Home Forums Explore Media Watercolor Palette Talk Getting back into art after a hiatus – Advice?

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  • #451700
    Superturtle
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        I am home full time with a year and a half year old, and am just getting back into consistently doing art (since his birth it’s been sporadic). For context, he’s pretty good at keeping himself entertained and still takes naps. He’s also at the stage where it’s a coin toss whether or not he uses crayons properly or tries eating them. He’s a walking tornado as most toddlers are, and gets upset he can’t turn my brushes into texture brushes. He also REALLY wants my pallete (“mom uses it and won’t let me have it, so it MUST be good”). Basically, painting when he’s awake is difficult, as is just doing anything without being willing to walk (or sprint) away from it every few minutes.

        I’m learning how to manage my time better, but it’s not something I’ve ever been good at, and it’s hard to squeeze all the things I want and need to do into his nap time. I’m also both feeling that I’m rusty as an artist, and the places I’m lacking have really come to light (most of that comes down to drawing issues). The obvious answer here is to manage time to draw and paint more, but I still feel discouraged and like I’m in a rut.

        In short, I am looking for advice on two fronts:
        What do you all do when you’re in an artistic slump?
        How to get art done with a toddler in the house?

        #569460
        shipbroker
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            Cannot comment on painting with small children about,but,hiatus is something most of us go through…I have been in a partial one for four years since I give up doing paintings for sale. I Have found that I can tick along happily painting for presents….for instance I have three weddings in July which will involve three quite large paintings and before then a couple of significant birthdays.
            Rather different from the days when I often did 5 paintings a day,but it works.

            Geoff

            " This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before" -Maya Angelou

            #569471
            KiwiKate
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                Wow — you’re dedicated! I can’t even imagine trying to paint with a toddler around! Good for you!

                Why don’t you check into the thread “All Media Art Events” on the home page. They post a dozen or so reference photos each Friday and encourage you to post your chosen reference/painting after spending only 2 hours on it. It’s a good discipline and you’re bound to find one image each week that inspires you.

                Also, several of the threads have monthly challenges e.g. floral, mixed media, watercolor and everyone gets to paint one or more of the challenge photos. It’s such a learning experience to see how others interpret the reference.

                Hope this helps.

                Kate
                Henderson, Nevada
                C&C always welcomed!

                "Never ruin a good day by thinking about a bad yesterday". -- Anon.

                #569461
                Lawrence Fox
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                    Funny thing was that I was able to paint more when the TimeLordJr was a toddler–because he went to bed early enough (and bed time was my job) that I could set up and paint (and the dining room was my studio).

                    Once he hit the mid-teens and the dining room became his homework space and he started going to bed much later–my time for painting has more or less disappeared. (He’s 17 now).

                    But I may have found some space in the basement that I can call my own and we’ll see what happens this year!

                    Lawrence Fox Thornhill, ON
                    “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no 'try.'” -- Yoda

                    “ I have never failed; I have, however, found ten thousand ways that don’t work”. :lol: -- Unknown
                    See my LinkedIn profile or follow me on Twitter: @TheWizardGuy

                    #569462

                    Do you like to sketch? When mine was little, having a sketch kit handy was a big help. I could grab it and draw/paint whenever. That was great, because I love sketching, anyway. I felt like it was good practice and a satisfying end in itself. I love those sketches from when my son was little. And now, if I hit a slump, for any reason, it’s usually my sketchbook that helps me out of it. But, when my son was just 18 months, I don’t think I could have sat down and done a “formal” painting. I was too harried to get into the groove of that and, honestly, I was too tired. It just wasn’t the right time for me. Once he got older, it got much easier. He wanted to paint early on and he had his own sketchbook, by the time he was three. Plus, plein air with a preschooler is a super fun outing, if you don’t care too much about perfection and more about having fun. (It would be terribly frustrating if one wanted to get some serious work done, though!) Cathy Johnson’s, Artist’s Journal Workshop is a very inspirational book about sketching and finding the time to do it. I go back to it, when I get in a rut, even though I already know it by heart, because it’s very positive and gets the creative juices going.

                    If you want to have some painting sessions, do you have friends with little ones, with whom you could swap kid watching? That might get you a few hours a week, if you don’t mind returning the favor. Or do you have a friend or relative with a youngish, responsible teenager? He or she could take over for a few hours, while you paint in the other room, and usually their rates are very reasonable. Being a stay-at-home parent can be difficult, since you are rarely off duty and there is so much to be done. But taking some time for oneself is important.

                    I hope you find a strategy that works for you!

                    :) Noelle

                    #569469

                    Have you ever tried this: ( I don’t know how is called in English).

                    https://www.koudounistra.gr/images/detailed/5/parkokrevato_lorelli_playstation_blue_buddies.jpg

                    My sister had one when my nephew was at this age and it was very convenient as he could let him there playing with his toys while she was doing some home cleaning, was taking a bath, cooking etc. She was looking at him of course but she didn’t have to run after him all the time and she didn’t have to be in a continuous alert while she was cooking in order to stop Nicholas from burning himself because he was curious to see how the food is made. The one she had was huge, about 2×2 meters ( how are these things called in English btw?)

                    Get one of these things and as soon as you ‘ll find a little time for yourself you’ll figure out what you want to do or paint. :)

                    #569465
                    Superturtle
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                        Thank you for all the suggestions! I’ll have to give the All Media references a try. I think switching to a more sketch-based mindset is the most realistic way to approach this.
                        @marialena Those are called play pens, and they’re great. My son is a huge kid and would not be happy in one at this point (when he was younger I used it much more). We do have portions of the house blocked off for him that are babyproofed, but he’s still at an age where he needs attention often.

                        #569470

                        [..]
                        @marialena Those are called play pens, and they’re great. My son is a huge kid and would not be happy in one at this point (when he was younger I used it much more). We do have portions of the house blocked off for him that are babyproofed, but he’s still at an age where he needs attention often.

                        My nephew was also a tall and rather strong toddler ( when he was a toddler now is 4 years old) but the play pen worked for my sister because she could set it up in any room she was in and so she didn’t have to block the doors or be continuously alert for what Nicholas was doing behind her back.

                        Nicholas liked his play pen because we presented it to him as my sister’s trampoline ;) and he didn’t want to get out of there at some point as he had there all he toys, plenty of pillows, and he could jump, play and sleep for two three hours at a time.

                        The one I showed you here is not like the one that my sister had. Hers was very large and actually it was like a padded fence with thick mats as its floor.

                        Generally speaking and judging from my sister who was taking care of my nephew full time as you do, you have to find a way to have some free time for yourself and for your interests otherwise you’ll get psychologically exhausted.

                        Children of this age don’t ask.. they demand continuously your attention but as it is normal and expected from human beings this is impossible. It is impossible to be continuously stand by.
                        So you have to consider to find a way to have him somewhere playing safely without running all over the house and you after him. Toddlers are unpredictable and you never know what will be their next mischief.

                        The way to make them like something is to present it like something you like very much and if he is a “good” boy you are going to allow him to use it.

                        #569473
                        iamdaie
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                            i understand how you feel…been in that situation…

                            toddlers and working at home doesnt mix.

                            so…I guess we just need to have a light weight set up…and paint what you can finish in a few minutes..so…

                            lightweight set up and speed painting… don’t chase the white elephant…

                            just getting the basic things for the kids done is a very time and energy consuming activity…so..be simple in your set up and subject…

                            you dont have to travel far to be inspired…kids toys and sleeping kids can be an aspiring subjects…

                            having a sketchbook is also important…start with the lightest touch…

                            finally…keep the kids well fed and tired of physical activity…let them be kids.(not just playing with tablets).and have a consistant afternoon nap time…if everything is done right…you will have ur rest…maybe up to a few hours…

                            #569474
                            iamdaie
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                                i have found that plastic net beds are very helpful…

                                #569467
                                oCDs01-711
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                                    Great advice. The only thing I would add is that maybe you might want to occasionally use a watercolor pencil for sketching so that the next time you open your sketchbook you may use a bit of water to bring about color. It may take longer but it would bring satisfaction.

                                    Good luck with your decision.

                                    Shirley2:wave:

                                    There are three classes of people: Those who see. Those who see when shown. Those who do not see. --Leonardo da Vinci

                                    #569475
                                    Johnnie
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                                        when our two kids were little we used play pens etc..

                                        Biggest thing tho that really helped was “Reverse Psychology”.. Amazing how good it worked..

                                        Still use it sometimes even now that they are older. lol.. Still works, too !!

                                        Johnnie

                                        Spread Kindness Like Confetti !!

                                        #569463
                                        janinep7
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                                            Start small and simple. Quick sketches/doodles. Add paint later if you are pressed for time. Make it as easy as possible; no pressure. Baby steps, I guess you could say. :) Just do whatever you can. It all adds up and it all counts. Five minutes here, ten minutes there. Like riding a bike or getting back into exercising after a (too) long break, you never really forget and it soon becomes a habit again.

                                            #569464
                                            KolinskyRed
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                                                Biggest thing tho that really helped was “Reverse Psychology”.. Amazing how good it worked..

                                                Still use it sometimes even now that they are older. lol.. Still works, too !!

                                                Johnnie

                                                oh, so intriguing, have any examples for the little ones?

                                                #569472
                                                Que Sera
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                                                    If you can afford it and if you have a sitter, how about joining an art group if there is one in your area? This would get you out of the house and in amongst line minded people.

                                                    When my 3 were little I used to teach an evening class while my OH babysat. It was great being out in “grown-up world”.

                                                    I’m a member of a group that has workshops once a month.

                                                    In all these things we are more than conquerors.

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