How to Get the Most Out of Your Studio Hours
There is power in planning your studio time! Knowing the milestones you would like to hit as you move through your days and weeks is such an asset to you as an artist. With a plan, your brain can focus on making the work, not on what you should or shouldn’t be doing with your time!
At the Thrive Together Network, we believe that understanding your process is an important part of success as an artist. If you understand HOW you make work, you will understand what it takes to create a productive schedule for yourself. No one else is going to step in and do that for you!
We’ve identified 4 parts to a creative loop that are important to understand as you plan out your time. Once you understand these steps in your creative process, you can use this way of thinking to get the most out of your studio hours over and over again.
#1- Rumination
Create time for your ideas and concepts to ruminate in your brain while you are not at the studio. Think about your work and come up with some “moves” you want to make mentally. Then, physically implement them the next time you are in your space. When you do head to the studio your brain will already be activated and know the next step.
#2- Preparation
Prepare materials or even food in advance! Do small tasks outside the studio at convenient times so you are ready to go when you arrive. Are there any small tasks you could do in down time outside the studio like prepping materials while watching TV? Don’t dread the blank canvas in your studio! Prepare!
#3- Production
By showing up with the idea ruminating and materials prepped, you are ready to go! The production part of the process is actually easy! Heading into the studio to play and explore is amazing, but what we want to avoid is heading into the studio and feeling lost. Ruminate and prepare to create space for that amazing studio flow time where you make, make, make!
#4- Return
Create a meaningful return to the studio by starting a plan for the next session before you leave. That way this creative loop will continue to feed itself! Consider your return when you are leaving space for your future self to come in and feel activated and inspired. Think of your time as a cycle so you never get off track!
We hope you can spend some time working to understand your own creative loop. Or, we would love to do this type of planning as a community with you throughout the year through our Thriving Artists Map and weekly Art & Tea sessions that are all included in our Thrive Together Network Membership!
We would love to get to know you and the unique way you are building out your path as an artist!! Learn more here.
