Art When Life Gets Difficult

Making art when life gets difficult

Do you find creating art when life gets difficult nearly impossible? Indeed, it’s tough to get past thinking about your woes.

Delays and other problems

Moreover, delays can be discouraging as well. For example, the Wabi-Sabi inspired paintings on my table took too long due to the unanticipated extended time for oil-based ink to dry.

Furthermore, I’d made many videos well in advance which were now all published. Hence, I dreaded getting back own that exhausting treadmill of creating, editing and publishing videos every week!  I almost wanted to quit!

However, I made a life-changing decision, years ago, to NOT allow my emotions or circumstances to rule my life. Thus, I’m sharing a way I’ve discovered that helped me move forward in the studio.

Art when life Gets difficult

At 38 years old, upon the breakup of my marriage, I moved with my children back to Kansas to be close to my parents.

Nonetheless, I wanted to continue my fledgling portrait business I’d started back in California. Hence, I bought a small easel and a few art supplies and set it all up in my bedroom. Indeed, I dreamt I’d create art after the kids were tucked in at night.

Dealing with reality

In spite of my plans, that easel, gathered dust in the corner, taunting me every night as I wearily crawled into bed.

As a working-again mother, going through a crazy divorce, I underestimated the emotional and physical toll I’d face. Furthermore, meeting the needs of my young, emotionally fragile kids, while trying to do well in my day job as a project assistant, left little in the tank for making art after the children were asleep.

The aftermath

Eventually, the divorce was finalised and, accordingly, I better balanced solo parenting with my career demands. Yet, I couldn’t get to the easel. Therefore, something had to change.

Changed my thinking

That big change was sparked by a one-day leadership training workshop with John Maxwell. Accordingly, it ignited my imagination to recognise I could be leader over my own life. Furthermore, it was vital to know that the ladder I chose to climb was leaning against the building I wanted to ascend. Accordingly, my aspirations needed to align with my inner values.

Then, the real work began

Thereafter, began the real work. Thus, for several months, with my easel gathering more dust, I scoured Maxwell’s books to understand what truly mattered to me. Still contending with solo mothering and work duties, nonetheless, the prospect of agency over the direction of my life buoyed me.

Working a Dream

Thereby, invigorated by writing down my discovered dreams for my children and myself, I chose goals. Afterwards, I planned what I could do to achieve my goals. Thereafter, I worked my plans the best I knew how, no matter how I felt.  Albeit, not perfectly and certainly not without struggle.

Accordingly, making forward motions everyday, even imperfectly, brought about results I liked, eventually.

Showing up to make art when life gets difficult

Thus, I began showing up at my easel most days, although wearied from the day, yet, buoyed by a way forward.

Essentially, what changed me was that I knew my why, then, I created and followed my imperfect path to do what I valued…which included creating art. Furthermore, I liked the agency I had over my feelings.

Additionally, I valued modelling to my children that persevering was a vital component of achieving important goals. 

First Achieved Goal

I also valued my faith and self-respect, which consequently gave me, as a single-again mom, the confidence to start an art ministry at church. Thereby, we had two successful exhibitions.

Yet, love intervened when I moved with my offspring over 20 years ago to join my Kiwi husband.

My why for my website and my YouTube channel

One of the whys for my website, this blog, and my YouTube channel, similarly, is I want to model to my adult children and grandchildren that it’s never too late to pursue dreams which align to your values and aspirations.

Simply knowing my why gives me the courage, and impetus to act every day.

Know your why in art 

Knowing your why is the most important thing to know in art when life gets difficult. Indeed, even when life goes more smoothly, I take the time to review my dreams and values every year. Afterwards adjust my plans, accordingly, and then work my plans.

How to move forward when life is difficult

Do you struggle with creating art when life gets difficult? Are you tired and don’t feel like making art, or, there’s simply too much going on? Then, perhaps, it’s time to discover your why.

“Living Forward” by Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy is an excellent read for this. 

My life plans are based the strategies given in that book which I read and notated several years ago. Their advice and philosophies helped sustain me during the craziness of closing my business in 2019 and a major repair to my home in 2022 whilst living in it.

John Maxwell’s wisdom is excellent, as well. I highly recommend him.

Additionally, there’s plenty online. I want to give a shout out to Struthless for his video on Jerry Seinfeld and Harnessing the Stallion. I highly recommend you watch it, after you watch mine!

The way forward

No matter who you choose to learn from, whether by book, video, pod-cast, or a live on-line or in-person seminar of your chosen sage, make sure you do these four things:

1. Read or listen carefully.
2. Take notes. Write them down.  No cheating with transcribing apps. 
3. Figure out how you can implement what they are suggesting, given the realities of your life.
4. Then find a way to do what is recommended. 

You can watch my series that shows how designed my time in the studio, which, thereby, propelled my creativity forward starting in 2023. Knowing my why was crucial .  Click here to watch the first video of five in the series.

One Caution

One caution: Aspirational videos stir your emotions and bolster your intentions. However, intentions accomplish nothing. 

How to improve afterwards

Nonetheless, do engage with these resources with pen and paper in hand. Afterwards, set aside time to make plans that are adjusted to the boundaries of your own life. 

Furthermore, make one forward motion, no matter how small, every day. This is the “magic sauce” of a good life and a meaningful time in the art studio.

Final adjustments

Even though I hoped these seven works would be ready in time for my video and this blogpost, nonetheless, I had to change my overall plans.

I now post a blog and upload a video as sanity allows, rather than weekly.

Although my dreams, targets, and plans can and do change, my values do not. That’s why I urge you to discover your own.

My values compel me to step in to the studio, accordingly, to make at least one forward motion to complete my targets and goals.   Thus, I urge you to get up every day and work your plan. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve with one small forward step every day consistently over a period of time.

Look below to check out the final version of the Wabi Sabi Derivative collection, which has now been renamed, “Moving On”.

Further reading

Matt Gabler Studios has a collection of posts on the creative life that I found interesting. 

He writes, “Life is filled with moments of chaos and uncertainty, where finding clarity and peace can seem like an impossible task. In these times, art can serve as a powerful tool for navigating emotional turmoil.” 

Click here to continue reading the post, titled, “Finding Clarity in Chaos: Using Art to Navigate Life’s Turmoil.”