Balancing Act: December 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 December.
December and ‘What’s Next?’
Our culture seems obsessed with 'What's Next?'
We binge through a TV series hardly noticing when one episode ends and the next begins. We're looking for the next BIG trend, gadget, holiday, weekend or big event.
As artists/freelancers, we're the same; bingeing our way through projects, hurtling from one to another. Rarely do we celebrate a job well done or evaluate a job that went awol, as we're already in the thick of the next one.
We ask ourselves;
What's the next project?
What's next on the to-do list?
What's the next deadline?
Where to next?
But what about, 'how did we do?'
What worked well?
What can we improve?
What value have we added?
What did we learn?
When we complete a project or artwork, we're rarely 'finished' as we're all in a continual state of learning and progressing. So when we take the time to consciously reflect, the next project or artwork will begin on stronger foundations.
So, on your Next Artwork, why not ask yourself;
What worked well that I'll continue?
What techniques do I need to strengthen going forward?
What did I overlook?
What would I change next time?
Inside the Studio:
Week beginning 2nd: Finishing off the final classes of the year and beginning Christmas commissions
Week beginning 9th: A week full of Christmas commissions and finishing off work in the studio alongside some website maintenance to wrap up the year.
Week beginning 16th: Tuning off for a 3 week break and celebrating new arrivals my friendship-family.
Week beginning 23rd: Family, Christmas, Love, Friends, Food, Relaxation - making the most of the people dearest to me.
Next Month: January is all about setting up the year ahead and reflecting on the year past - looking for ways to reset priorities, strategise how to improve on figures, projects and techniques.
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’s 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, What’s Next for you?
And if you want an added dose of support, sign up to Studio notes to receive free tips, lessons, discounts and insights into the studio right to your inbox.
ForM is by far my favourite group exhibition of the year to visit and I am honoured to have been one of artists involved in it this year.
If you missed the exhibition, here’s a round up.