A Day in the Life of a Botanical Artist: Inside My Spring Studio and Garden
Before I dive in to talking about what a typical day looks like around here, I want to take a moment to thank you for sharing your experiences with online subscriptions and communities in last week’s post. I loved hearing about the various online offerings and platforms you enjoy and how each of you has come to find your own balance with inspiration, education, time, community and budget.
I wasn’t sure my Reader Conversations idea would resonate with you, but I was delighted to find that it did. I look forward to making it a regular feature.
A few months ago when I asked you what you wanted to see here on the blog, one popular idea was “a day in the life”. Not quite a year ago I shared what it’s really like to run an art business. It focused on all the little (and big) projects I’d been working on throughout the week. A working artist does so much more than just make art. So what does a typical day look like for me?
Although my days vary, they usually do follow a general pattern. Matthias and I are both self-employed and one of the joys is not having a rigid schedule.
I never used to be an early riser, but these days I wake up early, even though I don’t have to. I love a long, slow morning. It sets me up to be in a good frame of mind for creating.
Over the years I’ve come to learn that each of us has to follow our own path. Each of us is unique. There’s no one right way to do anything — from painting to running a business to living a life. There’s no single path to success and no single definition of success, either. We get to choose for ourselves. We also get to evolve and grow and even change our minds.
A Typical Day
(times vary from day to day, hence the ranges)
From 5-6:30 until 6:30-7:30: Once I realize I’m not going to (or don’t want to) fall back asleep, I get up, make coffee and feed Quin (he’s the only early riser of our animals). Then I bring mugs of coffee to bed for Matthias and me (occasionally this is reversed and Matthias makes the coffee). I plump up my pillows and sit snuggled in bed drinking coffee and reading. This is one of my favorite habits. It feels indulgent and nurturing. I don’t keep my phone in the bedroom and I no longer start the day reading the news, scanning emails or checking in with social media (letting go of social media has been so freeing!). Instead I mostly (but not always) read fiction, physical books checked out from the library. This week I finished A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn and Her Last Flight by Beatriz Williams. Both were good reads.
From 6:30-7:30 until 8-9: Begin the day. This means getting dressed, taking care of the dogs and Quin, drinking more coffee, eating breakfast… Sometimes I’ll read the news or scan through emails while eating breakfast. I’m careful to pay attention to how I’m feeling. If I start getting too anxious or angry, I turn off my phone (we subscribe to the New York Times and I use the app on my phone to read it). I may write in my journal while eating breakfast and if I have a lot of time I may go up to my studio and get to work. This is often the perfect time to wrap up an order so I can drop it off at the post office on our walk.
From 8-9 until 9-10: Go for a walk. Usually Clara and I walk with Matthias and Fiona. They end up at Matthias’ shop and Clara and I continue home. For the last week or so Clara hasn’t been able to walk because she needs knee surgery. (We’re waiting for our appointment with the specialist and it’s been so hard seeing her unable to get around).
From 9-10 until 12-12:30: Work in my studio. I start each workday by writing in my journal. Next I fill a page (or pages) in my sketchbook(s) — warming up, planning out projects, experimenting with different media or new ideas or simply playing. Then I dive into whatever project I’m working on or other tasks that need my attention. Here’s some of what I might be tackling on any given day (this is not an exhaustive list):
gathering painting inspiration
painting (and/or mixing paint and sketching out a new piece)
writing, editing or publishing my blog and/or newsletter
taking photos for my blog, newsletter or website
other photography and/or videography
other writing (articles, my book)
planning, filming or editing a class
wrapping and sending orders
scanning, editing and/or photographing new art
website maintenance, updates, etc.
ordering (or buying) supplies (art supplies, shipping supplies, packaging, office supplies, etc.)
taking classes or workshops
planning and research
responding to emails, blog comments, student questions/projects, etc. (usually I try to put this off until after lunch, but sometimes something needs attention in the morning)
cleaning/organizing the studio
bookkeeping
other special projects
From 12-12:30 until 1-1:30ish: Yoga and lunch break. This year I’ve been using the monthly calendars from Yoga with Adriene as my starting point and switching out or adding practices as needed. Sometimes I’ll work while I eat my lunch and other times I’ll come back to my journal or read a magazine or art/gardening book.
From 1-1:30ish until ?: Back to the studio and any of the above tasks/projects.
? until ?: Walk with Clara to meet Matthias and Fiona on their way home. Matthias texts me when he’s leaving because his workday varies. Usually he leaves the shop early and continues to work from home. (With Clara currently out of commission, I haven’t been taking an afternoon walk).
? until end-of-day (this varies but is usually between 5-6): Continue working in the studio.
Most days follow a variation of this schedule but in the spring and summer, my garden jumps into the mix.
My garden is a huge part of my art and inspiration. It’s an extension of everything I do and inseparable from who I am as an artist.
Depending on the weather I’ll usually spend some of my day tending the garden — watering, planting, weeding. I also try to be outside as much as possible. I’ll eat breakfast (and lunch and dinner) on the patio and although I don’t like painting outside, I take writing, my sketchbook and computer tasks into the garden whenever I can.
We had an incredibly slow, cold and dreary spring and then this week we had record-breaking heat. I spent much of the week in the garden trying to keep up with my suddenly exploding plants (one of the most dramatic examples was the asparagus. It went from tiny nubbins to 4 ft tall in two days!).
Yesterday’s “painting” looked like this:
Early spring in the garden requires the most work. Once everything’s been planted I’ll be back to my regular schedule. Until then I’m relishing (finally) being out in the garden again. (Look for my May garden post next week).
I’ve also been prepping for the Winding Roads Art Tour, deciding which paintings to frame and how to organize my display. I’ve ordered more copies of my illustrated journal, new business cards and postcards and for the first time designed my calendar early so I’d have it ready for the tour (I was hoping to have proofs back from the printer to show you, but they’re not ready yet).
My next class for Skillshare is slowly coming together in my head. It will be about sketchbooks and I’ve been spending more time in my sketchbooks lately because of it.
A Year in Color is being re-released right now, too. You can enjoy the sampler for free through the 16th.
I’m still evolving. As an artist. As a business person. As a gardener. As a person. I’m grateful to be able to live a life focused on art and gardening. And I’m grateful to have you with me on my journey. Keep dreaming your dreams. Keep experimenting and making discoveries. Keep following (and forging) your own path. The world can be a dark and ugly place and it needs all the beauty we can bring to it.