{Saturday Overtime}

The last three weekends, I have been making it a priority to work in the studio. I get up at a reasonable(ish) hour, have way too much coffee, then walk down into the basement, pretending like it’s a 9-5...minus brushing my teeth and actually putting on pants. Obviously this is still a new thing that I’m doing, but if I can keep this up, I will be putting in nearly 10 hours of overtime a week with my art business. That’s HUGE.

Initially, my plan was to just work when I felt like it. Isn’t that adorable? The truth of the matter is, it’s an extremely freezing winter in the midwest, my actual job makes me miserable, it takes a lot for me to feel ‘inspired’ these days, and not to sound like a kid but...I just don’t wanna. It is only recently that I’ve actually started to feel like a human again, but that usually doesn’t happen after putting in 8 hours of soul-crushing work. Though 2021 hasn’t been a peach, I am chipping away slowly at finding a rhythm that makes me happy AND motivated. While I’m still not fully there, I think this new “Treating Saturday like a Day at the Office” might be one of the keys needed to unlock my future art business progression to success. (Woah, what a mouthful and...uhh, no pressure.)

Anyway, this last Saturday, I decided to work in my sketchbook a little bit. No commissions, no “products” for Etsy. It had been a million years since I just made something for myself. The moment I started painting, I teared up with the complete joy I felt to be there in that moment. THAT is what keeps me going. THAT is what makes me realize I’m on the path I’m supposed to be on. I have no idea if I will be successful. Or if this is a sustainable business venture. Or if I could even support my family with my art. But just putting in all of this work, though scary, makes me feel incredible.

I don’t really have much to report besides this. Just....I was sitting in my basement, painting in my sketchbook, CRYING because I loved creating art so much. That is how life is supposed to be. NOT crying in a bathroom because you have no idea how you will be able to plaster a fake smile on your face for 8 hours in a place that makes your skin crawl.

Future Katie? Remember this feeling. Always.

Last week I filmed a bit of my Saturday in the studio. I think it will be great motivation for me if I'm back in my slump and I can see all of the different projects I could get into during one day if I just drag my butt down into the basement. Anyway, check out the studio vlog if you want to see what I've been up to! <3