Hello friends. I am new to the forum and need some help.
I find it very difficult to get started on my art when there are either other people in the house and/or there is a huge pile of ironing winking at me from the other end of the room.
Please can anyone let me into the secret of being able to ignore all other distractions and to be "selfish" enough to just settle down to my artwork. I always feel guilty about taking time out to do art and I need to conquer this if I'm ever to achieve anything half way good. PLEASE HELP!

I joined an art group and we meet one afternoon a week. That way you leave the house, you are with other people and you go there just to paint. That gets your brain into painting mode and you have something to finish at a later date either at your next meeting or at home. As for distractions just think about your hobby, the ironing can wait who is going to complain about you doing something as harmless as painting. You need to prioritise, you are entitled to something for yourself even if its just an hour a day or an hour a week. Afterall you aren't going to neglect everything else all the time just now and again. Enjoy your hobby, the more often you do it the better you will get.

You're right, thank you. I managed to paint for 2 hours today and really enjoyed it. I'm also having to train myself not to worry about getting everything perfect. It is really paralysing to worry about getting it "right". That way you end up not even starting! Happy painting!

I agree with redmags, I joined a small art group that meets once a week but you leave with homework for the next week so you HAVE to find time at home ! Mind you now it is school holidays and my grandchildren are here every week day I must admit to not doing much recently ha ha

I know what you mean about the guilt lindy lou but it is nice to be able to paint at home as well. An old lady in her 80s once told me "in a hundred years time, who will know whether you did your housework?" Good advice and you never know in a hundred years time someone may see one of your paintings and be inspired by it and even hang it on their wall.

Hi Lindy, Everybody has a deferent method for finding the time to paint, it’s not easy as it sounds sometimes! I’m retired but I still have distractions around the home, I find listening to music through a pair of wireless headphones help – give it a try. Finding time to paint is not easy when youi have a home to run, remags is correct in that you need to prioritise, everyone needs to have a little time to themselves.

It is always difficult. Joining a group is a good idea, or allocating youself some 'painting time' each week, and stick to it. If everyone knows that on Wednesday mornings you are unavailable for anything else. Turn the phone off and give yourself permission to do something for yourself. If you set the time, then the ironing is not even a consideration. Good luck and happy painting. x

Hello Lindy Lou

I've been painting for just over a year, and I agree it's hard to ignore the ironing, hoovering etc. I have a painting buddy, and we have recently arranged two painting days, 9am to 4pm twice a month. We book the dates well in advance, and they seldom need to be cancelled. I tend to cook a curry the day before, so I don't feel guilty about getting dinner ready etc. We really enjoy the days. Saving paintings up, to copy on the day is useful too. I wonder if you've achieved many painting sessions since you wrote in? Kind regards, Charlotte.

Know exactly what you mean - here I am posting on a forum when I should be getting on with my painting! I used to paint on the dining room table and that was hopeless - always have to tidy up and put it away, constantly distracted by seeing things that needed doing. Fortunate enough to have a spare room (which I call The Studio and my husband calls The Office!) and I have my desk set up in there. I love to get home from work (p/t), shut the door, put radio on (6Music/Radcliffe & Maconie is essential) and crack on. Over the years I've developed several 1/2 hour recipes to feed the family and have learned to allocate time in the week to ironing, if someone wants something urgently they can do it themselves :) - painting comes first! Prioritise!!

Hi all, I paint in my "Cabin", which could be loosely described as a studio, which is, essentially, a reasonable sized shed (or Summer House, if you live in the right area!!) with windows and with the wonderful advantage of power and light.
Here, I can leave everything where it is without causing a small Third World War!
Joking apart, Carol, my wife would encourage me to paint in the house, but I like to leave everything as it is and couldn't stand tidying away after every session, especially if I'm working on a commission, or other painting.
Its my space, and I can play whatever music I want (always music when painting!) and leave everything where it is, ready for the next session.

Steve