I would like to tell you about a recent survey I did with a group of creative women. I wanted to find out what their challenges and desires in relation to their art were. To be honest I wasn’t all that surprised to see a common thread amongst the results. The two most common challenges were:

1.   Lack of time available to do art

and

2.   Lack of a dedicated spot for their art

These were followed by, in no particular order:

·       Motivation

·       Finding ideas to draw

·       Cost of supplies

·       Self-doubt

·       High expectations of self, and

·       Perfectionism

Now let me start with some general observations:

As women we tend to put everyone else before ourselves. Our husband, children, extended family…everyone. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing but, I ask, is it a good thing?

For those that have flown on an airplane you will recall the safety demonstration at the start of the flight. It goes something like this:

‘In the case of an emergency, oxygen masks will drop from a compartment above your heads. Pull down on the mask and fit the mask to yourself first, and then assist others’.

Now be honest, if you were in that situation when travelling with your family would you obey the flight attendants instructions and put YOUR mask on first? Or would you make sure your children had their masks on before you reached for yours. I am almost positive that the answer would be that you would make sure your kids had their masks on before you. I know I would.

The reason? It is ingrained into us, as women, to put others first both personally and professionally. We run households, corporate divisions, our own businesses. We look after the development and growth of our children and work colleagues – and usually as a result, we are the person who gets shoved to the background and left to not develop, grow or nurture ourselves.

Right here the professionals would start rabbiting on with reasons around genetics, your own parents, your ethnicity, that we were born to nurture… and a million and one different reasons as to why this is so. But before your eyes roll up to the back of your head with boredom can we just all agree right here and now that, yes, we females do tend to put ourselves last…… Yes? – good.

So lets talk Time….

Hands up if you have a dedicated time each day just for yourself? [PAUSE]  If I had a live audience right now, I would bet that not many hands went up….

Why do you think this is so?

Well as well as my creative women survey group I also asked some friends about this and SURPRISE – not – they said the reason they don’t have time for themselves were:

-      Lack of time

-      Too busy doing…housework, running kids to school, cooking….so on

-      They can’t afford to (both time and money wise)

-      They are to tired

-      They don’t have a space of my own

-      If they manage to find some time they simply didn’t know what to do or couldn’t settle on something to do

Does any of this sound familiar?

Well we women need to learn to take a break. Recharge the batteries. It may be for half an hour; it may be for a week. But don’t feel guilty for putting yourself first. Because in the end a little TLC will benefit everyone in your life because you can’t take care of them if you are falling apart. So ladies – make some time for yourself.

Now what about a personal space?

We make sure the kids have a good study area and perhaps a separate play area; and that hubby has a shed (man cave) or similar for his tools and toys because, hell, there is no way those greasy, dirty things are coming in the house!

We make room for those things because they are important and yes they are.

So why did most women respond that they have no place for their art? That when they had some spare time it was too hard and took to much time to get their art supplies out – that is if they could find them in the first place. Are we not important too?

With all of these challenges in mind I have developed a course for women who want to have fun learning how to express themselves through the wonders of art, no matter their time, space or skill level.

It’s free. It goes for 4 weeks starting 20^th February 2023 and it will be fun.

You only need an hour a week and this doesn’t have to be all at once. You can join the live sessions or watch the recordings later if needed. You can pause the recordings and come back to them as you have time. However, in the interests of self-care I do recommend you block out time each week just for yourself – you are worth it.   

Supplies will be kept to a minimum to reduce costs and if you are a creative person you probably have most of them already.

As there will be minimal supplies you will be able to easily pack them away into a small box or basket so that you can get them out at a moment’s notice and pack them away just as quickly.

During this short 4 week journey you will explore the wonders of art and learn how to develop your own unique style and expression. With my tips and resources, you will learn how to create without expectations, stay on task – and all the while mastering techniques in drawing, painting and experimenting with different mediums. My “live’ format creates an online community that is safe and caring. You can share your work and get feedback and guidance from the instructor (me) during our weekly Q&A sessions all with the aim of helping you find joy in art-making as well as some self-care

Please click on the link below and join me for some fun – as I said it is free so you really don’t have anything to lose and a whole lot to gain.

See you on the 20^th February

By for now.

#art #freecourse #creative #inspiration #draw #mixedmedia #mixedmartialarts