Build an Art Practice that puts DOING at its Heart

Imagine waking up every morning confident that you have time to paint today. And BECAUSE you are holding that time consistently, not only have YOU seen your artistic skills grow…but your family and friends have too. You love what you’re learning and you can’t wait to get back in and paint each day.

So if this isn’t you now, why not?

I’m guessing it has something to do with that pile of SHOULDS you’re facing each day…

You should do that laundry. You should return that Amazon order. You should make those birthday reservations.

All those shoulds mean that you get to the end of another day and you haven’t picked up your brush.

Even when you get into paint, the SHOULDS meet you there.

You should finish all those paintings you started. You should work on drawing. Should. Should. Should.

These shoulds hurt you twice:

They keep you from painting AND THEN they create a sense of overwhelm even when you do get into your studio.

The result?

You aren’t painting or drawing as much as you wish you were.

And worse, you know it’s costing you. You know that as a self taught artist THE thing that makes you better IS showing up consistently.

I know this story because it was my story for a long time. I was constantly caught in this boom and bust cycle. I wouldn’t paint for a while because I was trying to get everything else done FIRST. I was trying to get that SHOULDS pile manageable BEFORE I painted.

Then on the occasions when I actually did, I’d get lost looking for inspiration and not actually get to work. Or I’d realize I wasn’t really prepared (or is that just my perfectionism talking?!) or I'd procrastinate getting started and run out of time.

It felt awful.

But then I realized I had actually been doing it all wrong.

I learned that there are actual systems, structures, and strategies you can build to make showing up easier… and when you make showing up easier… EVERYTHING becomes easier.

Want to learn to mix color? Show up consistently and suddenly learning to mix color is easier.

Want to learn to draw better? Show up consistently and suddenly learning to draw becomes easier.

I Started Helping Other Artists Show Up

This is why I created the #20for20ArtChallenge. And you can see the results people get.

One 20for20 participant said “Almost 20 days of practice has given me some material to see my strengths and weaknesses and more importantly, my interests.”

(I love that H.G.!)

“Have noticed by doing this challenge I am naturally developing my painting language. It happens every time you paint and it is always developing.” (A resounding YES to Nancy M. )

Daily habits help us shift our mindsets around painting even on the struggle days.

Here’s what a J.C said after a hard painting day while working daily, “It’s a win because I showed up and tried. … it is just sooo beyond me. And I still feel good. This is an amazing experience.”

This is the magic of the habit.

Daily art habits teach us

to learn skills faster,
to find our artistic voices sooner and
to be kinder to ourselves at each step of the journey.

So how do you build yours?

Welcome to The Art Habit Membership

And a daily (or dailyish) habit is exactly what we will work to build inside The Art Habit Membership.

We’ll do this through a combination of theory and action.

The theory will come by way of monthly coaching (called Art Habit Talks) on how to build the systems and structures that make an art habit a reality.

The action will come through a Monthly Reference Sheet with links to images from around the internet so you’ll always be able to walk into your space and have something to paint.

Plus each month you’ll have a chance to join an Art Challenge. They will be longer form through the #20for20 Art challenge or shorter, week long challenges called Mini Sprints that will be focused on a specific tool to help build your artistic tool kit.

Plus when you join you’ll get 11 more images to help finish out your January paintings, the complete archive of the #20for20 Reference Starter Packs, and the complete archive of the Extended Cut Bonuses from the Podcast art Club

Most memberships start at above $40 per month. But when you join today, you’ll get a founding member price of $24.99. You’ll keep this price for as long as you stay a member, but it’s only available for a limited time. Join before January 25th to lock in $24.99. Join today.