Have you carved out time for your art?

When I travel, even for a family holiday, I always bring along a sketchbook. I’ve found it an incredible way to make it through the festivities unscathed. I love seeing family and friends, but sometimes I need a buffer. Pulling out the phone is tacky, but no one seems to mind my sketchbook.

“The journey not the arrival matters.” – T.S. Eliot

This time I managed to pop in into the Hipbone Art Studio in Portland OR. The studio has been running continuously as an uninstructed drop-in studio for Artists to draw and paint from life for 35 years. With as many as four modeling sessions a week, this place is incredible. This time, the model was Achillea, a professional, circus performer with cut, defined muscles, and beautiful acrobatic poses. Do you want to learn how to draw and paint the figure? Move to Portland.

(or take my online Learning To See course coming up in late February)

1.5, 5, &15 minute Sketches from my session at the Hipbone.

When we travel, it’s easy to put aside our dreams and passions. We are already traveling after all. The road doesn’t need to be an excuse though. Creating artwork in a new environment is always invigorating not to mention challenging. Scrounging up supplies, meeting new people, it can definitely drag us out of our comfort zone. The thing is, life is full of interruptions, and it’s important that we interrupt it back. Instead of creating a list of shoulds, have-tos, and I can’t yets, carve out some time in between your turkey and stuffing, and go make some art.

Do you bring your sketchbook when you travel?

How do you create during the holidays?

Have you carved out time for your art?