all artist’s in whatever we do. We all have beauty to share with the world. Love, Marie
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Cate Palmer
Most of my excuses, while real, are just the reasons I use to find an “out” from the fear involved in trying to paint. My most reliable out is telling myself I need 3 or 4 hours to even get started. I love the 15 minute timed attempt, even as a warmup. Many thanks
Michele Theberge
Cate – keep me posted as to how it goes. Also, if you have a buddy to commit with, that can help, too!
Julia G.
What a great idea! 15 minutes dont hurt, I can commit to that! Thanks!
By the way: I do the 15 minutes trick when I clean. I hate cleaning. So I set myself an alarm clock for 15 minutes and I am always surprised what I can get done in 15 minutes and normally I exceed the time without any problem….
Michele Theberge
Great idea to apply this to cleaning, too! Love it. And I think you’ll find the same thing with the art. If you have some more time, sometimes you go over. But if you don’t, you’ll be AMAZED how much can happen in that short a time.
ElisaCChoi
hi michele. there are times when i need to think of ideas and concept for my project and i find that at times even 15 or 30 mins isn’t enough because i couldn’t think and i feel pressured. i don’t have time for art because i feel i’m not accomplishing anything with my project. so I’m thinking maybe i need to set 15 mins to just paint and see if ideas will come?
Michele Theberge
Elisa, I hear what you are saying. I understand that with some artists the process if more conceptual or involved than what can be done in 15 minutes. That’s absolutely true. I do find ideas come to me when I start working so that may work for you. This exercise can kick start creativity that can then apply to more involved projects as well. Give it a try and let us know how it goes!