Studio Diary - July 2022

Charlotte Wensley
Jul 13, 2022
4 min read

Updated: May 27

This month has been busy and creative flow has taken a bit of a battering! But how do you hold onto it and keep a sense of forward momentum? I have a few tips to share on how I keep myself in the 'art space' at times like these.

Where did my creative flow go?

It happens to us all!

Sometimes I just want to put 'everyday life' on the back burner and spend every minute of every day in the studio pursuing my latest creative notion. I confess to the occasional daydream about being one of those artists, so immersed in their work that they live, sleep and eat in their studio to reduce distraction from the outside world.

The reality is, I am dreaming if I think that's ever going to be possible!

When our creative time gets chopped up into tiny micro-bursts of availability it can seem almost impossible to attain that creative flow state where the white noise from the outside world falls reduces to a distant murmur, leaving you in an almost spiritual quiet free space where your creative train of thought is undisturbed, and good creative decisions flow naturally and in a positive way that enables you to make genuine progress with your work.

But what to do when you find yourself in a situation where that blissful oneness with your work seems unattainable?

I'm quite stubborn (in a good way I hope) so rather than succumb to frustration and disappointment, I accept that creative flow manifests itself in different ways, sometimes it's a torrent and sometimes it's a trickle. Charting a course through these unpredictable waters helps me maintain a creative mindset and allows me to still bob along in the right direction, so I am still able to feel a sense of forward momentum.

Reduce | Research | Remember

I physically reduce the size of the creative challenge I set for myself. I know from experience that trying to tackle a 2 m square canvas in 20 minute increments over the course of several weeks will either drive me mad or and leave me making hasty decisions that never really come together in a cohesive way. The painting will never truly 'work' and the story never really emerges. I find working small, in my sketchbook, at times like these is the way to go as pressure and expectation to produce a painting just seem to melt away.

I use this time to undertake little creative research projects that don't require a huge amount of commitment and that are often nothing more than exploratory. I might play around with different printing techniques, explore new colour combinations, make collage papers or expressive books. Sometimes, simply spending time with an art book is enough!

I try to remember that the world of art is so much bigger than just what happens in my studio. There's always much to learn that can enrich and inform the art maker's journey. I find that simply exploring other facets of the art world, and consciously thinking about art, even if I can't spend hours making it, keeps me in a creative mindset and more ready to respond to that flow state when the time comes again.

And before you know it the distractions have disappeared, the white noise has reduced and creative flow is back with full force and I find I'm feeling re-energised and ready to go!

You can check out my recent sketches here:

Save the Date!

With over 100 artists participating this year, it'll be the biggest and best yet!

Hours of work are going on behind the scenes already by artists and organisers alike to make sure the visitor experience is one you won't forget!

The trail guide is coming soon - I'll keep you posted!

And finally, a real 'feel good' moment came out of my participation in this year's Incognito Art Show in Sydney. All three of my donated artworks sold on sale day which was great news in itself, but a couple of days later I was contacted by one of the buyers, who told me a story.

It turned out he was the father of the founding duo of this Sydney based not for profit art show. His sons had been in Ireland some years ago and seen a similar initiative and dreamed of making it work in their hometown of Sydney as an opportunity for emerging artists to exhibit and also as an avenue to raise funds for local charities. The show has now grown exponentially, with so many artworks this year, there wasn't time to get every buyer who came along through the doors on sale day and the remaining works had to be posted later on in an online sale! With over 3000 donated works this year, created by artists from all over Australia, from the well known, to young and emerging, the show and the cause are clearly a big hit with art collectors and artists alike.

It just lit me up to hear from him and learn more about his amazing family and their commitment to energising this initiative. It was also an affirming reminder that in paying it forward and supporting others, there are wins to be found, especially when that win involves making a positive contribution to the arts and your local community.

trio of paintings hanging on a white wall above a desk

So, until next time, have fun and go with the flow, whatever that looks like for you right now and make the most of the diversions if they come your way!