Finding Time for Art

This post is intended as a bit of a grumble, but I'm fully aware it may turn into a rant!

The problem is time - or lack of it.  I find myself struggling to find time to do all the things I would like to be doing. There just aren't enough hours in the day!

I'm not a full time artist (starving or otherwise).  I have a full time job. One which involves a 90 minute commute to work in the morning, and another 90 minute commute in the evening.

In addition, I have a part time job on an equestrian website, which I thoroughly enjoy.  I can do it at home, in my pajamas if I so wish.

But because of my two jobs, other activities such as chores, gardening, housework and seeing my two retired horses (at least I board them, so I don't have to muck stalls each day) all gets crammed in on the weekend.

And I'm married and certainly don't want to neglect my wonderful husband, so making sure we have some "us" time scheduled is very important to us both.

This doesn't really leave a lot of time for my artistic endeavors such as working on new artwork, or creating greeting cards and other products for my online stores, as well as any marketing efforts I might pursue.

So what I try and do is juggle.

I try and blog regularly, on one of my three blogs -- 3D Designs by Jayne, Jayne's Country Garden and this one, Art by Jayne Wilson.

If I blog on a week night, (like tonight) I don't usually have time to work from scratch in DAZ or Vue, but I might have time to take an artwork that is already finished and create some products with it for my Zazzle store.

On another evening, if I'm feeling artistically inclined, I'll work on a new piece in DAZ, Vue or a combination of the two.  Or I might work on expanding my skills by following a tutorial and try out a new technique.

I try and post to my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/3dDesignsByJayne at least once a day (preferably more often, which I can do from my iPad at lunch time or on the bus going to work in the morning).

The thing I struggle most with is keeping up with the volume of posts in the online art community Fine Art America.  I belong to some very busy groups on there and while I love it when people vote and comment on my artwork, I feel that if I tried to keep up with commenting and voting on every new posting, I would be at it 24/7.

I try and set aside some time when I post a new piece myself, to at least vote and comment on recent additions.  But I admit to feeling guilty that I don't have time to do more.

I'd love to know how other artists manage to find time for family, day jobs, art and everything else.

And the Winner is....

The whole experience of participating in my first art exhibition was very enjoyable.

Everyone I met, from Show Chair, Daniel Brent, to Suzanne Buckland, President of Artists Alive and Well, Patrick Palmer, the Juror for the exhibition, and all the other artists were so nice, friendly, down-to-earth and welcoming, I really felt at ease and the nervousness I had about meeting a group of strangers completely disappeared.

Having my work recognized with an Honorable Mention was more than I expected - you could have knocked me over with a feather!

Artists Alive and Well Juried Open Exhibition

Today was a first for me. 

One of my artworks was accepted into a Juried Art Exhibition, sponsored by Artists Alive and Well, and today was the installation of the various pieces on the Upper Concourse at 1600 Smith Street, in Houston Texas.

I helped check-in the art, making sure that all the art was labelled, was correct and in good condition.  I also got to meet a lot of very talented people I hadn't met before and see some wonderful art.

I've never been involved in anything like this before  and I have to say I was a little nervous the night before.  After all, I was going to be among professional artists and photographers.

And, you know what? I didn't feel intimidated.  Everyone was very nice, very helpful and encouraging and I was made to feel that my contribution to the morning's work was valued.

The artist's reception will be on Monday when the Juror, Patrick Palmer, Chair of the Glassell Studio School and Department of Art History Faculty at the Museum of Fine Arts/Houston, will announce the awards.