Tag Archives: 15 minutes a day

How 15 Minutes a Week Every Sunday Inspired My Faith and Art

After giving birth to my daughters, I didn’t have a lot of time to create, but that desire was written on my heart. I decided to start with 15 minutes every Sunday creating artwork inspired by my “one takeaway” from mass. This is how I got back into art and how I became a Catholic artist/illustrator. No more waiting for the so-called “perfect moment” (or until retirement) to pursue your passions!

What in your life does God want you to carve out 15 minutes a day for?

It can be a challenge finding the perfect time for those 15 minutes a day. Take a look at your current daily habits and really scrutinize how you spend your day. Do you waste time on Netflix or social media scrolling? You probably have more pockets of time than you think! If you’re most productive in the morning, you can schedule your 15 minutes before you begin to get ready for work. Part of a lunch break can be utilized for pleasure reading or taking a walk. 

If you want to work on a bigger passion project, think about how you can tackle it in smaller pieces. What is the easiest first step that you can take? For example, 15 minutes of prepping ingredients for baking the day before can make the task more enjoyable the following day.

If an activity like knitting or journaling is what brings you joy, you can make up a “go-bag” with the supplies you need so they’re all in one place and ready-to-go. A go-bag activity can easily be tackled in between classes on campus, while you’re waiting in the pick-up line at your child’s school, or when you have a scheduled break at work.

Suggested Supplies:

Hand Book Travelogue Drawing Book 5.5×5.5” Square https://amzn.to/3EvrQOS
Reeves Gouache Paint Set https://amzn.to/3IlBGDV
Alvin Draft Matic 0.3mm Pencil https://amzn.to/3ILkCJ8
Trekell Synthetic Watercolor Paintbrush Set https://amzn.to/3TKBYsV
Studio Series Artist Tiles (these were the first things I used because they were what I had on hand) https://amzn.to/3Sk7eP3

(Note: Amy Heyse Art is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. She is also a participant with Blick Art Materials Affiliate Program.)

From the sketchbook…

Last week, I got the chance to meet up with two of my art friends from college. We met for coffee and sketching, but ended up just talking. My friend Liz, recently started a 30 day sketchbook challenge for herself. The purpose is to challenge herself to create artwork on a daily basis. She has an hourglass that she flips and when the last grain of sand filters out of the top, she stops. The point isn’t to create something amazing, the point is to develop a habit and put aside time to do something for fun on a daily basis.

The three of us all work as artists (an art teacher, a graphic designer, and a SAHM/paint and sip instructor), and when you do art for other people as a job, it’s hard to want to go home and work on more art no matter how fulfilling it is. I really was inspired by Liz’s dedication and wanted to do something similar to develop a habit. I recently started a routine of cleaning the house on a daily basis, and 15 minutes here and there make a big difference. I decided the same would be true if I set time aside nightly to work on personal art projects.

I’ve been spending time every night working on art. The husband and I put the girls to bed, we watch some iZombie on Netflix, and then I go upstairs and work on art. I usually turn on a podcast and start drawing or painting. I’ve been working on some commission and work projects, but while one project is drying, I’ll work on another piece that’s just mine.

After doing this for almost two weeks, I can feel the positive effects. I no longer dread going up to the studio. Everything is set up and ready to go at my desk. It’s scheduled, so I’m almost programmed to just do it. It’s enjoyable because I accomplish a lot (even if it’s just a little at a time), and I can see an improvement in my technical drawing skills.

When I don’t know what to draw, I do an exercise from my eBooks by Cuong Nguyen. They’re a great resource and a little bit of instruction, even when you enjoy art, goes a long way.

Here’s some sketches from the last few weeks: