More Time Not Less

Creative tips which bend time! The surprising reality of home educating, mothering and creativity.

As promised, this more practical post follows hot on the heals of Friday’s.

Im not suggesting art should be created in stolen moments only, but the reality of family life (whether home educating or not) means that on a practical level you need to find a way to make it work. Why are artists who are mothers often illustrators, writers or creators in forms of art often grouped together somewhat derogatorily under the umbrella of ‘crafts’? I believe it is partly in the inherent nature of these arts: They are all mediums of creativity which can play out on the kitchen table or during nap times… I have A LOT more to say on this subject, but I digress..

A still from a moving image work I made on ‘mothering’ as part of Mother’s Space in 2018

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I’ve listed below (in no particular order) how I make time for art amongst home educating and family life. The lines are often blurred and contradict each other somewhat, oscillating between creating art with/part of family life and art as a solo practice. This is my reality though and I will try to detangle the creative threads for you.

I hope you may claim some for your own creative life.

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• If you are fortunate to have a space where you can leave your art materials set up, then do. It’s amazing what you can accomplish in multiple minutes spread sporadically throughout the day.

• Find a medium of creativity which is flexible. I started painting, writing and drawing as I could fit it into smaller units of time - unlike screen printing which I did previously.

• Use materials readily available to you. I have grown to love the humble crayon and especially the rainbow pencil!!!

• Sleep time (that of your children). If you are lucky enough to have napping children, leave the dishes and sleep yourself (dream), or make art! Early mornings, 6am-8am is good for me (when I’m working to a deadline that is, otherwise I will unapologetically prioritise sleep). I’m not a night owl, but you may be. The evening might be your time.

• We have a later start to the day - no school run or long commute, which frees up work time, before the children are even awake.

• Widen your definition of creativity: cooking, building cardboard cities, making up stories and gardening, all count.

• Make art with your children!

• Use time creatively! We value free play and good food. I often cook or garden while the children are playing, either together or with friends. I am present with them in a way that I would not be when in my studio or on the computer and yet I am still able to cook/garden/house chores etc. They often choose to help with cooking or gardening. If I worked 9-5, I don’t think I would have as much time to cook from scratch or grow vegetables. This also frees up dedicated work time later in the day while the children are occupied (TV time).

• Drop the ‘TV’ guilt. 4:30 - 6pm in our house is TV time and uninterrupted work time for myself. (see previous bullet point for when I fit in cooking the dinner!)

• Accept mess! Most housework can wait and no doubt the sitting room will look just as messy tomorrow despite your efforts. Creativity can’t wait! Prioritise it!

• Choose activities together which fill you up creatively as much as they do your children. Circus and dance ticks the boxes for us. Going to see shows/festivals/exhibitions/reading/nature/travel fill all our cups.

• Create alongside your children. Carry a sketch book and pencils for them as well as you.

• Embrace the 1 min sketch!

• Establish respect around your work time. ‘Mamon’s working’. ‘Close the door!’

• Protect your work time!

• Take solo time/trips.

• Do not apologise about making time away from your family. You can not be there for them fully, if your cup is empty. Fill it up!

• Do not apologise for your children joining you in ‘work’ situations.

• Say yes to art projects which involve your children or are supportive of mother artists. In the early years I spent much time working out how to create with my children. I did not want to and could not afford to leave them in child care. I wanted to create WITH them. My time as a touring musician was not easy as my partner needed to take unpaid leave, or my sister or mother traveled with me, but it was made possible thanks to them. I was lucky enough to be involved in projects with Monster Chetwynd where the whole family took part. I worked on research projects including Mother’s Space and exhibited with Spilt Milk Gallery

• Work in the cafe while your children are at an activity/group.

• Draw them while they play in the park or take the time to write.

• Hang out with other artist-parents and feed your mind with adult conversations while the kids do their thing.

• Take public transport. Sketch your children on the train while they draw dragons. Or draw a dragon as well.

• Share your children with family/friends. My partner takes the children one day a week. We are working towards an equal division… We visit my parents and sister for one week a month so I can work. When they are able, or I have tight deadline, they also come to Glasgow to help out.

• Build in time to your week where you can work while your children are not present. This will probably feel woefully inadequate in the beginning, especially as a breast feeding mother, but will grow naturally along with your children if you place value/attention on it.

• Children have a fresh and expansive thought process and imagination. Take inspiration from them.

• Children live in the moment and are great observers - take note.

• Be curious. Wonder at the world.

• Nothing focuses your mind and your priorities and values like having children. Time becomes more productive and it is almost impossible to be a perfectionist!

‘Repeat Pattern’ A print derived from a moving image work I made on ‘mothering’ as part of Mother’s Space in 2018

The nuclear family does not make any of this easy. I am saddened that many of us have lost the multigenerational interactions that would have supported mothering¹ and creativity. And again I digress… this will have to be another conversation but tell me, I can’t wait to hear how you fit creativity into family life or if you have been inspired to try just one act of creativity today?

1. I reference the act of ‘mothering’, ‘mother’ the ‘mother artist’ as this is my personal perspective but I believe it applies regardless of gender to all primary carers, single and co-parents who are also artists.