How much time should I spend on my art?
I had a hard time with this question when I was younger. I used to think I had to work on a piece of art for weeks or months…sometimes years, for art to be beautiful and valuable. The reason I moved from acrylic paintings to watercolours and mixed media was because I didn’t have time anymore, plus, I wasn’t interested in spending weeks, months, or years on my art. We had 2 kids in 2 years and life got busy. Painting was not a priority so I didn’t paint much at all. Now that our kids are a little older, I find I have a more time, but I’ve approached my creative process a little differently. I tend to start and finish something in less than an hour and I’m very happy with that. I no longer believe that more time = more beauty or value.
What I learned, not that long ago, was that everyone works at a different speed.
You might want to start and finish a piece in less than hour (I do). Someone else might work on one painting over several months. It’s all perfectly fine, no matter how much time you put into it, as long as you put time into it. A couple years ago, I started a daily art practice in sketchbooks and I’ve been very good at sticking to it, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. It’s good for my soul.
Do you feel the pressure of making art for longer amounts of time?
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