time management for artists

[Sandi Wedemeier]

this is my biggest problem right now...trying to start a business, doing artwork (like to sell), doing artwork (just cos i have to create), joining in on swaps (cos the ideas keep me fresh), figuring out guerilla advertising (cos who doesn't like a nice guerilla), figuring how and where to sell, working with my web designer, tearing out my hair, banging my head on the desk. oh.

not entirely sure it's just a management issue. it's also seems to be an issue of distraction. i'm working on *this* and have an idea for *that*, then go to find all the neccessary items for *this* and find this thing i need for *the other* that i started or wanted to 3 months ago.

oh and look! shiny things!

i read that 30 - 40% of an artists time is spent doing managerial things. can't i just hire someone and pay them (preferably with my good looks) to do those things for me??

how does everyone else deal with these issues?

[Stacie Williams]

OMG Sandi- we're so much alike in this respect it's scary! And I don't have any answers. When I walk out of this room I'm very organized with schedules & what-not. Then I walk in here & it's "distraction central".

But yes, I would think you COULD hire someone to do those things, if you're not a controlling person who MUST do everything themselves. (I say as I look around thinking....who me?)

[Sharon Bruner]

Sandi, I just made a comment on the 3X3 Coffee swap that relates to your topic! I'm wanting to start those pages so badly, but I've two other swaps I desparately need to finish first............I love the paper I'm going to use.....just can't wait to do a layout and see what I want to do with them. BUT, the first project I need to finish is fairly involved........and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the second swap that needs to be finished before I start the 3X3's.........oh, shoot.....what do to?!

[Christy]

I'm not sure what business you are in but a great little book to read is: How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul by Adrian Shaughnessy. He talks about running a studio, the ins and outs of whether to do it yourself or hire someone to do a specific job for you. Such as sales or marketing or administration. It's pretty interesting.
Another great book is The little black book of project management which of course I don't know where it is right now LOL
Mainly for me I do the thing I hate the most first. My personality is that I want to spend the most time doing the stuff that I like. And I am a type A personality so I will dog down and push to get through the stuff I don't like. Then I have more time to do the stuff that I like.
Also, if you do the stuff you don't want to first it's done. Verses feeling guilty and stressed while doing the fun stuff because you know you still have to do that other stuff that you hate.

[Stacie Williams]

>>How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul by Adrian Shaughnessy.


I'm not a graphic designer- but I'll bet it's loaded with great stuff.

[Sharon Bruner]

I'm thinking I need to hit my artroom first thing.............before the computer! LOl I always get sucked into conversations and looking at others' fabulous art. My kiddos are grown up and out........but every other week I have two grandsons here......so at least one week I'd be able to do that. I tend also to do like Christy.....get to those projects I'm hating to tackle.......so why did I sign up for them??? LOL

[Fairywebmother]

LOL...I'm definitely distracted by "shiny things"!

For me, the challenge is to keep the "flow" going. I'm just like you, with distractions, so I often have dozens of projects going at once, but if I just keep puttering away, following my intuition without stressing, most times those "need to do" things just fall, naturally into the flow. I get a lot more done, if I just keep moving and flowing, than if I stop to worry and plan.

I'm also learning how to hire people. It's perfectly OK and a process that seems to reveal itself...if I just keep moving. If I choose to hire someone to help, I try not to have any fears about what I will pay them. In the long run, the stress they take off me, will make my life much more abundant. From a spiritual aspect, that feeling of abundance will increase my abundance, as long as I remember that having an abundant life is not about having money. I also, occasionally, barter for services.

Going with the flow is just what works for me...and I have an amazingly abundant life...though not a pile of money ( I do remain open to having a pile of money, however...lol).

[Christy]

I love your philosophy here Fairywebmother. I spent many years having a 'career' and trying for that pile of money. I had such a stressful life and alas only a small pile of money. Now, I work but it's not a 'career' and I art as much as I can and although I still only have a small pile of money I have as you have said an amazingly abundant life.

[HeArtCollective]

Seriously? This has been my battle cry of late... I NEED MORE TIME!!!

There is no more time is the resounding answer I keep getting back... in fact, my 4 year old has started saying to me "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit" as told to her by her best 4 year old girlfriend!

*sigh* time management, huh?

ok...

[Marilyn Weyman Kegg]

Sandy, this is the nightmare of most small business owners. You love what you do and you can make money doing it but a huge part of that is actually running a business which is not what you want to spend your time doing. I attend Art Unraveled each August here in Phoenix and they usually have a couple of seminars on this topic. There are some new books on this coming out too that I've just seen on Amazon. If I see them again, I'll come back and let you know what the titles are. Check out Lesley Riley's blog for her guest blogger's content last week about running your art business and just what you are talking about here.

I suggest lists. I always have 'must do', 'nice to do', and 'would like to but I can let this slide' as the categories. When you get really pressed for time, it's nice to allow something to slide. Kind of faking yourself out but a line drawn through one thing is such a relief though not as nice as that big checkmark next to something important!

Oh, and if you hear someone say, "Look! A chicken!" Don't look. ;-))

I nearly had my degree in art when I switched to Business Management and got my degree in that instead.

[LisaLi Hertzi]

Its VERY hard! I am taking care of my mother, running my illustration business, teaching asl, and... "dun, duh, da, doneeeeee" I moved from California and my apartment 2 blocks from the beach, to... OHIO to live with my PARENTS! Just writing it makes me queasy... But, none the less, it is true... And time is a big concern. How DOES everyone else manage it? I am having a hard time carving out the time to experiment as by the time I am done with the work/parents/clients/making food/etc of the day, I am wasted and need to assume an inert position and make like a sponge.

How do you all do it? Any good resources? I will get the graphic design book soon! for me... its finding the energy at the end of the day...

Thanks, Li