How do you create with small humans?

Painting and creating, is sometimes a family affair. Folks have asked me in the past "How do you keep kids out of your art supplies?" or "How do you find the time?"

And honestly it's a mixed bag depending on the day. We prioritize what we care about, weather that is exercising daily, making time for friends and family, keeping a home spotless, or creating art. For me creating art is a priority. In the past I've described my process as almost compulsive. I am constantly drawn (pun intended) to create. If I'm not painting or drawing, I'm visualizing ideas in my head, cooking or baking, making weird crafts for my toddler, putting off laundry to quickly write down an idea or start (an maybe finish a sewing project).

Adding raising small humans into the mix., well that makes things a little tricker, but here are some things I do or have done:

1. Paint when they're asleep or occupied

2. Only take out supplies when you have the mental capacity to either be okay with them interrupting your process or with them sharing your supplies

3. Always have your supplies around (but out of reach) so they get used to them just being a part of your living space.

4. Let them wreak havoc while you paint (as seen here, I am using a barrier to prevent stray paint from splattering on the project I was working on)ou

5. Make painting or making something you do together, I have a handful of "kid friendly supplies" aka not my higher quality brushes, paints and paper that my kiddo is allowed to use while they work along side me

6. Start being okay knowing somedays will be hours of painting and progress while others will be a quick sketch if you're lucky

7. Let them be your creative director and have them tell you what to draw (my kiddo is very good at this one)

8. Let them sit on your lap, this is especially what I do when I'm working on the digital end of things. I put on a favorite show or movie and let my kiddo burrow into my lap while I click away and do image edits.

Being an artist, parent and business owner means that sometimes I'm painting in the margins of my day, or sometimes new works take a backseat to other obligations. But I am always thinking of new painting projects and finding inspiration during unusual times of the day, silly moments, and what my kiddo is into that day.