Advice for Artists with Kids - Draftsmen S1E23 - Proko
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Date: 2022-03-14
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Comments and reviews: 10
Tacia
I am a stay at home mom, my husband works. We don-t have help for the exact reason that Marshall talked about with people who could help being a bad influence. So I take care of our son mostly alone, my husband helps when he can when he-s home. For the first year and half to two years I stopped doing art completely. There was just no way with adjusting to being a new mom and trying to figure out how to do it with limited help and I did not sleep hardly at all during this time, it was a real struggle for me. Once we started getting better sleep regularly and I didn-t need to nap with my son every time he napped I started trying to do some artwork in the room next to where my son naps, but if he woke up and I wasn-t there he wouldn-t go back to sleep. My husband bought me an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil and I started drawing digitally for the first time in my life. It was a real adjustment and it-s taken me about a year of consistent practice to find a better flow (I like to have my digital art look as close to traditional as I can get so I-ve struggled a lot with that) I will say though that having such limited time to do art has actually caused me to grow tremendously as an artist. Before my son I had lots of free time, which I spent working 40 to 60+ hours a week, or exercising. I only did art when I felt inspired. Now I only have an hour to two hours a day to myself, which I spend in the same room as my son so he can nap peacefully. I have developed a habit to draw nearly everyday now. I have the desire to learn to draw efficiently and to learn more efficiently. I also spend tons of time with my son being creative and that inspires my work. So I think if you are going to be a new parent, it-s realistic if you want to be a good attentive parent, to assume you will not get much time to do anything you really enjoy for the first 2 or 3 years especially depending on how much outside help and or if you-re breastfeeding (which I do and it is a huge time commitment. Once your kids start playing on there own and sleeping regularly you can find a little time here and there to do art. Just accept the fact that some days you may really feel inspired and if you both didn-t get enough sleep that day or your kid needs some extra loving and you might have to wait until the next day to do what you want to. For sure, I am not spending as much time doing art as I want to be doing, but I want my son to grow up feeling more loved than I did, so it-s important for me to dedicate as much time to him as I can. I also recognize that I am building good habits and good skills a little everyday that will allow me to be more successful once I can do art significantly more once he-s in school. Just be patient, even 15 min a day of good practice will give you more progress than nothing. Slow progress is okay when the trade off is being a good parent and having a happy child.
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I am a stay at home mom, my husband works. We don-t have help for the exact reason that Marshall talked about with people who could help being a bad influence. So I take care of our son mostly alone, my husband helps when he can when he-s home. For the first year and half to two years I stopped doing art completely. There was just no way with adjusting to being a new mom and trying to figure out how to do it with limited help and I did not sleep hardly at all during this time, it was a real struggle for me. Once we started getting better sleep regularly and I didn-t need to nap with my son every time he napped I started trying to do some artwork in the room next to where my son naps, but if he woke up and I wasn-t there he wouldn-t go back to sleep. My husband bought me an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil and I started drawing digitally for the first time in my life. It was a real adjustment and it-s taken me about a year of consistent practice to find a better flow (I like to have my digital art look as close to traditional as I can get so I-ve struggled a lot with that) I will say though that having such limited time to do art has actually caused me to grow tremendously as an artist. Before my son I had lots of free time, which I spent working 40 to 60+ hours a week, or exercising. I only did art when I felt inspired. Now I only have an hour to two hours a day to myself, which I spend in the same room as my son so he can nap peacefully. I have developed a habit to draw nearly everyday now. I have the desire to learn to draw efficiently and to learn more efficiently. I also spend tons of time with my son being creative and that inspires my work. So I think if you are going to be a new parent, it-s realistic if you want to be a good attentive parent, to assume you will not get much time to do anything you really enjoy for the first 2 or 3 years especially depending on how much outside help and or if you-re breastfeeding (which I do and it is a huge time commitment. Once your kids start playing on there own and sleeping regularly you can find a little time here and there to do art. Just accept the fact that some days you may really feel inspired and if you both didn-t get enough sleep that day or your kid needs some extra loving and you might have to wait until the next day to do what you want to. For sure, I am not spending as much time doing art as I want to be doing, but I want my son to grow up feeling more loved than I did, so it-s important for me to dedicate as much time to him as I can. I also recognize that I am building good habits and good skills a little everyday that will allow me to be more successful once I can do art significantly more once he-s in school. Just be patient, even 15 min a day of good practice will give you more progress than nothing. Slow progress is okay when the trade off is being a good parent and having a happy child.
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handmade
It's very different for mothers, especially if you have no support or are a single mother. I took a year out before going on to university ( ended up being derailed by a narcisstic individual) I had four unplanned children ( I asked for sterilisation after my second child, they decided not to sterilise me. I'd just got accepted for university to do surface design when I got pregnant with my third child. My husband then had the snip. We broke up, I got back with my first love and got caught pregnant after 3 months with my last child that turned out to be a girl. I asked for sterilisation and got it. You have to shift your creativity to other things such as crafts, decorating or interior design, gardening, cooking etc. however once your kids are older you can come back to it but it's a journey, you have to hold on to your dreams regardless of the rollercoaster ride you're on! At least expect a 10-15 year break ( that's if you have only one child. Basically realistically children will derail your career but what you get instead is a family. You have to think very carefully on who you allow into your life and the consequences that will come from choosing to have a family. However as a mother I really can't think of anything as beautiful as holding and comforting your child. The way your child wraps their arms around you and snuggles their head in is so incredibly sweet and my eldest sons are like best friends now.
Ask yourself this question at the end of your life what do you want your legacy to be? Do you want to be responsible for creating people or art because there's nothing more satisfying than watching your children develop their personalities. Both my nans having kids created about 70-80 people between them, there's nothing more creative than creating life! - So either way they're both masterpieces -
I can think of two examples though which is Brian and Wendy Froud and Suzi Winstanley.
22: 14 Early childhood conditioning has a massive impact on children. A child who is rejected by their parents has severe attachment issues.
23: 50 Yeah the kids books and toys are ace! Definitely a source of inspiration!
37: 30 Drawing practice good and bad practice.
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It's very different for mothers, especially if you have no support or are a single mother. I took a year out before going on to university ( ended up being derailed by a narcisstic individual) I had four unplanned children ( I asked for sterilisation after my second child, they decided not to sterilise me. I'd just got accepted for university to do surface design when I got pregnant with my third child. My husband then had the snip. We broke up, I got back with my first love and got caught pregnant after 3 months with my last child that turned out to be a girl. I asked for sterilisation and got it. You have to shift your creativity to other things such as crafts, decorating or interior design, gardening, cooking etc. however once your kids are older you can come back to it but it's a journey, you have to hold on to your dreams regardless of the rollercoaster ride you're on! At least expect a 10-15 year break ( that's if you have only one child. Basically realistically children will derail your career but what you get instead is a family. You have to think very carefully on who you allow into your life and the consequences that will come from choosing to have a family. However as a mother I really can't think of anything as beautiful as holding and comforting your child. The way your child wraps their arms around you and snuggles their head in is so incredibly sweet and my eldest sons are like best friends now.
Ask yourself this question at the end of your life what do you want your legacy to be? Do you want to be responsible for creating people or art because there's nothing more satisfying than watching your children develop their personalities. Both my nans having kids created about 70-80 people between them, there's nothing more creative than creating life! - So either way they're both masterpieces -
I can think of two examples though which is Brian and Wendy Froud and Suzi Winstanley.
22: 14 Early childhood conditioning has a massive impact on children. A child who is rejected by their parents has severe attachment issues.
23: 50 Yeah the kids books and toys are ace! Definitely a source of inspiration!
37: 30 Drawing practice good and bad practice.
reply
MsMH1998
Hello, I-m the mother of 2 nearly grown children. I have a 19 year old and a 16 year old. I am an artist. I realized I was an artist when I was 17 but did not see reliable avenues for education and was supporting myself financially by 18. I married at 20 and had our oldest at 22. I have loved being a mom, I chose that and I have amazing kids. We homeschooled our kids, my oldest is in college and I am still homeschooling the youngest. I -pecked- at art for most of the kids- childhood and Marshall is correct, the energy it takes to be the primary caregiver is enormous and there was nothing left for art during those years. BUT now that my children are almost grown I have begun a second life. The art education I always longed for has begun! I have this new and exciting career ahead of me. The second part of my life beyond parenting is a new beginning! I tend to be 100% devoted to what is in front of me and when it was my children it was all them and now it-s moving into the goal of becoming a professional artist. I-m still parenting so there are still sacrifices artistically but the journey doesn-t end at midlife. As long as you are breathing there is hope for success. Look at Grandma Moses. It-s my understanding she was older when her career really took off. I adore Tasha Tudor-s work. She had to support her small children and herself through her art and created an amazing life. I bet there are lots of examples.
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Hello, I-m the mother of 2 nearly grown children. I have a 19 year old and a 16 year old. I am an artist. I realized I was an artist when I was 17 but did not see reliable avenues for education and was supporting myself financially by 18. I married at 20 and had our oldest at 22. I have loved being a mom, I chose that and I have amazing kids. We homeschooled our kids, my oldest is in college and I am still homeschooling the youngest. I -pecked- at art for most of the kids- childhood and Marshall is correct, the energy it takes to be the primary caregiver is enormous and there was nothing left for art during those years. BUT now that my children are almost grown I have begun a second life. The art education I always longed for has begun! I have this new and exciting career ahead of me. The second part of my life beyond parenting is a new beginning! I tend to be 100% devoted to what is in front of me and when it was my children it was all them and now it-s moving into the goal of becoming a professional artist. I-m still parenting so there are still sacrifices artistically but the journey doesn-t end at midlife. As long as you are breathing there is hope for success. Look at Grandma Moses. It-s my understanding she was older when her career really took off. I adore Tasha Tudor-s work. She had to support her small children and herself through her art and created an amazing life. I bet there are lots of examples.
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Ryan
The best advice I ever heard for staying on track while being creative but time restricted is to only promise yourself a very attainable target. If you are a writer make it compulsory to write one word per day. If you hit that target you are never behind and always making progress. Obviously you will never only write one word, it will turn into a sentence or a paragraph but as long as you write one word you have hit your target and made progress.
I read that JK Rowling used this kind of process when raising her children to write harry potter in between nappy changes and feeding times.
I'm currently studying for a filmmaking degree, My children are 16, 3 and 1 years old, my 3 year old has autism and their mother has put her career on hold until the two youngest are in full time school. I am away from the house about 9 hours a day and that will only increase when I start actually working in this industry. My hope is that I can work like a dog while they are still young so that I am established enough that they can spend time on sets with me when they are older.
I make sure when I get home that I have a good few hours quality play time with them before bed. It would be impossible for me to pursue a career if their mother had not decided to put hers on hold.
reply
The best advice I ever heard for staying on track while being creative but time restricted is to only promise yourself a very attainable target. If you are a writer make it compulsory to write one word per day. If you hit that target you are never behind and always making progress. Obviously you will never only write one word, it will turn into a sentence or a paragraph but as long as you write one word you have hit your target and made progress.
I read that JK Rowling used this kind of process when raising her children to write harry potter in between nappy changes and feeding times.
I'm currently studying for a filmmaking degree, My children are 16, 3 and 1 years old, my 3 year old has autism and their mother has put her career on hold until the two youngest are in full time school. I am away from the house about 9 hours a day and that will only increase when I start actually working in this industry. My hope is that I can work like a dog while they are still young so that I am established enough that they can spend time on sets with me when they are older.
I make sure when I get home that I have a good few hours quality play time with them before bed. It would be impossible for me to pursue a career if their mother had not decided to put hers on hold.
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Matt
I-m a stay at home dad with 3 kids who are now 8, 13 and 21. I rarely had time when my kids were young to work on any artwork of my own (I-m not a professional. Now that they are older, it-s been so much easier. This past year I volunteered to teach art at my daughter-s school, and it has been amazing. There is no set curriculum, so I take time at home to try out ideas before I take them to the classroom. When my kids see me trying out projects, they will all sit down and ask if they can try them out with me. My heart melts when I think about all of us sitting together drawing and creating. Also, the kids in the school system where I live have never had art classes. To be able to show them amazing artists, different mediums, and ways to be creative, it really helps to fill that creative void that I had.
This past October, I was working on projects for inktober, and my eight year old daughter was home for break from school. Every morning we would sit outside and I-d set all of my art materials out, and let her use what she wanted. We-d spend an hour or two each morning just drawing and talking.
I think my point is that I never really thought that I could draw with my kids and have it be as satisfying and motivating as it has been.
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I-m a stay at home dad with 3 kids who are now 8, 13 and 21. I rarely had time when my kids were young to work on any artwork of my own (I-m not a professional. Now that they are older, it-s been so much easier. This past year I volunteered to teach art at my daughter-s school, and it has been amazing. There is no set curriculum, so I take time at home to try out ideas before I take them to the classroom. When my kids see me trying out projects, they will all sit down and ask if they can try them out with me. My heart melts when I think about all of us sitting together drawing and creating. Also, the kids in the school system where I live have never had art classes. To be able to show them amazing artists, different mediums, and ways to be creative, it really helps to fill that creative void that I had.
This past October, I was working on projects for inktober, and my eight year old daughter was home for break from school. Every morning we would sit outside and I-d set all of my art materials out, and let her use what she wanted. We-d spend an hour or two each morning just drawing and talking.
I think my point is that I never really thought that I could draw with my kids and have it be as satisfying and motivating as it has been.
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Jessi
I feel like Stan misses Marshall's really good points sometimes and just ignores it altogether when he doesn't get it. Like at the start about having children is unpredictable. Marshal says that no matter how much you plan things to feel like you're in control of that part of your life, it is just an illusion because having children causes your life to be more unpredictable no matter how much you plan ahead.
Could Stan just please give Marshall the chance to emphasise this point without being interrupted with an irrelevant joke.
In my experience, being an artist as well as a mom looking after a toddler, everyday is a different day. You never know when you will get to do your work or not. You just gotta take each day at a time and hope that all the time you work will build up to something one day.
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I feel like Stan misses Marshall's really good points sometimes and just ignores it altogether when he doesn't get it. Like at the start about having children is unpredictable. Marshal says that no matter how much you plan things to feel like you're in control of that part of your life, it is just an illusion because having children causes your life to be more unpredictable no matter how much you plan ahead.
Could Stan just please give Marshall the chance to emphasise this point without being interrupted with an irrelevant joke.
In my experience, being an artist as well as a mom looking after a toddler, everyday is a different day. You never know when you will get to do your work or not. You just gotta take each day at a time and hope that all the time you work will build up to something one day.
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Csaba
I havent read through the comment, but I have to mention J. K. Rowling. She wrote the first Harry Potter book during the years at home with her baby.
Otherhand, i have a 1 year old. I can only work during his sleeping hours. (it's dominantly night time. thats about 4-5 effective hours from 8pm. I know, it is all the time i have for work, and that gives me extra motivation. Do it now, or it wont be done at all.
In the begining i was exhausted, but you can get used to. It got built in my lifestile and became a habit. Although im not a famous artist and i'm not willing to sacrefice the time, i can spend with the kid either.
reply
I havent read through the comment, but I have to mention J. K. Rowling. She wrote the first Harry Potter book during the years at home with her baby.
Otherhand, i have a 1 year old. I can only work during his sleeping hours. (it's dominantly night time. thats about 4-5 effective hours from 8pm. I know, it is all the time i have for work, and that gives me extra motivation. Do it now, or it wont be done at all.
In the begining i was exhausted, but you can get used to. It got built in my lifestile and became a habit. Although im not a famous artist and i'm not willing to sacrefice the time, i can spend with the kid either.
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Nille
I am a full time illustrator and new mom, and want more kids as-well. No one can say that its easy, but we are two freelancers together with a kid. And its definitely possible to do especially in this digital age. I wrote and illustrated my first childrensbook while awake at night feeding my baby and being awake with her anyway. Entertain her with drawing on screen while she is drawing aswell. It all comes down to creativity and structure. A good schedual, easy routines with households, and good ways of saving money. It can be done =D Thank you for a great podcast
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I am a full time illustrator and new mom, and want more kids as-well. No one can say that its easy, but we are two freelancers together with a kid. And its definitely possible to do especially in this digital age. I wrote and illustrated my first childrensbook while awake at night feeding my baby and being awake with her anyway. Entertain her with drawing on screen while she is drawing aswell. It all comes down to creativity and structure. A good schedual, easy routines with households, and good ways of saving money. It can be done =D Thank you for a great podcast
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Faith
I have six. Furthermore, I wanted six. Due to current events we homeschool and I had to quit my job last year after having #6 and my husband has his full time job. Actually I find plenty of time for art, my issue is buying supplies. Paint, mostly. You can imagine how much it costs to run our household so I mostly just draw in my sketchbook and then paint when I can afford it. I set aside 5am-8am for practicing and then 9: 30-11 to either more practice, paintings or researching something I-m working on. Of course, those times get interrupted, but I get enough.
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I have six. Furthermore, I wanted six. Due to current events we homeschool and I had to quit my job last year after having #6 and my husband has his full time job. Actually I find plenty of time for art, my issue is buying supplies. Paint, mostly. You can imagine how much it costs to run our household so I mostly just draw in my sketchbook and then paint when I can afford it. I set aside 5am-8am for practicing and then 9: 30-11 to either more practice, paintings or researching something I-m working on. Of course, those times get interrupted, but I get enough.
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oneanotherstudios
I'm a single dad raising two daughters that works a demanding full-time job while trying to maintain a home (yeah, it's messy lol. I've found that I have more time for art than I thought but it's going to require me to cut out time-wasting things. like watching youtube videos, browsing the web, etc. So easy to waste time online. At least I can listen to this podcast while doing other things. :-)
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I'm a single dad raising two daughters that works a demanding full-time job while trying to maintain a home (yeah, it's messy lol. I've found that I have more time for art than I thought but it's going to require me to cut out time-wasting things. like watching youtube videos, browsing the web, etc. So easy to waste time online. At least I can listen to this podcast while doing other things. :-)
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