I imagine there are many who have this question, because I used to wonder about it myself (for those curious about such things, I recommend Mason Currey’s Daily Rituals books). On occasion, I’ve been asked this question directly and I never know quite how to answer it because I just do what I do… I don’t really think about it, I just do it. So I thought I’d take some time and put these doings down into words. Maybe next time I’ll be better prepared when someone asks me what I’m up to!
On a typical weekday, I wake at 7:15 am, tend to the pups and my morning routine, then head to my studio at the end of the hall. I start by putting a few thoughts down into my journal about how I want the day to go and what I want to focus on that day, then I jump in with my first prioritized task.
The day’s work can vary depending on what types of projects I’m working on - currently, I’m prepping for an upcoming Zine fest. While I have most of the zine drafts completed, they need a few final edits before I print and assemble them. I’m also in the early development stages of an additional zine in hopes of getting one more done before the fest. Nothing about zine making is linear, so I’ve been spending my time on both sketching and writing - it’s still early in the drafting process.
That’s how art works: a seed of an idea, chased round with pen to paper, and round and round again. The process is like a spiral - starting on the outside, working your way round and round again with each subsequent draft until arriving in the center with a finished piece. It’s an imperfect spiral with an off-kilter center because there is no perfect process.
I find it helpful to split my days into blocks of time to be able to focus on creative projects, professional growth, business things, and client work. Managing the client and business side of art-making involves things like marketing, networking, website updates, and answering calls and emails. Professional development could mean attending a class or workshop to expand my skills, or setting time aside to brainstorm ways to grow my art practice or my business.
By the end of the workday, the pups are amped up and ready for dinner, Benjamin is in the kitchen prepping our evening meal, and we all take some time to relax together. If it’s been a particularly full day without much opportunity to dive into creativity, I may spend the evening with my sketchbook or journal in hand while we all listen to music and let night fall around us before bedtime.
The answers to this question are as diverse as there are makers in the world, but this is what daily life as an artist looks like for me. Saturdays are spent catching up on household chores and running errands, Sundays are a day for rest and relaxation, and weekdays are for working on this dream of being a working artist. I’m grateful for every day I get to spend at home with my animals working on creative projects.