Working hard this Year

I started the year with a fresh approach to my studio practice. I had been struggling to finish a painting, and part of the problem was my own definition of what "counted" as painting. I felt that if I was going to say I painted that day, it had to be at least two hours of work—plus cleaning my brushes afterward. And since an hour never felt like enough but three hours felt like too much, I often ended up not painting at all.

So, I lowered my expectations and broadened my definition of painting. My new goal? Just 10 minutes in the studio each day.

That 10 minutes might be spent staring at the canvas, deciding on my next steps. It might mean mixing colors or adding a few brushstrokes. What it has actually turned into, more often than not, is hours spent immersed in creating. With the exception of January 7th, I’ve been in my studio every day this year.

By giving myself permission to start small, I’ve found more freedom to create. And in the process, I’ve rediscovered the joy of showing up for my art—one day at a time. You can check out the process shots of my newest painting D.U.R.G.A here https://youtube.com/shorts/OwvD8yqOp4A