10. Studio Practices for Mid-Winter-Spring

inspired by Imbolc

Cheerio ~ Happy Lunar New Year, and Happy Imbolc season✨

I’m very happy to report that I’m crawling slowly, cautiously, out of the book-deadline bunker of the past many months, and feel a bit like a ground-hog poking its nose out to check on the winter situation out there.

I’ve always felt a strong, visceral connection to seasonal changes and, whenever possible, try make room for the different creative energies that ebb and flow throughout the year. Possibly because this happens to be timing out perfectly with a big project wrapping up, I’m feeling unusually inspired by this dreary seasonal moment.

We recently passed the mid-point between Winter and Spring, on Feb 1-2, a date celebrated by ancient Celtics called Imbolc. The energy of Imbolc is about those early stirrings while still in hibernation…dormant energy that’s just beginning to thaw gently out and poke around. It’s not yet time for full-fledged projects or productivity (we’re still ruminating and hunkered in!), but it’s a time for a time for picking up handicrafts, of pampering & nourishing oneself, and also of clearing out cluttered nooks and corners in the home.

There are some great ways to bring this between-seasons energy into the art studio, too, by tidying files & drawers, pulling out art supplies to get inspired, and refreshing a skill or two:

1. Review project files & folders - organize (or archive) them 

2. Refresh shelves & drawers - pull things off, dust, and lightly arrange them (no need to go overboard, we’re not Spring cleaning yet!)

3. Rehash your ideas - collect past sketchbooks & idea notebooks into a pile and browse through to see if anything jumps out’

4. Reignite Inspiration - browse through art books, picture books, pinterest boards to remind you of what inspires you

5. Get tactile & play! - pull out art and craft materials not used regularly and spend time experimenting with them

6. Build a skill - Revisit art/writing instruction books–or take a tutorial–on an area of your craft or technique that needs a refresher

Where’s your creative energy at in this seasonal moment? Does anything on this list feel like something you’re drawn to doing when some space comes in?

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For more seasonal delights, ask for my book HOME IN THE WOODS at your local bookstore or library: