It’s good to hit pause every once in a while and check what you need. I want to start a conversation about this: what do you need to feel aligned in your art or life?
I’ve been actively thinking about this, because I didn’t really feel aligned anymore last year. What I really need and what I have missed in the last few years is an honest connection with others, and being in nature more. I’ve taught art classes for many years, but I quit a few years ago to focus on illustration jobs. Well… I’ve decided to go back to teaching! In two weeks I have a meeting with someone to talk about drawing classes (connection, check!) in the mountains of Germany (nature, check!). Does that sound as amazing to you as it does to me? I’m really excited about this! I feel my body relaxing more and my mind being quieter. This feels in alignment with who I am.
What do you miss in your life right now? What seeds can you plant today? Where do you want to be headed?
I had a busy teaching job. I taught a research and design course in high school, and I really enjoyed the contact with my students. Though the job was so busy! I tried to make time for my art, but that was always the first thing I had to put aside.
Now we moved to Oslo, and I really love having more nature around and easy yo reach (especially compared to Rotterdam 😉) But I have especially missed creating things, and when my son starts nursery I’m going to fully focus on my illustration work! I feel that it cant wait to burst out of me, but I do not have the time yet.... I hope this will make me feel more aligned, find my purpose or something like that. I am curious if I’m going to miss the interaction, so I already joined an artists network and hope to find some co working possibilities. I also still teach a little bit, one afternoon per week.
Thank you for sharing Marloes, it is a good thing to be talking about. And that art tribe sounds nice as well @La Scarlatte
Oh that’s exactly what I need too: more connection and nature! So I sent a message to a friend to see if we could have a call, and I’m planning a nature bike trip for coming Sunday. Sometimes just pausing and asking myself this question is just so insightful.... enjoy the trip to Germany!
Trying to incorporate what you love into the day to day seems to be the key to artist wellness . For many years I worked at a stressful other job - but still figured out a way to work at what I loved on weekends .. nights and if I was lucky into my work life . I have time now and my challenge is to insure I play, make art and connect with other creatives who inspire . Teaching art is definitely a lovely way to give of yourself - and receive a bounty of pleasure and learning from your students too ! I have a few projects on the go but always feel better when I practise art, sketch everyday just for me .
I'm an art and math teacher in a secondary school and an introvert, so for me feeling aligned means I need a balance to my job in my free time - being alone and being in nature! I'm contemplating getting animals at the moment - sheep or goats. I'd love reading more about your plan to teach here in Germany!
Your journey speaks volumes to me too. I miss purpose so much in my (working) life. I have a job to pay bills and I have writing to live. Isn't it ridiculous that we have to make a living to live? I am too planting beautiful seeds for future (personal) growth. And now I will have to be patient. I wish you allllll the best with going back to teaching! The students who will meet you will be lucky ones.
That Germany drawing class sounds so exciting! As for me, I've realized my art is better when there is more of myself in it, and driven by the stories and questions I want to explore. I've been heads down on some projects for a while, and recently have been itching to sketch and play more - just in time for summer!
Ha that’s so interesting, I started teaching art again last year after focussing solely on my art career a few years ago, and for me it turns out that teaching art adds another layer of helping people to find joy and experiment and well, it’s more social interaction (because being an artist means basically being by yourself all day). Teaching and creating art apparently can’t exist without each other for me.
I am also contemplating starting a sort of artist tribe, either online or offline to spend time with and create. Being by yourself only generates so much creativity or joy, finding a nice tribe to share it with seems like this might multiply.
Teaching art surrounded by German mountains sounds like the best thing ever by the way😍
I recently realised that even though I’m not someone with a busy social life, my weekends were feeling very full, mainly with life admin or just other things I wanted to do. So a couple of weeks ago I decided to have my weekends be as empty as possible and to spend them as deadline-free as possible, which right now means leaving myself lots of room to read in the garden and doing what I feel inspired to do. It’s been great so far but also a practice 😅 (and your Germany-plan sounds really exciting!) x
Let's talk: what do you need to feel more aligned?
That sounds amazing Marloes!
I had a busy teaching job. I taught a research and design course in high school, and I really enjoyed the contact with my students. Though the job was so busy! I tried to make time for my art, but that was always the first thing I had to put aside.
Now we moved to Oslo, and I really love having more nature around and easy yo reach (especially compared to Rotterdam 😉) But I have especially missed creating things, and when my son starts nursery I’m going to fully focus on my illustration work! I feel that it cant wait to burst out of me, but I do not have the time yet.... I hope this will make me feel more aligned, find my purpose or something like that. I am curious if I’m going to miss the interaction, so I already joined an artists network and hope to find some co working possibilities. I also still teach a little bit, one afternoon per week.
Thank you for sharing Marloes, it is a good thing to be talking about. And that art tribe sounds nice as well @La Scarlatte
Oh that’s exactly what I need too: more connection and nature! So I sent a message to a friend to see if we could have a call, and I’m planning a nature bike trip for coming Sunday. Sometimes just pausing and asking myself this question is just so insightful.... enjoy the trip to Germany!
Trying to incorporate what you love into the day to day seems to be the key to artist wellness . For many years I worked at a stressful other job - but still figured out a way to work at what I loved on weekends .. nights and if I was lucky into my work life . I have time now and my challenge is to insure I play, make art and connect with other creatives who inspire . Teaching art is definitely a lovely way to give of yourself - and receive a bounty of pleasure and learning from your students too ! I have a few projects on the go but always feel better when I practise art, sketch everyday just for me .
I'm an art and math teacher in a secondary school and an introvert, so for me feeling aligned means I need a balance to my job in my free time - being alone and being in nature! I'm contemplating getting animals at the moment - sheep or goats. I'd love reading more about your plan to teach here in Germany!
Your journey speaks volumes to me too. I miss purpose so much in my (working) life. I have a job to pay bills and I have writing to live. Isn't it ridiculous that we have to make a living to live? I am too planting beautiful seeds for future (personal) growth. And now I will have to be patient. I wish you allllll the best with going back to teaching! The students who will meet you will be lucky ones.
That Germany drawing class sounds so exciting! As for me, I've realized my art is better when there is more of myself in it, and driven by the stories and questions I want to explore. I've been heads down on some projects for a while, and recently have been itching to sketch and play more - just in time for summer!
Ha that’s so interesting, I started teaching art again last year after focussing solely on my art career a few years ago, and for me it turns out that teaching art adds another layer of helping people to find joy and experiment and well, it’s more social interaction (because being an artist means basically being by yourself all day). Teaching and creating art apparently can’t exist without each other for me.
I am also contemplating starting a sort of artist tribe, either online or offline to spend time with and create. Being by yourself only generates so much creativity or joy, finding a nice tribe to share it with seems like this might multiply.
Teaching art surrounded by German mountains sounds like the best thing ever by the way😍
I recently realised that even though I’m not someone with a busy social life, my weekends were feeling very full, mainly with life admin or just other things I wanted to do. So a couple of weeks ago I decided to have my weekends be as empty as possible and to spend them as deadline-free as possible, which right now means leaving myself lots of room to read in the garden and doing what I feel inspired to do. It’s been great so far but also a practice 😅 (and your Germany-plan sounds really exciting!) x