July Musings: How to scratch that ‘creative itch’ during the summer holidays!
It’s been a full on few months and I’m so glad we have made it to the school summer holidays! I am looking forward to a spending time with my kiddies, the slower pace and (hopefully) lots of time enjoying the weather! We are in the middle of a period of change in my house as my twins have now finished Primary School and will start Secondary School in September, eek!!! Not only do I think they will change and grow up a lot during this next year adjusting to ‘Big’ school but after being in the same class since Reception they will now be in separate schools. I actually think this will be good for them, especially as the teenage years are now in sight, but it’s going to be a huge adjustment for them. Their move to Secondary School will also impact me in different ways; not only are my babies growing up (sob!) but I will inevitably have less school involvement and no more school runs, which means my working day will become longer with more time in the studio!
But, first the summer holidays! My plan over the next six weeks is to spend as much time with my kiddies either doing ‘stuff’ or just hanging out as much as possible. There will be times when they are busy and that’s when I will get to create and to be honest I miss it if I am not being creative in some shape or form for too long. So this got me thinking and planning a few different ways to be creative when I am not needed or wanted;)
I absolutely LOVE having a garden studio; it’s separate and yet close enough to the house that the commute isn’t terrible;) It’s that close but not in the house too close.
I am planning on popping in to work here and there partly because I want to keep my hand in and I don’t want to loose momentum in my work but also for my sanity!
Visits to the studio will be a bit ad hoc when I can fit them around the family which realistically might be during the evenings or weekends as well as when the kids are playing in the garden. Now they are getting older this is becoming much easier and on a more regular basis!
Once the summer holidays are finished and the kids are settled into to school I want to be able to hit the ground running with more new work. I know come September I will want to get straight back into the studio but I will also be very aware I will only have six weeks until Landmark’s Autumn Art Fair; I’m already really looking forward to it!
I have so many ideas in my head that I want to create to take with me, so one of my priorities during the summer is to explore and develop these ideas in my sketchbook. This way once I can get back into a regular working pattern in the studio I can crack on with the pieces I am thinking of taking with me as I will have a clear vision of their direction.
During the times when I cant work, finding it hard to work, or simple don’t want to I’d like to start sketching and playing around in my sketchbook just for fun! I’m not sure how much I will be able to do but I figured a small A5 sketchbook with a pen and small box of watercolours is a start; no pressure, just playing and enjoying. It doesn’t matter if its for 10 minutes when the kids are playing in the garden and I am sat with hubby enjoying the weather, its a great way to keep your hand in and practice without getting caught up in the pressure to create or worry about what it will turn out like!
I am not a big TV watcher and tend to get bored VERY easily. Having the kids home for the summer will obviously result in the TV being on a bit more than usual and they often want me to sit with them for a while; something I am soaking up as I don’t know how much longer I have of this.
To ease my TV boredom (never cuddle boredom!) I am in the middle of crochet a blanket for my twin son; my other son and twin daughter already have their blankets and I’d really like to finish this one by the autumn. It’s also a great way to create and stave off the TV boredom. So, another plan is to crochet which my son will be very happy about! We’ll see if I make my deadline as it took me two years to complete my eldest son’s blanket (what can I say, life’s busy!!!!)
So, the summer holidays are here and I have lots of plans to keep me creating so there should be no itchy hands, creativity withdrawal or boredom! I might even be able to get the kids into some creative activities with me; this is something we always did together but is becoming increasingly difficult as they get older!
Right, now I am off out with the kiddies! Hope your are enjoying the summer, I will try to write an ‘August Musings’ blog …..but I might loose track of time! I’ll keep you posted!