Creating Art with a Newborn

What most people said:

I was trolling the interwebs when I found this article today. It really hit home. Over the course of my pregnancy, I was frequently told by friends, some family members, and other artists that I wouldn’t be able to do art anymore when my turtle baby was born. I’m fairly (okay, extremely) stubborn and don’t react well when I’m told that I can’t do something that I’m 100% capable of doing. Want to give me advice? Great! I’d love to hear it. However, if you want to tell me that I will be limited in a specific way then I’ll just work ten times harder to overcome said limitation.

On Creating Art with a Newborn

My turtle baby is 7 weeks old and I’m pleased to say that I’m still creating art. I don’t have as much time or energy as I previously did but I have found that, with some creative shuffling, I still get work done. Sketching, looking up reference images, writing e-mails/blog posts/social media updates all occurs while the turtle eats. When she sleeps I’m able to work on larger projects. I sacrifice longer showers, naps, and personal time to be able to work but it is worth it.

Behind the stubborn shell

To be honest, as the article mentions, motherhood has improved not only my life but also my art. If anything, motherhood is a huge exercise in learning. I’ve learned is to use my time more wisely and have learned to more fully embrace and absorb each moment that I’m in while I’m in it. Patience for myself, my turtle baby, and others is growing. I’m learning to utilize more tact in my daily interactions while maintaining honesty. I’m learning to appreciate life and enjoy each moment to its fullest. Because of my turtle baby, I’m happier, better balanced in my priorities, more full of love, and overall a better human being. Frankly, I’d never trade this experience for anything.