Balancing Act, October Review

This year, I'm holding nothing back in a series called 'Balancing Act' by sharing the behind the scenes insights into balancing commitments and creativity with tips to help you make time for your Art.

This is how I balanced October.

October and Working IN versus ON your Art

There is a common question Business Owners ask themselves - Are you working IN or ON your business?

When you work IN your business, you’re doing tasks, completing orders and getting the job done. You’re employed in the day-to-day, busy putting out fires and earning your money.

When you work ON your business, you’re stepping back to look at the bigger picture. You're taking the steps that don’t need to be done right now but instead making time to plan, build or create something that will impact, refine, develop and improve your business tomorrow or a few years from now.

I’ve been solely working IN my business during October, busy in the day-to-day and it’s the first month in a while I have not created the space to work ON my business. I’ve brought in my highest earning month to date, but one year from now, the impact will be gone.

We can ask ourselves the same question as Artists - Are you working IN or ON your art?

When you work IN your art, you create something you know will work. You’re comfortable implementing your signature marks, processes and techniques. You’ll receive a paycheque in the form of a painting or sculpture at the end of your time spent employed in the activity.

When you work ON your art, you’re doing something new. You're stepping out of your comfort zone, learning a new technique, visiting an exhibition or seminar that will inspire, impact or lead your work in new directions.

There's no direct paycheque when you're working ON your Art. Instead, you're investing and welcoming future benefits as interest accrues. Your investment ON your art may be settled tomorrow or even a few years from now.

When was the last time you worked ON your Art?

Inside the Studio:

Week beginning 7th: the week following the Solo show opened, I expected to have a bit of a dip, but I was so busy teaching and working on new projects that it didn’t cross my mind. A full-day course on colour, a paperclay course to a private group, my usual term classes at Ards and Down Art Centre, a project on Diabetes and progress on an intergenerational mural meant I solely worked IN my business this week.

Week beginning 14h: This week I worked on a commissioned mini watercolour portrait to mark the bond between a couple, one of which was going through palliative care alongside my usual classes.

Week beginning 21st: This week was intense as stage one of mural completion had to be ready by the following Tuesday, so in between teaching my term classes and delivering a day course on sculpting with a life model, I was working on 12, 8 x 4 boards. Sunday lunch with my close friends was a welcome retreat.

Week beginning 27th: Things begin to calm down project-wise. Thoughts start moving onto the next upcoming projects, with meetings with Arts Care and Conway Mill to begin firming up January - March term. Mark came home after the majority of the month working away and a night out together for dinner and to see Gerry Cinnamon celebrated the end of a very busy month.

Next Month: November is another full month of teaching, with a few day and weekend courses. Attention turns to completing Christmas Commissions and making headway on the 20 before 20 list.

Balancing Act Quick Links:

If you’re just catching this series now, here’s what’s happened so far:

January Tactic: Balance and Accountability
January Review: White Space
February Tactic: Define the Pace
February Review: Wrestling Resistance
March Tactic: Action Versus Reaction
March Review: The Knock-on Effect
April Tactic: Go Wide or Go Deep
April Review: Honouring the Intrinsic
May Tactic: Sow a Mustdo Seed
May Review: Honour the Shipping Process
June Tactic: The 3 letter word
June Review: Mid-Year Check-In
July Tactic: How to Say yes to your Art
July Review: Fill The Leak
August Tactic: What do Art and Yoga have in Common?
August Review: Adjust the Volume.
September Tactic: 20 before 20.
September Review: Sprints and Strolls
October Tactic: 8 Artist Body Systems:
October Review: Working IN or ON your Art
November Tactic: The Creative Rollercoaster.
November Review: Check Your Diet
December Tactic: Small Things, Repeated
December Review: What Next?

What about you?

Let me know in the comments below how you found this month, what you’ve created, or what you’re struggling with and particularly whether you are currently IN or ON your Artwork.

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