#20for20 Artist Spotlight: Mara Hager
Artist Mara Hager returned for Round 2 of the #20for20 Art Challenge knowing she needed a clearer project plan. In Round 1, she tried to wing it—and quickly realized that approach didn’t work. This time, she came prepared, armed with a plan that included plenty of snowmen—wonderful, whimsical snowmen—and a whole lot of skill building. See more of Hager’s work on Instagram.
What were your goals around habit and skill building walking into the Challenge?
After years of painting only sporadically, my main goal was to develop a consistent painting practice. I had a feeling that mindset was going to be at the forefront and habit, techniques & skills would come after.
Since it seemed like the Challenge would contain many moving parts, I chose to limit the technique & skills component - by only dipping my toe into that wonderful unknown - and place my focus on exploring my mindset. I was reaching for sustainable longevity. And, in my world, that meant bite-size, steady changes.
This is your second time doing the Challenge…and it sounds like you learned some things in round 1. What did you learn in the first Challenge and how did you put those lessons into action for the second Challenge?
Round 1 taught me a lot! Especially, relating to the need to actually design a project and, also, in being more realistic in my expectations.
For my first Challenge I, literally, signed up at the 11th hour. I truly believed I could just “wing it.”
I ended up floundering - which made it all too easy to skip days. I just didn’t feel fully invested. All of which informed my approach to Round 2.
I learned that I would do better if I created a project and gave myself time to ponder: to decant it and allow it to breathe. So, I made sure to take full advantage of Workshop Week by listening to the mini-lessons a few times, prepping materials and my work space, and pondering the ins & outs of my project - fine tuning as needed. By setting the stage that way, I felt really ready!
How conscious were you about having a specific time and place for your art each day?
I structured my project with a “time block” earlier in the day rather than a specific time. Having that bit of fluidity works well, for me, as it serves as a safety net of sorts. If I get too specific and that time passes, I tend to feel as though, “Oh well, I’ve missed it. I’ll try again tomorrow.” I need that bit of freedom to remind me that “there’s still an opportunity to get in there TODAY!”
I’m extremely fortunate to have a designated space for art. But… I use it for several different creative purposes. For the Challenge, I decided to have a vision for and define the space around that. I cleared away everything that wasn’t in alignment with my goal.
Wow! What a difference. It removed so many obstacles by allowing me to have everything prepared for the next day without distraction. I knew what I was going to work on and it was there waiting & ready to go. No excuses! It made being consistent so much easier!
How did you decide on what to paint each day?
I had sketched 10 pieces in advance, leaving wiggle-room for the remainder. Daily choices were made in the moment by what caught my eye. Having options ready made it easier. On the days that I was short on bandwidth, it really helped to have some of those decisions made in advance.
You focused your subject matter on snowmen. Did focusing down feel strange at first (did you have any resistance to that) but then how did that way of working benefit your skill development throughout the Challenge?
It did feel odd at first. And silly. Especially, after seeing all the fantastic references you had gathered! I caught a really bad case of FOMO more than once!
I had to remind myself why I had initially chosen them. I felt that snowmen would lend themselves nicely to being easily distilled down to the basics while providing just enough challenge to keep it interesting.
By keeping the subject limited, I hoped to tap into that same momentum that other artists find when they work on a series. There’s a boost, as you work on each successive piece, because you’ve already worked through some of the same elements. And it did make a difference as I could see visible progress and felt like I was getting more comfortable with my technical skills.
At any point did you start feeling bored and what did you do to navigate that?
I did get a little restless a time or two. Keeping in mind that my project wasn’t actually about the “snowmen” was helpful. The subject was very much secondary.
I was working on form, value, texture, etc. in the “guise of snowmen.” And, realistically, there was plenty of space for variety in the interpretation, if I needed it.
I can get bored practicing swatches, charts, and drills. So, I tend to avoid doing them. This gave me a lighthearted & whimsical workaround! All-in-all it was great for discipline & skill-building and was definitely worth it. No regrets!
MATERIALS/LOGISTICS
How and where did you keep your materials the same?
The only limit, I placed, was in using watercolor on cold-press paper formatted in fairly small squares or rectangles. Although, I did keep my work area setup the same from day to day too. It made a huge difference by removing so many variables from “tomorrow’s equation.” It was like setting up “Future Me” for success. It worked so well that I have continued it since the Challenge ended!
What benefits did you find working daily even if not necessarily for a long time?
My painting skills are perishable. The daily practice was akin to getting in reps at the gym. The greater the frequency, the greater the retention & growth. And, since I tend to learn best in 20 minute increments, the Challenge was perfect. Stopping at 20’ish minutes kept things fresh in my mind and on the paper.
I feel that it’s important to stop before mental fatigue or frustration arise. It’s all interconnected: actually physically painting leads to better skills which decreases the anxiety about painting which leads to more desire to show up & paint some more and so on. It’s a positive feedback loop.
As mentioned earlier, I was seeing visible progress and beginning to feel more at ease. That’s great reinforcement. It was a pleasant surprise to notice how much I looked forward to getting back to it the next day. It’s definitely a skill & confidence booster!
So often we try to finish complex, finished paintings as our goal. What benefits did you find in shifting your focus to showing up first and finishing work second?
It took off so much pressure! It created this space in which I could explore and try new things. This challenge was like daily play-dates with my materials and creativity! So fun and freeing!
Since the Challenge, I am still practicing the 20 minutes consistently. It gets scheduled in the planner in INK!!! I can show up and use that time in whatever way I choose. I do stillpractice longer stretches on other days & times, but this Challenge has breathed fresh new life into my artistic life!!!
Creating art is a priority and those 20 minutes are a gift!
Any days jump out as having aha moments? Could you share what those were?
I feel as though I had an aha moment every day! Here’s a few, in no particular order:
As I became less precious, I became more brave. I adopted a “let’s see what happens when I try ______” approach.
The more consecutive days that I showed up, the easier it became to show up. Consistency, surprisingly, leads to consistency! Who knew?!?
On the days that I didn’t feel like showing up, I asked myself, “Can I just _______?” (Reset my workspace, do a quick sketch, clean my brushes, etc.). That got me into the studio and before I knew it, I was painting.
Progress is progress no matter the speed.
Don’t wait for inspiration!
Life shows up! Have a Contingency Plan. Then, have a Contingency Plan for your Contingency Plan!
There’s no catching up if you miss a day. That’s okay. Extend yourself grace over guilt and get back to it the next day.
Don’t put too much pressure on the Challenge to “fix” decades of old habits. Baby steps will get you there.
Leaning into the practice of “triumphs and considerations” is enlightening! My biggest growth stemmed from practicing daily self-reflection.
Some days are great. Some days are meh. Some days are frustrating. Each one will teach you something.
I gave myself permission to be a beginner.
I gave myself permission to fail.
Product Brain will demand you finish something. Perfectionist Brain will keep you from even starting. They are going to insist that they get to come along for the ride. That’s fine, but they do NOT get to drive!
I didn’t expect to enjoy the Facebook Group as much as I did. What a fantastic community!!!
Wow! Kelly Anne is very hands on! I was amazed at how frequently she was commenting & offering support in the FB group. Her accessibility is refreshing!
You mentioned in some of your posts that you have a perfectionist brain. How did you stay aware of that tendency and then how did you design your approach (including the mindset side of things) to help push against some of those tendencies?
Perfectionist Brain is something of which I’m super-aware and have been working on. It can stifle creativity by keeping me stuck in the “planning and gathering” stages and prevent me from ever venturing into the “execute” phase.
There are certain cues that alert me that Perfection Brain has taken the wheel: spinning out, wanting to toss the entire plan for a “new & improved” plan, distractibility, or noticing that my inner-dialogue has taken a negative turn, for instance.
At that moment, it’s time to walk away, do a little self-reflection, and give myself some grace. I’ll remind myself that I’m reaching for “better not perfect.”
One of my strategies for the Challenge was to create a project, but not have it steeped in rigidity. I wanted it to unfold organically and reveal “me to me.” To remain open and let the Challenge teach me what it could do rather than me trying to pigeonhole it into how I thought it “should” look.
What was the most helpful mindset for you to try and keep during the 20for20?
Well, all of the above! But, first and foremost, that this was a priority and that I was the one in charge of making it happen. Beyond that I wanted to remain open, curious, and flexible. I felt like the Challenge was the teacher and I was the student. I was here to learn!
So often the focus is on finished and beautiful work. Did you feel any difference in shifting the focus to the showing up? (The habit.) How did that change your relationship to your practice?
Even though the focus was on showing up, I found myself fighting my Product Brain several times. Believing that I needed to create finished, or beautiful, work. Old habits. Product Brain would sneakily tell me that I had to finish because who knows when I would get the next chance to paint.
During the Challenge I was attempting to rewire my brain by teaching myself to trust that I got to show up again tomorrow. And the next day. And so on. Little by little, slowly, without the self-imposed pressure to finish or create something “beautiful,” each day’s exploration became less focused on the end-product.
Any advice to someone approaching the Challenge for the first time?
Go for it! It’s such a great experience where you can learn lots about skill and habit, and about yourself too. There is so much support from Kelly and the Facebook Group. It’s a perfect mix of the right amount of structure & guidance to help you be successful mixed with the freedom to make it your own. I’ve tried several “jumpstart your art” programs and found marginal success. The 20for20 challenge has had the most significant and sustained impact of anything I’ve ever tried. I highly recommend it!
Learn more about the #20for20 here.