I am not a big fan of casseroles. And I’m not a big fan of my current workday either. So in a way, thinking of my art practice as the (yummy) vegetables that I’m sneaking into my workday casserole is pretty apt.
What else is in the casserole? Oh, the usual things: errands, chores, paying some attention to myself and to my family, a pinch of socializing, a dollop of procrastination and a huge helping of Day Job. Since I freelance from home, I’m lucky enough not to have a commute, but that used to be in the mix too.
Some parents of finicky kids will make casserole just so that they can be assured that the kids are getting their veggies. I think it’s important to think of the Day Job in the same way. You don’t really need all of that starchy mashed potato or béchamel sauce (eew) but if that’s what it takes to get your veggies, then that’s what it takes.
Where we go wrong is when we forget to slip in the veggies altogether. We end up with nothing but a mouthful of mushy dissatisfaction. And that’s kind of where I am right now.
How does one turn “Yeah, um, I painted a couple months ago” to “I have a daily art practice”? This has been my million-dollar question* for oh, nine years.
It seems that you can’t really spend all day on your creative work unless you already have the time, space and money to afford it. Most of us have to pay the rent or the mortgage, and some of us have families to support. And all that does tend to require a steady source of income.
But making money from your creative work takes a lot of time and effort, especially at the beginning. What do you do when you’re just getting started?
How do you even show up to the work? So much of the time, we avoid the creative work altogether, and get no veggies. Ah, it would be so much easier to just dine on cheez doodles.
My best guess is baby steps. Faithfully eating your casserole every day, even if it’s gross, but making sure you’ve got at least one little piece of tasty broccoli in there.
Someday, friends, we may tuck into a heaping plate of delicious fresh veggies. Until then, just avoid the casseroles with canned fried onions on top. Trust me, they’re bad news.
*Note: If you answer this question for me, I’m not going to give you a million dollars. But I’d sure like to.
COMMENTS: Have you had any success in balancing day jobbishness and your creative work? If so how the heck did you do it??
A gentle reminder: I might get silly around here, but everyone’s creativity is worthy of our deepest respect. I’m sure you’ll honor other people’s process as much as I honor yours.
