Take a little look into my studio. We all have things that help us get through the work, these are some of mine...
Smell
Smell is a little bit of a ritual. This is not always present but it helps for sure. I love to have a candle burning. But if I've run out, I also have an essential oil infuser. It's the atmosphere more than smell really.
Sight
A clean studio also isn't 100% necessary. But there's a limit and it's pretty low. Straightening up my space is one of the ways I prepare my mind to be working. It's easy once I'm straightening up to realize something that's a little off with my work and before I know it I've been sucked in.
Sound
This is the most important feature of my studio practice besides the actual work. Music is occasional but it's typically reserved for the 2:00-4:00 pm hours when I have restless energy and I need to move my body.
Most of the time it's a good book. Fiction always, usually mystery or thriller. My book will drag me into the studio because drawing/painting is the best time to listen to an audiobook. My attention is free to imagine with the story and I'm not in danger of falling asleep or getting interrupted.
Sitting
This is the real guilty pleasure. It's also crucial to the work. Sitting/resting is essential. Non-artists probably don't know this but painting/drawing is exhausting. It takes a toll on the body and the mind. It's emotional, physical and mental. We also see the work better if we take a break from the easel.
Grind -burn out- culture wears exhaustion as a badge. But wouldn't it be best if we could get the work done and also protect our bodies? I think so.
**the realest guilty pleasure is having my phone on me. It is a distraction and I am not condoning it. It is something I'm trying to work on putting away. (but it has my audiobooks and music)
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