Artistic Habits to Get Through the Day

Have you ever wondered how artists get through the day? Ever wonder how you get through the day?

Personally, I keep detailed notes-- tallies in my agenda and sticky notes galore. I jot down everything from assignments, deadlines, my work schedule, to meetings over tea, errands, phone calls, and reminders. There is not a thing that needs to get done that I don't have a list or note for.

I also try to keep moving. If I allow myself to start puttering around, I'll be on Facebook doing nothing of any real value for an hour. If I let myself curl up with a book, seven hours could pass and I'd never know. There are appropriate times for these kinds of relaxation, of course. Time to go sit in front of my easel and get covered in oil paints. Most of the time, my time is not that time.

Make sense? Good.

Of course, I am not alone in this ritual of getting things done, nor am I likely the only one who does it this way. But that does not mean that every artist has the same schedule as I do. I've know some who get drunk in order to paint and some who just...don't sleep. Ever. Some who have to be alone when they work without any interruptions or bodily presence beyond their own. But what are their real secrets, and why do they do what they do?

Now author Mason Currey will answer all those questions! In a series of short blog posts titled "Daily Rituals" which will soon become a full-length published novel with over 161 entries from interviewed authors, editors, painters, architects, poets, and philosophers, Currey explores the various schemes and schedules that get us artists through the day. Caffeine? Getting up early? Yoga? Or something even more...outlandish?

"Entry 1: How novelists, painters, philosophers, and filmmakers find time each day to do their work."

If you're like me, you have trouble getting everything crammed in the day. Somehow you manage it, one way or another, and over the course of the week your workload stays...well, constant, if nothing else. You juggle and compromise and generally stay up late and get up early. We all have little quirks to get it all finished. Currey has written these mini biographies of artist weirdness into a single comprehensive novel which will be serialized in miniature on his blog.

"About six years ago, I started collecting any information I could find about the daily routines of writers, artists, and other creative people—­­first for a blog that I ran for a couple of years, and then for a book that, I'm pleased to announce, will be released next Tuesday. It's called Daily Rituals: How Artists Work, and it presents brief profiles of 161 creative minds—among them, novelists, painters, poets, philosophers, filmmakers, and scientists—with a focus on how, exactly, they made the time each day to do their work." 

I admit, I'm intrigued. I love hearing about how other people do their work. Sometimes I get new ideas on how to do this or that, how to better manage my time. Sometimes I stay hard-headed and stick to my guns that my way is my way. Not necesarilly your way. But definitely and unquestionably my way. And here, the author supports me!

"The one lesson of the book is that there is no one way—the rituals and habits that helped Artist A create a masterpiece would never work for Artist B; and, actually, they might not even work for Artist A for very long."

We all are different and have our bizarre means of coping with our hectic schedules. But we also should be aware that that's ok. We should also try some new ways every once in a while. In short, why should you read the book? Well...

"Even the so-called great minds flailed about, made false starts, endured blocks and dry spells, obsessed over trivialities, and wasted huge chunks of time. If this sounds like you—well, you're in good company."