Balancing Act: Managing the Four Work Modes
When people think about the life of an artist, they usually picture a single frame: hands covered in paint, lost in the zone, purely creating.
But as I have spoken to other artists and creatives they all in their own ways have pointed to multidisciplinary process. Doing the art is just a fraction of the story - you're also an administrator, often your own PR Agent, and just as importantly but most often forgotten, the potterer. I have created a neat little illustration below to capture how I feel about all this. Of course it will not resonate with everyone, some may have fewer or perhaps much much more.
Looking at my own practice, I’ve realized that while I enjoy every single one of these roles, balancing them is a constant, shifting puzzle. Here is a look behind the curtain at how these modes play out for me.
The Thrill of the Hunt: Admin
For many artists, the spreadsheets and application forms are the ultimate energy drainers. For me? It’s completely the opposite.
Thanks to a naturally analytical mind, the admin side comes easily to me. I actually get a genuine thrill out of stepping into the PR Agent role. Treating it like an intentional hunt—searching for the perfect opportunities, tailoring applications, and waiting for the response—keeps me sharp. It turns the dry business side of art into an exciting challenge rather than a necessary evil.
The Potterer’s Dilemma: Deep Inspiration vs. Guilt
Then there is pottering. It is the not creating side nor the admin but the tidying up and processing. In my world, it’s much deeper than that: it’s my research phase. It’s writing down passing ideas, studying the work of other artists, and actively hunting for inspiration.
The paradox of the potterer mode is the guilt that comes with it. Even though I know deep down that this downtime is vital for recharging my creative batteries, a voice in the back of my head always whispers that I should be doing something. It is an ongoing battle which I chip away at everyday.
The Ultimate Goal: Finding Time to Create
Because I don't follow a rigid weekly schedule, my time fluctuates naturally between these four states. But if I have one ultimate goal for my process right now, it’s to carve out more dedicated space to simply, physically draw and paint.
