Time Management: How do you do it?

[Linda Brandon]

I've had three seperate conversations with other artists this week about time and how to arrange your day to maximize the amount of work produced, devote time to marketing, work on drawing skills, etc.

Does anyone have any special tips to share about making the best use of your time?

Here's the first one, from me: set a timer for computer use and internet browsing. When the timer goes off get back to work! (I set timers for lots of things, by the way, including getting household chores done.)

[Kimberly Dow]

Develop insomnia!

Say No to just about everything - leave the house messy, do not ever iron, teach the kids to do laundry, never get your hair cut, refuse to cook and last but not least - get a wife.

[Enzie Shahmiri]

I used to have a business planner on my computer, where I kept long term and short term goals with a beeping reminder. If I wanted certain things done by a certain date, I would enter them on the calender and do them according to priority. This worked well as long as I didn't get sick or had to travel unexpectedly.

I have not worked on a tight schedule in a long time, but for what it's worth I have found that 3 to 4 hours a session is about as much painting I can do before I start to make careless mistakes. The minute I feel I am drifting, I read E mails or do other art related things.

Being a morning person, the most productive time is from
7 am through around noon. That still leaves plenty of time in the afternoon for other things. I have sketchbooks in my car and by the TV which allows me to practice my drawing skills (same goes for reading material).

I think it is important to lead a well balanced life, where time is set aside for business activities, hobbies, family and friends. With a bit of time management and a certain degree of flexibility anything is possible.

[Chris Saper]

Since my best time and energy are immediately after I have awakened (6:15 is earlier that I like, get ready for the day, and kids to school by 7am), and if I do't go to the gyn on my way home, I know I won't do it later in the day.

If all goes smoothly I am at my easel by 7:15, or by 8:00 on gym/grocery days.

I leave my computer on all day, and when I take a break ( usually for more Diet Coke) I'll check out what's going on, then get back to work. This is fine with me because interruptions don't seem to break my concentration, but not everyone works this way. By 1;30 or 2:00 my brain is too tired to paint any more, and as Enzie describes, I'll start to undo whatever progress I've made during the day. Kids get picked up by 3:30, so once I get home I have a bit more time to goof around at my easel, return calls correspondence, etc. By 5:00 I am pretty worn out, dinner, homework, and the mindless stuff.

So my tips?
-Whenever your best concentrating time is should be devoted to painting, because it's harder than anything else in your day.
-Fit in your obligations in whatever windows are created.
-Do not spend time at your computer or anywhere else if you find that it is procrastinating time, or if your concentration gets interrupted by - well, interruptions.
-Buy low, sell high.
-It doesn't hurt to buy a lottery ticket.

This is probably WAY more information than anyone cares to hear. Linda, I hope you are not sorry you started this thread

[Kimberly Dow]

My above post was joking of course - but I did want to add one note of seriousness.

I will re-arrange my life when I'm in a good groove. If it is happening at night - I stay up. Maybe not the healthiest of habits, but I can always grab a nap when the kids are at school. If it happens during the day I postpone household chores, send out for pizza and let the kids know this is a painting day or evening. I'll get one of the older ones to help the youngest with homework, etc. Bribery works well in this area. If the husband is home and he knows Im groovin he will cook or bring something home and sometimes step up and help with the kids. If he isnt - living messy til the groove is done is OK as well. There are things of course that can't be put off - like the kids band concert tomorrow night, but that's ok. I'll paint after we get home!

[Lani Powell]

Without question, the decay in my time management skills since I've been home full time has been the biggest threat to my wobbly career. It is so reassuring to hear that it is a challenge for everyone. Apparently, time is like closet space and money: the more you have the more you need.

I have not yet implemented this, but I'm thinking of starting a system whereby I keep a time sheet for each project. That way, I can see on paper how much time I'm actually spending on a project as opposed to how many weeks ago I should have had it done. Might prove to be good discipline. Anyone else ever try something like that?

[Anthony Emmolo]

This might sound weird. It's hard to know, but here goes. (The last sentence will make sense of it, if the rest doesn't. Maybe writing it is therapuetic for me?) The last two years have been hell on my career. The troubles started with a divorce, and a move to Taipei (I've spent most of my adult life in Asia) and then Naples looking for inspiration. My colors became darker, and with that sales dramatically dipped. (Although portraiture is my first love, most of my income comes from still-life sales.) I moved back to California to try to restart my career and had a bit of success with sales, but all in all I was in a $25,000+ credit card debt. I was either forced into bankrupcy or working a "job" full time and losing my career. So, I moved again. This time to Shanghai so that I could teach English part-time and gradually come out of debt. It is working, and all of last year was spent painting about three hours a day. Reading, teaching and recovering.

The thought that I have in writing this, is that the question of time management may be answered with a stretch of the imagination. We can try to go beyond what we consider our lifestyle, and thus put ourselves in a position to be able to paint more. (That was the part that was supposed to make sense of this thread. I hope it did, or maybe I have to digest it more.)

Good luck to all as it at times feels as if all of the powers of nature are trying to pull us out of our studios.

[Debra Norton]

As a student I paint from 9:00am to 4:30pm or so, with an hour lunch break. I'm almost finished with my second of four years of school, and plan to stick to a similar schedule when I'm done, but I'll probably start earlier in the day since my studio will be in my home. I've wondered if I have the self discipline to do that, and have worked over the summer to keep myself used to the schedule, although I'm more flexible then. I've tried to make the habit of doing the "extra" chores, like stretching canvas, transferring, supply shopping, etc outside of school time so that I can make the best use of my time here.

I also keep track of all my projects in a notebook, with a running total of time on each one. I keep track of the stages of a project (drawings, muscle overlays, lay in, etc.) I also keep track of models in that book, noting the hours they work, what and when they're paid.

My husband helps me stretch canvases and does the framing for me. When I finish school and we go back home to Washington things will change some, but I hope to be so used to the schedule by then that it will naturally continue. I foresee only one problem, we have to take the time to build a house (with my studio in it) before I can go to work full time.

[Kimberly Dow]

Ok - this quote is from Chris under a different thread.

Kim,

I am interested that you have multiple projects going on simultaneously! If I tried that, you would only be able to visit me at the institution every other Sunday betyween 2:00 and 2:15. AM.

You might share your processes in the Creativity - Time management thread ,as I think many members would be interested.
__________________
www.ChrisSaper.com


I've answered above, but I have heard so many comments about how fast I am that I'll share my usual schedule. I dont even think I'm that fast - I always feel like I need to paint more. Anyway - on a good day it would be like this -

Up at 6 am - get kids ready and to school - back by 8am
Dishes and other house chores until about 9:30
Nap until about 11:30 (if I've been up late the night before)
Shower, lunch and sometimes exercise until 12:30
In the studio by 12:30 - paint until 3 pm (with internet breaks)
Pick up kids, help with homework, dinner, bed times, etc until 8pm
Sit with husband and watch tv or visit until he goes to bed, maybe 9:30
10pm - paint until my eyes give out...usually between 2-3am

Now - that's an 8-hour painting day, but in truth it's usually a lot more. I skip exercise a lot and can sometimes skip some house stuff and the nap... Realistically that is the schedule above when I am behaving myself. When I am not and really inspired the house gets messy, the kids eat more cereal than usual and the husband comes and sits by me in the studio. If there isnt much homework I can also paint from 4-6pm.

Now - on Jean's advice I am trying to be more healthy. I haven't skipped my exercise now in 3 weeks which is causing me to sleep better - plus I'm doing a bit of packing for our move in a month. (Congratulate us on our new home we bought! Big place with a huge pool!)

The thing about having all these paintings going at once - that's fairly new, but it isn't too bad. One thing that is working well is that I'll have my palette mixed for skin colors to work on one. When I've done all I can and need to let it dry I'll take the palette of paint as its still wet and move onto the next painting with it. Same with a palette for fabrics or backgrounds. This started with getting frustrated with paint drying too fast and trying not to waste it. I actually think it is helping me a bit to be more consistant in my 'style'. I often would paint paintings differently - but as I am working on more at once they seem to be more tied in and look like my work...I think.

Chris - I dont know if this is much help to anyone since I dont think most people could sleep the broken up way I do. Jimmie can though - I know that!

Only one other note I'd make. Im totally serious above where I said 'dont get hair cuts, etc..' I have that curly hair and no one can tell I chop the bangs myself occasionally. I dont get my nails done anymore. I internet shop as much as possible instead of wasting time. I leave home as little as possible. I dont volunteer like I used to at the kids' schools. I combine chores when I have to go shopping or pick up the kids. etc. I also spend my weekends painting...sometimes as many as 40 hours from Friday early to Sunday night (when the husband takes the kids/cooking duties) These aren't sacrifices - it's what I love to do. The only time I can seriously get dragged away from the studio for days is when the family insists on going camping or a family thing.

[Kimberly Dow]

I promise I'm not trying to hijack the thread....it does tie in.
This is one evening - maybe from 8pm - 2am with plenty of breaks looking up at the TV. I was set up in the livingroom that night to watch some program while I painted....
I dont think it was that much accomplished for the hours...
The first one I dont have a 'before' shot - but the background was in. I just did the first lay-in of skin color and hair.
The second one I have posted the before and then just worked on her face and hair that night. Neither are nearly done. These are the two I worked on that night.

Is this fast?