Daily Practice - Artist Spotlight- Amie Schilson

Artist Amie Schilson has completed several #20for20 Challenges and yet keeps finding new discoveries. This time she designed her project to focus on one medium, and she discovered that as artists we can have fun even when a painting remains unfinished.

Learn more about Amie Schilson here.

How did you decide where in your day to put your 20?

I am not a morning person, so on the weekends, it was in the afternoons. On work days, I either used my lunch hour or right after work.

I found it very helpful to look at the prompt in the morning or even the day before. It’s amazing how much of the work your brain can do in the background, just casually processing how you might want to approach a prompt.

You expanded beyond the 20. How did having it be “just 20 minutes” help you get into your space and start creating?

I knew I could afford 20 minutes, no matter what the day held. I often got into the project and then took time from other duties.

Honestly laundry, cleaning, and cooking suffer during these challenges. But you learn that it’ll be fine. Who cares if you have a frozen thing or take out. Who cares if laundry piles up a bit.

How and where did you keep your materials the same?

I bought a 24 pack of 8x8 canvas panels. I liked having that pre decided and I liked that they were all the same.

I prepped many with a magenta ground. The prompt sometimes wanted the magenta, and sometimes I preferred the white canvas panel.

References: You decide to use the references from the Starter Pack. What did having someone else choose photos and you just followed give you as artist?

Using the Reference Starter Pack preempted decision fatigue. I used to always wait for inspiration. So I didn’t paint much. I liked how working from the references made me OPEN to inspiration, instead of wondering when it would hit.

What were you hoping to explore? Why those goals? How is this different from how you'd worked previously?

In past challenges I’d bounced around media. For this challenge, I wanted to focus on acrylics simply because I want to practice and improve.

Did the parameters you used help you explore more deeply? Why? (so often we want to change things up.)

Yes! I’m more familiar with my paints, brushes, and my studio.

And I think I’m improving. Part of what improved is that I’m getting faster. I’ve often been impatient with how long it takes me to realize a project.

What benefits did you find working daily even if not for a super long time?

Working daily takes the edge off. You know you’re going to do the work. It doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad or in between… showing up is a win, because you always learn something. And, your art isn’t so precious.

Any days jump out as having aha moments? Could you share what those were?

One day - the forest path (see below) - the painting wasn’t turning out well, I couldn’t get the background right. But, I ran out of time, stopped… and it was just FINE. Not everything has to turn out… or even be finished. That realization felt like a weight was lifted.

If someone wanted to follow your lead and do this specific Challenge (the way you set it up for yourself), any advice for them about what you’d change or what you’d make sure to not change? Why?

Yep, I liked my decisions this time.

I’d tell them to make a lot of decisions ahead of the actual challenge.

When, where, references (or not), size, time.

That way, you just focus on the fun part, painting!

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?

YES. This one is huge for me. Finished beautiful work, for me, takes FOREVER and that takes the fun out of it. Just showing up allows me to enjoy the process.

Learn moe about Amie Schilson here.

Learn more about the #20for20ArtChallenge here.