Uley Bury, an iron age hill fort, behind Uley village
8:30 AM.
We’re in the car, taking the kids to school. As we drive up the steep, narrow, twisty road out of the Uley valley and on to the edge of the Cotswolds escarpment I catch my breath at the natural splendour of this place, as I do every morning.
There are two very distinct landscapes here. In the valleys, it is wooded, dappled on sunny days and quiet. We don’t even have phone reception at home (which I rather like, actually).
Bowcott wood, with the last of the autumn leaves
On the top, it’s all standing trees and copses against dramatic, sweeping skies. On clear days you can see incredible vistas in all directions. Except it’s not often clear – being in west we get a lot of rain š
I love those days too, though. In fact, every day this place is different.
9:30 AM. Weāve dropped the kids off at school and are driving home again. Michelle is coming back to driving after 20 years so she drives the Mini, I sit in the passenger seat for moral support and helpful driving tips – although I spend most of the time gazing out of the window, dreaming of landscape paintings.
10 AM. Iāve just made my coffee (which takes a while because Iām a bit of a coffee geek) and come into the new studio. Itās so new, it still feels odd to call it the studio since, in this house, itās technically the living room.
The first thing that happens is that I sit. Just sit. Listen to the sounds, feel the peace and quiet, feel grateful for this moment. This is a habit I’ve evolved carefully since I became ill and then recovered. It’s the most important part of my day.
Then, once I feel ready, I sit down and write my journal for the day. Sometimes this is just a line or two. Sometimes, when the ideas are flowing, itās a few pages. This also is an important habit I’ve carefully cultivated. It centres me, and helps me to concentrate on the things that matter.
Once thatās done, itās time for drawing practice.
This shouldn’t be hard
Funny thing: I love to draw. I love everything about drawing. I like doing it, I like looking at my own drawings and I like looking at other peoplesā drawings too. I even like sharpening the charcoal pencil and setting up the easel.
But still, when itās time to start my daily practice, thereās this little twinge of resistance. I donāt want to do it. Itās hard to get started.
Why should this be?
I think there are a couple of reasons:
- It matters to me – so itās work, something is being put on the line. Computer games are fun because there are no consequences. But there are very real consequences at the easel. Apart from my family, very little matters more to me than this.
- I know itās going to be difficult. As much as I enjoy drawing, when Iām practising I have a very specific goal in mind – to develop my skills. So like exercise, itās a little daunting. Iām not drawing for fun, Iām drawing to grow. And that means work.
Iām just rebuilding a lapsed drawing habit at the moment. The most important time when youāre getting a new habit established is the beginning. You have to make sure you donāt miss more than a day in a row, because your habit isnāt established yet. Itās fragile, weak.
So I’ve put some simple things in place to help me get started.
- Trello. This is a great app. It’s really a productivity tool, a way to manage to-do lists intuitively and easily. It’s based on the kanban idea, so it also helps you focus on one thing at a time instead of jumping around unproductively. Seriously, I love it. And it’s free. Every day I write a to do list, and “journal” and then “drawing practice” are always the first and second items.
- My materials are ready. I don’t have to find anything, it’s already laid out where I need it. I think that’s the single most important thing to do to take away the resistance to getting started.
- I know exactly what Iām going to do. I have a practice plan. I start with some breathing lines, then I do some line accuracy and fluency practice, then I do some shape replication practice.
- I start really small. The only thing I require of myself is that I write the date on my practice sheet. If I do that, inevitably I’ll end up doing an hour or so’s practice.
As easy as that, I find Iāve been drawing for an hour.
It sounds simple, but actually, getting positive habits established is anything but easy. I’ve spent a lot of time practising how to practise and get habits going, so I’m quite used to it now. I have a few strategies that I know will help me get started.
Because getting started is really the only thing you have to worry about. Once that part’s taken care of, the momentum will keep you going, I find.
So the main thing is to remove the resistance as much as you can. Just start.
Next week I’ll show you in detail what I’m doing in these daily practice sessions at the moment, and give you a drawing exercise or two to try. I intend to chronicle as much as I can about what I’m doing in my new life as a Cotswolds painter in the hope that some of it will be useful to you. I’m hoping to be making a lot more video, too, now that I have a dedicated space to work. Watch this space š
Whatever it is you’re trying to achieve, the key to progress will almost always be to do one simple, small thing to get started. The rest will flow by itself, more often than not. This approach is helping me come out of the maelstrom of moving house and get my life back into some sort of order, to get moving forward again.
It’s not as much fun as the big, grand plans (I have a few of those brewing too!) but it’s the part that really makes the difference.
Best wishes and as ever, thanks for reading,
Paul
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Hello Paul,
My name is Carlos. Thank you for doing what you do. I stumbled across you a while ago, i honestly cant recall how long. I’ve read one or two of your emails. Today, your heading stuck out to me and so I came and read. I really enjoyed you sharing this. I have a lot of things I would like to do and practice and set up good habits, one is exercising. It’s rejuvenated me and I plan like you to just do something, small and try to keep it going. Self starting is my BIGGEST weakness and I do not care for it, its recent and hard for me to change. Regardless, I just wanted to say thank you for your words. Congratulations on your move, it looks beautiful. I hope you continue finding your peace and that you and your family be happy.
I am sure you will settle in very quickly and I wish you all success with it. The little routines are really helpful for me as well. I do half-days which helps me a lot. That means I spend half day on one painting and the other half on another, ideally š Or if something else needs doing I try at least half half a day at the studio. That has brought order in my days and I feel a bit more rested and focussed. Best from rainy Hamburg! E.
Thanks Paul. Maybe I will have the time to work on my colour exercises next month. I appreciate the email reminding me to progress!
Iāv missed you!
Hola Paul, quiero agradecerte por tus consejos. Hace tiempo que te sigo. Me alegro que estes ya acomodado en tu nuevo hogar. Es un lugar hermoso por las fotos que has subido. Espero que estes ya recuperado de tu enfermedad. Te envio un saludo desde mi hogar en Argentina.
So wonderful to hear that you have recovered from your illness.
What a beautiful place to live. I think you are correct, not having everything ready to go is a big part of what puts me off. I do not have a dedicated space (living in a big, extremely expensive city, space is a luxury I do not possess) and the thought of clearing a desk, pulling everything out, then later having to put it all back really is a drag.
Love your site and thank you for all your great instruction! You’ve helped me tremendously.
This post could not have been more timely for me. My resistance to getting in the studio has gotten to the point of full-fledged can’t-breathe chest-constricted panic. I haven’t finished a painting since moving from the coast to the mountains in April. The new studio is lovely but too much (tools and materials) is still in boxes in the back room, with no accessible place to put things, yet. The new landscape is gorgeous and different. How can it be so hard to “just start”?
Your insights into the reasons may help, and strategies you propose certainly will. I look forward to more of your thoughts on this.
Thank you.
.
good to hear you are going at it again and I like hearing about your routines, it helps me think about mine
Thanks for this post. I am happy you are better and I appreciate your posts, especially the Trello suggestion! I look forward to more on the drawing practice. I am at this exact place, of establishing a more stable art practice, as I have big ideas! Thanks again.
Hi Paul,
I have missed you so much. Glad you are back for greater things. Thank your for the posting. You are absolutely right and I agree with you. Getting back to the routine can be hard when there are other priorities that canāt be ignored. Thank your for thinking about us and sharing your struggles as well as your victories. You are the best.
Your new location looks idillic. Looking forward to some landscapes in the future.
Thanks for sharing your timetable and process Paul. That’s so helpful.
Thanks for all your guidance. Your new home looks lovely. Iām happy to hear you are doing well.
Thank you Paul! I have had a long season getting a garden going and doing necessary repairs and renovations (on my own) to the house we bought a year ago. My studio is a mess but I have set Dec. 1 as the day I get back to work and start up a daily practice. Your post is perfect timing!
Your new village is beautiful,
-Renee Delight-La Torre
Your words are so true, establishing a new habit and consistent studio practise takes dedication and perseverance. Thanks so much for the tips, I will do my best to implement and keep in mind that consistency is key. Your new home and surroundings are beautiful and full of charm. May inspiration fill your spirit as you start your new journey. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Thank you for posting your routine! It’s what I hope mine will be once my newest little one gets a bit more stable and independent. For now I’m taking practice when I can get it and am grateful for even having somewhat sporadic practice this year. Your new home looks made to order for you and your family. Enjoy the peace and fresh air, and thank you for passing a bit of the inspiration on!
Ah definitely a good idea to have your timetable, as you said popping all over the place with ideas, actually stops me getting on with things. I am a natural pinball unfortunately.
Thanks for your insight and sharing with us.
Hi Paul,
I have put my drawing aside this past year due to illness too and will be moving next month to a new apartment. My energy will never be the way it was but I am learning to pace myself. After the move I too will have a nice, but small place all of my own to draw and paint. I have given up my easel but have a small table top I will be using on a nice large table. You are very inspiring and I look forward to following your steps to get back into it. Yes, Itās so hard to get back the habit of everyday practice and it seems you are nailing the way to do it. I am looking forward to the exercises you will be sharing. Thanks for your generosity Paul, you are the best!
Hmmm… Trello…
“jumping around unproductively” – that sounds quite familiar, will give it a try. My biggest issue with to-do lists is that I’m too busy jumping around to ever refer to one, and I’ve tried quite a few…
Paul, thank you for what you do! Iāve only recently come across your website and SO MUCH of it discussed the current struggles Iām having as a āself-taughtā artist… especially this post. More specifically youāve encouraged me to do daily painting (Iām a little over a week in, with a day or two gapped in there since I canāt be full time). My biggest, most frustrating thing right now is the weak composition I have. Looking through your archived work you seemed to get a good grasp on this, any recommendations or guidance you can give on improving this area? Thank you again for all your doing.. your a distant teacher and blessing for this guy in Virginia!! Cheers – CJ
Hi CJ! I’m really, really glad to hear that you’ve found some encouragement here. That’s really good to hear š
Yes, I do have some advice about composition!
The main point is to forget about the so-called (and completely non-existant) “rules” of composition and develop your skill in design instead. I’d recommend getting hold of Composition by Arthur Wesley Dow and working through the exercises. I guarantee that doing so will improve your skill with composition. Not overnight, but very effectively, with sufficient practice.
These posts might help:
The only Composition rule you’ll ever need to learn
Three uncommonly effective ways to improve your compositions
more composition posts