Rhythms and Routines in Our Artistic Lives
Coffee Sunday with Adam Ming
Welcome to Coffee Sunday,
In today’s newsletter:
😍 I’ll be sharing some thoughts on the topic of routines from the community
🥸 I’ll introduce next week’s topic
💌 I’ll give you a preview of this week’s ‘Post Scriptum’
😍 Thoughts on Routines:
The perfect routine:
There isn’t such a thing in fact it seems like a routine is something you keep in your back pocket and pull out as and when you need it. Seasons play a part too!
Just started doing morning pages again after 14 years of not doing it! ‘s routine charges depend on the phase of work she’s in.“I love the flexibility of working for myself and from home and being able to listen to my body and my brain and fit work around how I feel. I am not tied to routines, but I do find them evolving naturally. For example, I do love the initial sofa time and fitting in a walk as often as I can. I need to include reading any day, at multiple spots, but always a first thing and last thing. I also need to include drawing or painting or creating in some way, whether digital or analog.” - Tasha Goddard
Sometimes life just happens so quickly that we struggle to have any routine at all.
has felt that way in recent months, although just having a discussion about routines is motivational.Night Owl Morning Person
This whole conversation started because this week I shifted back from my 2-month stint as a night owl to going back to a morning routine of getting to the studio at 4 am. The target is 4 am, but some days I’m there at 3, and others I don’t get in till 7. Still, it’s nice to have a target to aim for.
Having a routine means, I know I’ll be here again tomorrow. This means at the end of a work session I can say, that’s enough for now. This is such a powerful thing to be able to say. It’s making peace with the work done today, and having faith in the progress that will come tomorrow, and every day after.
Work out Routines
I also started working out again this week. Changes in routines sometimes mean you can sneak some new routines in even as others fall out.
Walks her dog every day. As her exercise. A reminder of the value of an accountability buddy. used to go biking or running, but now does VR workouts. (via SupernaturalVR, Beat Saber, Smash Drums, etc.) _ I find that so cool, and it makes me feel old! works out 4-5 times a week, Indoor Cycling, Walking, and Strenght Training. She mentioned how Cycling seems to be the one thing that keeps her hip flexors happy in balance with all the time she spends sitting and drawing. - Which makes me want to jump on a bike right now! Runs and Cycles a lot!On Breaking Routines
An Excellent Strategy for not going insane.
An Excellent Strategy “Relying on craft and routine, … is an excellent strategy for not going insane” - Christoph Niemann. I have come to see all art as a byproduct of the artist's routines. Everything…
I shared 3 notes on routines. How they are a good replacement for being a genius, how they help us transition into activity and how they drive us towards a goal, assuming we have one.
But how do people feel when they break their routines?
feels lost, but then she also tells herself to live a little feels that occasionally breaking a routine can feel like a recharge!The Flow State
I asked about the flow state and I love
‘s reply:I'm so routine it's silly. Wash my face. Dress. Yogurt and croissant. Headphones. Music. Notebook. Laptop. And WRITE.
-Melanie Conklin
I think that response defines the flow state.
on the other hand, wonders if she’s ever actually been in a flow state!Sometimes I think I’ve never been in a flow state. Everything I create has been a test of will, making deals with myself, and gamifying my production. I would love to know what a flow state has looked/felt like for someone else in concrete terms.
-Jade Ann Rivera
Morning Pages
One routine that many creatives practice or have at least tried is Morning Pages.
Tried them every day for a year but didn’t enjoy them instead he just spends 30 minutes of his work time “just screwing around with whatever I’m feeling”. a superior activity if you asked me! One that keeps the spirit of the morning pages themselves.@
Loves them, but is done after 5 days!Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to the community chat! And now I’d like to introduce the topic of next week’s chat, a topic you voted for! Before you jump in, if you have any ideas for future topics, please …
🥸 Join the Conversation:
I would so LOVE to hear from you! Join the chat even if we already chat in other places.
This week, we’re talking about, Illustration Roughs, what they are, how they are made, and all the things. I’ll also share some of my roughs with commentary and invite you to do the same!
I’ll be adding new talking points throughout the week, and responding to your chats and questions.
See you in the Chat!
💌 Lastly, here’s a free preview
from the paid newsletter “Post Scriptum”
P.S:
• The most important routine for me when I was trying to become an illustrator and now that I am one, is to have a fixed daily time of at least 4 hours to do deep work. This needs to be at the same time every day so that my body learns how to arrive there in the correct state of energy. This week that time has been 4 am - 10 am, over the past couple of months it’s been 9 pm to 2 am. For me, mornings are better than nights, but nights are better than nothing.
Loved reading through this eclectic connection Adam! Thanks for the mention and it’s just so so brilliant to hear from other creatives! How far is your studio from your home? I’m an early bird in summer too - I’ve been in my sofa office a few times at 4.30am so far this summer... 🌞✨💌🐢
Hearing from other creatives gives me hope and inspiration. Thanks for sharing your readers’ takes!