Stamina

[Michele Rushworth]

When I'm too tired to paint I enjoy spending my time doing the administrative stuff. (Things related to my art career are frankly all I want to do -- I'd even rather stretch canvases and organize my studio than go on most vacations.) I just wish I could extend my hours actually at the easel.

Perhaps running out of painting energy is more due to the fact that before I start, I've been "working" at my other job of Mom for a few hours already.

[Kimberly Dow]

Michele,

I hear you, I am up & doing the mommy route 4 hours before I get to start painting, not to mention what comes after.

Not to leave the gentlemen out, but we should have a special thread on the particular challenges faced by wives/mothers who are working artists.

[Mike McCarty]

Not to leave the gentleman out, but we should have a special thread on the particular challenges faced by wives/mothers who are working artists.

Then we could have a section on fathers who double as mothers who are working artists.

I think I'm kinda like you Michele, I can go at it for four or five hours (+-), with a couple of walk around breaks, then I have to give it up. If I'm particularly excited I can have another go later on in the evening. I think it's more of a mental stamina (lack of) than anything else.

[Kimberly Dow]

Oh, my political incorrectness!

Ok, new thread idea: particular problems faced by working artists who are also the primary care-givers (or only caregivers) to the kids.

[Mike Dodson]

Since I paint professionally part time, I paint 3-4 hrs. during the week night evenings. On Saturdays I normally paint 6-8 hrs. with very few breaks. I usually will sit in front of my easel staring at my painting while eating a sandwich. Once I get on a roll and am totally focused, I don't like taking breaks. Sunday afternoons/evenings are typically 3-4 hrs.

[Carl Toboika]

Perhaps running out of painting energy is more due to the fact that before I start, I've been "working" at my other job of Mom for a few hours already.

Yes, I think you've likely hit on something that is a big part of it, Michele. Moms have to put a lot of energy into that role and they also have more interruptions as well. Regular walking or other exercise not only adds body endurance, but makes your brain sharper also. Of course it takes up extra time too, but it

[Karin Wells]

This is my job. I usually log in 40 to 60 hours per week. This includes other studio related work and administrative stuff - not just easel time. I do not include this Forum into these hours.

I've spent most of my life working long hard hours for other people so I consider it a gift to actually be able to work these hours for myself.

[Michele Rushworth]

Karin, how many hours can you typically put in during one session at the easel before you find you physically need to go do something else (stretch canvases or whatever)?

[Karin Wells]

Unless the phone rings or my body screams that I am hungry, thirsty or whatever, I can "get lost" and work at the easel 6, 7 or even 8 hours at a clip.

When I take a break, I don't need much of one. Usually I begin work at 7 am and frequently set a timer to ring at noon in order to remind myself that I need lunch.

Oftentimes I let life interfere with my afternoons and I go back to work around 7pm and work until midnight or later.

[Heidi Maiers]

I work full time, get up at 5am, have a 40 mile commute each way in bumper to bumper traffic, and sometimes don't get home until 9pm which does not leave much time during the week for my art.

When I have a commission going (which thankfully is getting to be pretty regularly), I work on it until the wee hours of the morning and all weekend long. I take coffee breaks and longer breaks for a few hours to go to the gym so I can lift weights and run a few miles to work out all the kinks. I don't know if I would call that stamina, or stupidity - but I am 43 and still feel like 23, so it must be working.