Office Hours with Antrese: Answers on workflow, handling life’s curveballs, and more! 

I’ve been hearing a lot of questions from long time listeners of the podcast and from fellow artists who are taking some of my growth courses. This episode is the result of compiling some of those questions to provide helpful answers to artists like you! I don’t have all the answers but I have picked up some helpful tips and insights over the years and I can’t let that go to waste. If you have any suggestions you’d like to share - don’t hesitate - this community thrives when people speak up and join the conversation. 

Setting yourself up for success

How are you doing when it comes to managing your time in the studio? Do you feel like you’ve got a good system and routine down or does it feel haphazard and disorganized? I hated the feeling of losing hours in the studio because I didn’t have a plan and a thought-out approach. 

A good way to start reclaiming your time in the studio is to make a plan - even a small one - you’ve got to start somewhere. Don’t feel like you need to make a radical change overnight, those rarely work - make your goal achievable so you are setting yourself up for success. I’d also encourage artists like you to start batching your work when possible -  take some time to prepare a ton of canvases or organize your supplies, or even take time to sketch out some ideas on paper. What have you found that has worked well in your studio? 

Life happens - it’s OK to adapt!

Sometimes the worst critic we face is the person looking back at us in the mirror. We make a plan and we get into a rhythm and then all of a sudden life throws us a curveball! Have you given yourself permission to make changes to your plans? Seriously? Sometimes even the act of writing out the phrase, “I give myself permission to change this plan if necessary” can be helpful. The important thing to remember is to be kind to yourself - we need you and your creative expressions! 

Dealing with creative blocks

When you get stuck, I mean REALLY stuck, what do you do? Has it helped you to just push through the creative block and keep creating what you can or have you found a different approach that works? I have had my fair share of creative blocks over the years and I don’t wish those on anyone. What I am grateful for is the support and encouragement I’ve received from my peers who have been willing to open up and share with me what has worked for them. I that same spirit, I wanted to share with you a few helpful tips to deal with creative block.

• I know it’s hard but TRY to push through the block - I have seen this work. 
• Start collecting artwork and images that capture your imagination and creativity. 
• Copy someone else’s work - seriously! Try your hand at some master paintings. 

I know you’ve heard this from me before but I want you to know that I am here for you - this community was built for artists like you. I hope you’ve found something to try in your studio soon and like I’ve said - please don’t hesitate to drop your experiences and tips in the comments section!