20 Hour Challenge

Robin11 wrote

on 25 Jul 2009 12:07 PM

I'm back from vacation and I was so glad I didn't take anything with me to create art.  It was a great feeling to be totally free of my normal life!  I'm not sure EVERY vacation I take would be art free, though.

I am working today, and a bit tomorrow probably, but I am NOT doing my challenge for the next six weeks or so, because I want to use this down time to work on my house renovation projects.  I'll do some art now and then, but won't work full force til Fall.  So I am falling off the wagon for now, but will rejoin the challenge after my break!

j.b2 wrote

on 26 Jul 2009 4:07 PM

Let's see if the form will let me post this today as Saturday evening it would not.

Monday = 3.5hrs painting in the studio.

Friday = 5hrs plein air painting..

Saturday = 4hrs plein air painting...

So it was a good week, not 20hrs but a respectable week.

Can I hit 20hrs?

Tune in next week and see!!!

n2art wrote

on 26 Jul 2009 6:39 PM

This is Sunday and I last nght I spent about 1 hour not painting but visually composing my next painting. But today  will physically push some paint. Its 8:34 and a new week so I will sign off when I stop. I think I must have actually painted or been in the studio 8 hours last week I am starting earlier this week and will spend the 20 hours ths week.

Robin11 wrote

on 27 Jul 2009 5:32 AM

JBallen, you can do it!!

Robin11 wrote

on 27 Jul 2009 5:33 AM

 Namasta, I'm sure you can reach your goal!

n2art wrote

on 28 Jul 2009 2:48 AM

Thank you for the words of encouragement.

Lori Woodward wrote

on 28 Jul 2009 5:16 AM

Hi fellow friends,

Just an FYI here... I've decided, with the advice of Karyn to make my first American Artist blog be about the 20 Hour Challenge. Subsequent blogs will investigate ways to increase productivity through time management. I've been experimenting (with me as the testcase) on ways to organize my life's responsibilities, and I plan to share the results with this forum's readers.

People seem to think I'm a really organized person, but that's so far from the truth. My brain is much more organized than my stuff.

I want to congratulate everyone who's taken on the challenge -that's half the battle - just reminding ourselves that we need to work at our art on a regular basis.

n2art wrote

on 28 Jul 2009 9:32 AM

I want to thank you for your blog and even though I have not completed the 20 hour challenge It has kept the fact that I could be doing closer at reaching my dream of having a body of work done by being consistent. And I have seen an improvement in my work just by the keeping the thought foremost in my head  Thank you again.

Lori Woodward wrote

on 29 Jul 2009 5:33 AM

I just finished my first blog for this forum - it talks about the 20 hour challenge and is more or less an introduction to the articles I'll be writing about right-brained time managment techniques.

Don't worry if you don't make 20 hours, that's not required. I just set that number up for myself. What matters is that we all make time for our artwork on a reglar basis. As I heard it said, "Art is Long, Life is Short."

Any time spent at our art - whether we've had a good or bad day at it, is time well spent because ultimately, we'll improve by working at it.

n2art wrote

on 29 Jul 2009 10:32 PM

Tuesday 28 Jul 09 2:48 pm started painting those #)%$## hands now one is too big Finished 7:58. Total 5 hours not counting clean up I'll make I hope tis week

Lori Woodward wrote

on 30 Sep 2009 3:53 PM

I'm just wondering how many of us forgot about or resigned from the 20 Hour Challenge? Just as a reminder.. I'm getting back on the wagon - how about you? Fall is a great time to start spending time in our studios. BTW: I don't put my PC in my studio -- too distracting. I designate about 2 hours a day to read interesting articles and catch up with my friends on FB and Twitter.

But I admit that I fell off of my "commitment to my artwork" wagon. How 'bout  you? Wanna re-enstate how many hours you hope to spend each week making your art?

n2art wrote

on 30 Sep 2009 5:20 PM

Hi haven't been posting because I had to finish a plein aire project for a competition and the deadline was the 29th of this month. This was a real challenge for me because I have never painted out doors nor have do I paint alla prima. I had 1.5 weeks to finish the painting and had to take a train and then the el back and forth every day which was 3 hour trip everyday.  Someone stole my easel off the train and I broke one of my glass palettes. I did take a photo of the painting also finished and if it doesn't sell I will photograph it again and post it. Now I have a deadline for a painting for Oct 15th for Hope 4 Women International. For an auction for the women in Uganda. Hey if anyone wants to donate something its Rachel Eggum Cinader Dir. of Hope 4 Women International 480-234 5792 rachel@hope4kids international.org or the web site is www. hope4kids international.org Next I have a deadline of Nov 6 for a show at the Museum of Science and Industry. So I think I will get my quota for Sept and October now I just have to keep up the momentum. Tired, crazy for fumes and still broke. But happy.

j.b2 wrote

on 30 Sep 2009 5:26 PM

In the last 4 weeks I have had 1 week where I hit 20+ hours.

The rest have been about 15 a week..

The next few weeks will see about 12 hours as I have to repair outdoor items before the cold & snow sets in. But we will see if that holds me back. I kind of doubt it will...

Christopher M. Grimes wrote

on 30 Sep 2009 5:44 PM

I haven't commented on this thread so I might appear to be not taking part in the 20 hour challenge, but the fact is that I probably am able to spend 60 hours a week painting, minimum.  I do however remember the days when I had a real job when it would have been very hard for me to make it to 20 hours in a month, let alone a week.  So I understand the difficulty, but it really is important to make the effort.

I remember when I would sit down sometimes to do a few minutes of work on a painting, only to find myself still in front of the easel 2 or 3 hours later.  The important factor here was that I had my easel set up already, palette and brush easily accessible so it only took a couple of minutes to get into it - squeeze out some paint and jump in.  So for those having difficulty making 20 hours a week, try having your painting supplies out all the time, as opposed to having to unpack every time you want to paint.  You'll be amazed how much more easel time you get in.

Lori Woodward wrote

on 30 Sep 2009 5:55 PM

Chris, that is an excellent point - about having art supplies ready to go. When I have a painting in progress set out and my supplies ready to work, all I have to do is sit infront of the painting and after a few minutes I can't help but begin working on it. The hardest part is tearing myself away from other activities and putting my body in the studio. If I can get there, the rest just follows.

For the other folks who responded to this thread... sounds like you're already on track. Any progress made is worth celebrating.