Heather Bleasdell

I am a mommy, so I make art as I go along.

Sometimes I get crazy when I don't have time to make art. So I've had to find ways to adapt.

1. I can't be too picky about location, equipment or supplies. One day I painted on my daughter's easle in the kitchen, using her setup, because I had to stay in the house. (Her painting setup is 6 colors with goopy paintbrushes and no water.) The limitations gave me an interesting artistic challenge and it felt surprisingly good.

2. I photograph my wanderings.

Sometimes I just cruise around town, sometimes I wander further. The key is to wander & respond. It's an essential practice for an artist. (Most of the photos here were taken with my iphone. It's been a good friend to my artist self.)

3. I plan Mini-Adventures that are close to home & easy to manage. I am inspired by old houses, gardens, breweries, art, design, architecture, old & weathered things, oodles of color, trail running & the Great Outdoors. I plan adventures that take me towards those things. The important thing to remember is, leave the house. Change it up. Do something different.

Recently we drove to Sacramento for a family mini-adventure. We visited some old friends and saw the California State Capitol. It was suprisingly wonderful. (Jerry Brown's portrait as govenor rocks!)

5. I include my daughter. As I provide the space for her to be an artist, I open up more to myself as an artist. She helps me to stay curious and to go slowly.

6. I make time for myself. This is by far the hardest thing to do as a parent, but it's essential for sanity. I get up one hour earlier than my family so can I paint and write alone. As an artist, if I don't "stir the pot" for a few minutes every day, my creative flow gets clumpy & I become grumpy. Now, I know what you are thinking, but it's worth it to find the time, even if you have to give up something precious (like sleep!) Some people work best at night. I am just not one of those people.

Learning to love the artistic challenges of motherhood.