Two prominent things stand out to me when I think about practicing art and creating a body of work—building my skills to achieve my vision and understanding and communicating the concepts, subjects, themes, and ideas or topics in the artwork. Both require supporting myself through feelings like confusion, overwhelm, and loss to find direction in my artwork. These feelings can be paralyzing and immobilizing. And they can be overcome with a few practices that provide clarity on what comes next.

Last summer, I began laying out the questions I’ve used to craft an inspiring and spacious creative practice. I’ve shed light on the notion of working in creative seasons and I’ve shared ways it has helped me radically expand my practice and my business.

From a young age, I learned very quickly that there were so many ways to look at creativity. And so many of those ways came down to individualism. That is the way you perceive the world and the way you process the world. Yet, the subject of creativity is so vast. And it can be just as expansive to identify a way of working - a creative practice - that doesn’t hinder your originality but instead elevates it.

Last summer, I began laying out the questions I’ve used to craft an inspiring and spacious creative practice. I’ve shed light on the notion of working in creative seasons and I’ve shared ways it has helped me radically expand my practice and my business.

I never really understood how creative mantras could be incorporated into my daily art practice until I learned how lonely practicing art can feel some days. Yes, I am a part of a creative community that I converse with daily and I have a creative mentor that helps me align with myself quarterly. Yet, for the most part, I work alone in my studio which results in plenty of personal conversations on a daily basis.

The Artist’s winter season is a time for deep nurturing. It’s a parameter of time, completely determined by you, to turn inward and nourish your creative foundation. Leaning into a creative season offers you to align with your current circumstances, intentions, feelings, and needs.

Your creative practice is the most important piece of your creativity. Setting up an art studio provides a place to arouse inspiration and enter your artistic workflow.

Each year, I open my studio to budding artists looking for guidance and growth in their creative practice. This Artist Mentorship program grew out of my passion for sharing creativity with others, and this coming year it is structured to be extra special.

Trust comes from understanding any given situation and having confidence in the outcome. You can build a loose routine that helps you anticipate the future using creative seasons. It gives you the tools to know your creative season is focussed and your nurturing season is rejuvenating.

The creative process is personal and typically takes consistent bravery. It’s an exchange of giving and receiving, and when those two move out of balance it can leave an artist with burnout, fear, and questioning.

Growing into an artist is different today than it was just a handful of years ago. Artists no longer just assume the role of lead creative but also might take on copywriting, email design, website design, content creation, shipping, handling, customer inquiries. Over time, and even when you don’t realize it, it’s easy to lose touch with your creativity or forget that creativity has a natural ebb and flows.

For those of you who have been with me for a year or so know that I love to take on daily challenges at the beginning of each year. I enjoy finding discipline in my work and letting my practice set the tone for the remainder of the year. It brings me close to new ideas while practicing old and keeps my hands working consistently and steadily.

Slowly drifting into the new year, my studio set up shifted as furniture fell into new spaces. I spent time culling through the old and situating collected pieces intentionally — that included the artwork I displayed, the furniture I held onto, and the books that have enlightened me. I created a space that I am excited to belong and continue to work through the stories of my materials. How do you find that warmth in your own studio?

Stepping into creativity doesn’t always flow naturally. There’s rhythms, a dance you do to keep up with your inner thoughts. How do you come back to the practice with confidence, inspiration? One of my favorite tools is visualization.