The Habits that Keep an Art Practice Moving
I lifted all the plants off the cedar chest, regretting my choice to move the massive jade by myself. Inside, wrapped in newspaper, were all the china and glass bits that I'd collected, but never used. Somewhere, there had to be a china tea cup and saucer, and I had to unpack most of the chest before I found the cup. No saucer, but I found one of those in the cupboard.
I was on a mission to make myself a proper cup of tea and have it, with biscuits, in the early afternoon, all because someone on Instagram told me it was better this way. I used to have tea parties for my friends, where we would drink tea out of china, and use the silver service, but it had been a while. Afternoon tea sounded like the perfect way to transition from working to afternoons with my son.
My grandmother loved tea, and drank her Red Rose in massive quantities at all hours of the day. I don't remember ever seeing her without a mug, tea bag string dangling, the tea white with milk and sugar. For her, tea was a habit, just like me with my coffee as I drink it mindlessly while working.
A ritual is mindful, and tea, from preparation to serving, forces you to slow down, be patient, and enjoy the process. The days when I've practiced the ritual, I find it a calming reset to busy days and appreciate the moment of calm.
It's a ritual that's different from the one I have in the studio, where I begin each work session by lighting Nag Champa incense. That's a ritual of action, where the smell of incense moves me to work, not to pause and relax. An art practice needs both reflection and movement, and my rituals help me achieve that.
While rituals are lovely, and important, it's habits that get the work done. In my art practice and business, habits structure my time and create the foundation that allows creativity to flourish.
I'm sharing the specific habits that anchor my studio practice and keep my art business moving forward.
Weekly Planning
On Sunday morning, I spend some time planning my upcoming week in my Paper Republic notebook. After adding in appointments to the calendar page, I write the following headings: business, writing, teaching, studio, weekly tasks, newsletter, someday/maybe, and life. The tasks that didn’t get completed from the previous week are moved forward and then I fill in what must be done this week.
Each morning begins with a notebook session where I plan what I’ll work on for the day, adding new items and crossing off completed tasks throughout the day. I’ve tried a schedule where each day has a specific focus (business/studio), but that never works. I like the flexibility of choosing what to work on each day.
Social Media
I’ve started using AI to help me plan my social media strategy. At the beginning of the month, I’ll spend some time using Claude, prompting it with the major events I have planned and asking for help creating an aligned calendar of social media posts.
Weekly Tasks
These are business tasks that have to happen every week:
Schedule social media posts on Tailwind
Create new pins for Pinterest
Update Artwork Archive with sales and new work
Scan and photograph new work
Financial check-in
Add handwritten notes/ideas into documents
Clean the studio
Organize desk and computer files
Complete next week’s schedule
Cleaning
On my weekly task list, I include two cleaning tasks. I move lots of files around on my computer, and I’ll forget why they are on my desktop unless I file them away each week. My desk also ends up with piles of bills, lesson plans, new work, and notebooks and I can’t look at that chaos, so that has to be dealt with (usually on Friday).
I tidy up a little bit each time I work in my studio, but by the end of the week, the trash bin is overflowing and there are odd piles stacking up (especially if my son has been down there with me). It only takes a few minutes to move things back into place, and it feels so good to start with a clean space on Monday.
Art
When my week has been heavy with art business tasks, and light on creative time, I make sure to spend some time working in my sketchbook.
I take photographs all day long: documenting works in progress, moments of inspiration, bits of video and anything that might serve me later for newsletters, blogs, and social media.
My notebook travels to the studio with me, and I record ideas and observations in my Daybook.
These core habits form the backbone of my practice, but I also maintain routines around annual planning, community building, and continuing education—topics I'll explore in future posts.
Your habits will look different from mine, but the key is finding what consistently moves your practice forward. Let me know if any of my habits sound similar to yours (or seem like habits you might want to work on!).
Interested in a focus for your sketchbook habit?
Noticing. Experimentation. Fusion. Learn how to look closely at art and use that knowledge in the creation of abstract collage art using vintage magazines.
