Feeling uninspired? Have you lost your work momentum? No fears…it happens to everyone! Here are my best strategies for jumping back into the flow and reconnecting with work after an absence.

Leave Off In A Good Spot

My favorite strategy for painless re-entry after an absence is to deliberately leave myself an easy place to start up again. If you can stop work in the middle of a task, it’s much easier to pick right up and find your groove when you return. Having a piece of artwork that I’ve already begun means I can grab my tools and just jump in exactly where I left off during my next work session.

Ease In

I have a lot of complicated, involved pieces of art I need to start for my solo show, but to jump into them immediately would be a recipe for disaster for me. Talk about overwhelming! If I haven’t managed to leave off in a good spot, per the tip above, I find it best to ease in with simple projects that can quickly get done. For me, those might be a series of blog posts, quick sketchbook drawings or even a small chore like adding framing hardware to the backs of completed works.

Have A Plan

I often have a gigantic jumble of thoughts banging around my head, and if I don’t get them down into some sort of to-do list or plan, I’ll go crazy. When I’m away from my studio, I find it helpful to keep a running list of upcoming projects broken down into small steps. If I feel overwhelmed when I return to work, I need only consult my to-do list to find a tiny task I can jump on and start.

Keep A List Of Small, Quick Projects

Sometimes, I cannot make it to my work studio – sick daughter, flat tire and other life mishaps can get in the way. Keeping a list of small, easily-accomplished projects that can be done quickly during this time (such as filing paperwork, revising shop listings, or updating my mailing list) can help keep my work momentum going. I have to admit, I need to take my own advice on this one – I had a million of these tasks running around my head during my daughter’s school vacation this summer, and I wasn’t quite organized enough to jump on any of them. Next time, however, I’ll be ready. I am now keeping a list of “small tasks” with work projects that I can do in two hours or less for next time I find myself in a similar situation.

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Curious to see what 1,000 degrees of heat can do to a piece of wood? Check out my artwork gallery!

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(A sneak peek into my tiny studio right now! The work for my show is piling up….)