monday studio tip of the week

cyanotype, martha madigan

this week's studio tip comes from friend and fellow artist, kirsten stingle. kirsten is extremely prolific, making huge amounts of work while raising 2 small boys and a husband! so i asked her how she does it and she said she simply makes a check list of things that need to be done in the studio for the next day and strictly follows it.

twyla tharp calls this type of planning 'building a bridge'. in her book, the creative habit, she cites that ernest hemingway would end his work day at a point where he knew what would come next, so when he entered the studio the next day, he would pick up at that point. it is especially difficult for those of us who teach to build sufficient momentum in the studio and sometimes i spend a good hour or two mulling around, sort of warming up before i really get down to work. by ending my previous studio session with some work left to be done, i can quickly pick up the next day where i had left off and having my checklist at the ready eliminates time spent trying to remember what needs to be done. try it and have fun!