Daily Practice - Artist Spotlight: Rose Hurley

Artist Rose Hurley walked into the challenge with the main goal to just get painting within the 20-daily minutes. But as she showed up consistently each day, she began to expand her materials and her time.

Learn more about Rose Hurley here.

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

I did my 20-minute painting sessions whenever I could find the time. It was usually in the early evenings, and sometimes in the late evening after dinner, if that was the only free time I had. I know that some people like to paint early in the morning so that they know it will get done, but I know that mornings are not my creative time.

You expanded beyond the 20. How did having it be “just 20 minutes” help you get into your space and start creating? How did having a specific number (but a low one) help you get into your work?

The 20-minute challenge eases the pressure so that you can draw or paint every day. Knowing that I only had to do 20 minutes really helped me towards the beginning of the challenge, when I was feeling stuck and out of practice.

But by the end, I was painting way beyond the 20 minutes, even making myself late for a few appointments! Once I was painting I just got into the flow and was loving it.

How and where did you keep your materials the same?

I started the #20for20challenge with watercolor and gouache because I could do these on the couch with my dogs before or after dinner. I was out of practice with painting, and I needed something easy and comforting. I have a little toolbox of watercolor/gouache materials right on my coffee table so that I can work without having to get up and gather my materials.

Once I got back into the flow of painting, I was ready to go back into my studio, where my acrylic paints and easel are set up and ready to go.

I can see how keeping your materials the same can be helpful for daily practice, but for me, I was able to paint more consistently when I adapted my practice to how I was feeling on that particular day.

Watercolor painting offers fewer barriers in that I can do it right on the couch, without changing clothes. Acrylic painting involves more mess and time, but I like the work I do better with acrylics. If I felt up to it and had enough time, acrylic was my preference.

Did you prep materials before? If yes, how much of a help was that and why?

With acrylics, I tend to use my leftover paint from a painting session to prep white canvases. This was how I ended my acrylic painting sessions, by scooping up and mixing my leftover paint and applying it to 1-2 fresh canvases. That way, the next day I can pull out a colored canvas, and the color might even help me decide what to paint.

You decide to use the images from the Reference Starter Pack. [Something you get as part of joining the Official #20for20 here.] What did having someone else choose photos and you just followed give you as artist?

Kelly, I LOVE that you provide the reference photos! I know that it’s a lot of work to research them, and I thank you! It really helped me to have the reference photos. I didn’t use the references every day, but they gave me a good starting point and helped me avoid decision fatigue.

Also, I like how the references pushed me to try painting new subject matter. I always thought I was “bad at landscapes,” but I ended up liking some of the landscapes I did during the challenge.

I do find that sometimes without reference photos that I spend too much time choosing what to paint. I am still working on that!

What were you hoping to explore? Why those goals?

Honestly, my goal for the challenge was to get painting again. My larger goal was to have enough paintings to hang for a local show at the end of August. [Hurley took part in a spring Challenge]. But in general, what I most want is to keep my practice consistent and respect the mysteriousness of the creative practice. The essential thing is to be growing and enjoying the process. I try to choose things to paint that make me feel excited to paint, and I like to experiment with new subject matter and techniques.

Did the parameters you used help you explore more deeply? Why?

I think the parameters that helped the most were 1) committing to a daily practice and 2) choosing things to paint that were fun and allowed me to experiment.

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

I think consistent practice helped me grow with respect to technique, but it also made me learn more about myself: what I like painting and what materials bring me joy.

I did have days where I felt rushed and was annoyed that I didn’t have more time. And there were also days when my painting was just bad. But I think daily practice builds resilience and inner strength. Those tougher days are just bumps in a journey that is really fun and exciting.

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

As I experimented over the course of 20 days, I realized that I don’t have to have a consistent style or consistent subject matter. Some days I can paint small and tidily, and other days I can go loose! I sometimes think we have this idea that we need to “find our voice,” but maybe our voice can be different day to day.

Any advice for someone taking the Challenge?

I think it’s most important to know yourself—to know what times of day are best for you and to know whether you are a person who likes to have everything prepared, or whether you like to let your mood or instinct decide for you.

It’s also good to plan how to deal with obstacles. I had one day that I knew I wouldn’t be able to paint, so I did two small paintings the next day.

Moving beyond the challenge, I do paint daily, but every now and then I end up skipping a day due to life. It’s never useful to condemn yourself for a missed day.

What was the most helpful mindset for you to try and keep during the 20for20?

It is always great for me to remember: I get to paint every day. I don’t have to paint. No one is making me do this. It is something that calms my mind and makes me love life more. If painting is not fun, maybe I am painting the wrong thing or putting unnecessary expectations on myself. It should always be fun and interesting.

So often the focus is on finished and beautiful work. Did you feel any difference in shifting the focus to the showing up?

Just as with yoga, meditation, and exercise, showing up is the most important thing. You don’t have to show up perfectly, and you don’t even have to do your best. Just give yourself this precious creative time, and know that you will amaze yourself with what you can do.

During the challenge, I did post some photos of paintings that were pretty awful, but I stuck with the postings because I hoped to show people that the process is more important and ultimately leads you to do better work. I can see my own progress that has come from daily-ish painting. Seeing that progress is the best feeling, better than the feeling that comes from one beautiful work.

Learn more about Rose Hurley here.

Learn more about joining the #20for20 Art Challenge here.