And so on that note, let's get into the topic of this blog post...
In the past several years, poring through dozens and dozens of books helping artists, I think I have only ever come across one that talked about the need for an artist to stay healthy. It's a little bit of an odd subject, probably because it's a wee bit off subject for an artist, but! As an artist, it is important to stay healthy, for so many reasons!!!
Let's face it... artists are not lazy. Don't let anyone ever convince you that sitting around, sketching, inking, or coloring for hours is not grueling work... because it is!!! It takes so much mind power to crank out. It can be mentally stressing and exhausting. But to be a committed artist also means... you're sitting around a lot. And all that sitting isn't good for you. It isn't good for anyone!! Also, ever happen to notice when you're having a particular stressful time working on a project, and it becomes easy to stash away goodies... snack cakes, little candy bars... in your desk, and then you find yourself breaking them out and snacking away like crazy? Don't worry.. I do this stuff too!! And when you're set in your ways... literally, SET in your ways of sitting for hours at a time drawing, and snacking on junk food, you can start feeling bad about yourself. Maybe you start noticing that you're putting on a little weight here and there... or maybe you feel really tired, and you can't figure out why, because all you've done all day is sit at your desk. I suppose this is a weird post, but I have a few tips to share from my own life that I hope might inspire you to think about becoming, or trying harder, to be a HAPPY, HEALTHY ARTIST!!!! =-D
#1: Try to eat a more balanced diet. If you're a candy bar or snack hoarder, try cutting down on those, or even taking them out of your desk or secret stash, and replace them with something healthy you can nibble, like nuts, or granola bars. Some of my favorite snacks are yogurt, granola bars, and apple slices with peanut butter. I'm not a crazy health food eater (and maybe I should be), but I do try to eat a balanced diet.. I usually end up eating lots of salad with chicken throughout the week. You'd be surprised by how filling a nice, big salad can be, and when you sit down to work (my art time is usually in the afternoon), you won't have that heavy, bloated feeling like you ate too much. Like I said, you don't have to go nuts with it.. but small changes make a big difference and really help you feel better about yourself, and thus, your art!!
#2 Drink tons of water.
#3: Work out!!! Sometimes, it feels like your brain needs exercise more than your body. So taking the time to include daily exercise is a win-win for both your body, and helps your brain feel more alert and focused and can help you to be more creative. One of my favorite ways to stay creative is to take walks outdoors when the the weather is nice. The fresh air and colors outside can do so much to inspire you and give you fresh ideas!! I also try to stay on track doing about an hour daily of exercise, splitting that up between the morning and afternoon. It helps me feel better about myself, feel better in general, and keeps my brain feeling alive, alert, and enthusiastic. =-)
#4: Let yourself have one thing each day to indulge in. Mine is coffee. If I'm having a normal, routine day at home, my coffee time is at 1:00 sharp. I usually put Lucy in her room for a bit of quiet time then, and I enjoy my coffee and some art time. I like the comfort of that half hour or so where I can enjoy a cup of hot joe and focus on an art project!! Some days, this really keeps me going. Coffee also gives your brain a little bit of a buzz and helps you feel extra creative. ;-) But I realize that not everyone is a coffee drinker. I know a lot of artists that prefer tea to coffee. Whatever it may be, try working something like that into your daily routine!
.... Well, I guess those are all the tidbits of advice I have. Maybe this post will just give you something to think about, maybe help you cut back on the candy snacking and pick up the apple crunching. Whatever it is, I hope it inspired, and that you will do your utmost to be a HAPPY, HEALTHY ARTIST!!! ;-)
Great blog post! I follow a lot of art blogs and this is definitely not a topic talked about much. I love the little illustrations you made to go with each tip! They are so cute!
ReplyDelete-Robyn :D