Summer Studio Rhythms: Adjusting My Art Practice with the Seasons
Enjoying the lake and summer sun!
Summer brings a welcome change of pace to our household. The school schedules, homework routines, and quiet mornings that shape much of the year give way to family adventures, spontaneous outings, and long days spent enjoying the beautiful Montana weather. As both a mother and an artist, I look forward to this season every year, but I would be lying if I said it doesn't require some adjustments.
During the school year, I have settled into a rhythm that allows me to spend consistent time in the studio. I know when I can work, when I can teach, and when I can focus on the many moving parts of running an art business. Once summer arrives, that routine changes dramatically. With the kids home, my quiet studio hours are interrupted more often, and flexibility becomes the name of the game.
I am incredibly grateful to work from home and have the opportunity to spend these summer months with my children. At the same time, balancing family life and creative work can be challenging. Over the years, I have learned that fighting against the season rarely works. Instead, I try to adjust my expectations and routines to fit the realities of summer.
Here are a few ways I adapt my art practice during these busy months.
A beautiful silhouette of my daughter on an evening while camping.
Adjusting My Expectations
One of the biggest changes I make each summer is simply adjusting what I expect from myself.
During the school year, I typically spend between 25 and 30 hours each week working on my art business. Those hours include painting, teaching, preparing workshops, marketing, and all the behind-the-scenes tasks that come with being a working artist.
Once summer arrives, maintaining that same schedule often becomes unrealistic. Rather than putting pressure on myself to keep up with my usual workload and then feeling frustrated when I cannot, I intentionally scale back my expectations. My goal shifts to something more manageable, usually around 15 to 20 hours per week.
At first, reducing my work hours felt uncomfortable. Like many artists and small business owners, I worried that slowing down meant falling behind. What I have found, however, is that giving myself permission to work less during these three months actually makes me more productive when I am in the studio.
When I let go of the guilt and accept that summer has a different rhythm, I can focus more fully on both my work and my family. That balance creates a much healthier mindset and allows me to enjoy the season rather than constantly feeling pulled in two directions.
A view from the top of Blacktail Mountain.
Protecting Studio Time
Another adjustment I make is treating my studio time as something valuable and important.
This can be easier said than done, especially with children at home. Thankfully, as my kids have gotten older and more independent, this has become much easier to manage. They understand that when I am working in the studio, I need focused time to create.
One strategy that helps is breaking my work into smaller chunks. During the school year, I may spend five or six uninterrupted hours painting. In the summer, that is rarely possible.
Instead, I aim for shorter sessions of two or three hours at a time. While those sessions may not seem as productive on paper, I have found that focused work is often more valuable than simply logging hours. Shorter studio sessions allow me to stay connected to my creative practice while still being available for family activities and summer adventures.
Hiking with my family provides many artistic photo opportunities.
Taking Art on the Go
One of my favorite parts of summer is the opportunity to gather inspiration outside the studio.
Many of my paintings begin with observations from everyday life. Whether it is the way sunlight reflects across the water, the colors of a wildflower field, or the atmosphere after a summer rain, I am constantly collecting ideas that may eventually find their way into a painting.
Because of this, I try to bring my art supplies with me whenever possible. A small sketchbook, watercolor kit, camera or just my cellphone can easily fit into a bag and travel along on family outings.
Not every creative moment needs to happen in the studio. Sometimes a quick sketch at a park, a photograph from a hike, or a few notes scribbled in a sketchbook become the foundation for future work. Summer provides endless opportunities to observe and record the world around us, and I try to take advantage of those moments whenever I can.
My travel watercolor kit.
Planning Week by Week
Summer schedules can change quickly, which means I have to be more intentional about planning my work time.
Rather than relying on a fixed daily routine, I often look at our family calendar one week at a time. I identify windows where I can dedicate time to painting, teaching preparation, or business tasks and build my schedule around those opportunities.
Some weeks that means early morning studio sessions before the rest of the house is awake. Other times it means working in the evening after a busy day of activities. I often try to squeeze in a few productive hours while the kids are spending time with friends or participating in their own activities.
The key is remaining flexible. What works one week may not work the next, and that is perfectly okay.
A beautiful photo opportunity while huckleberry picking with my family.
Finding a Rhythm That Works
Every season brings its own opportunities and challenges. Summer may not allow for the same structure and consistency I enjoy during the school year, but it offers something equally valuable: time with family, new experiences, and fresh inspiration.
Rather than trying to force my usual routine into a season where it does not fit, I have learned to embrace a different rhythm. By adjusting my expectations, protecting dedicated studio time, taking my art on the go, and planning with flexibility, I can continue creating while fully enjoying the summer months.
Ultimately, it is not about achieving perfect balance. It is about finding a rhythm that works for all of us and making room for both creativity and the moments that make summer special.
As summer unfolds, I encourage you to pay attention to the rhythms of your own season. Whether you're creating art, tending a garden, traveling, or simply spending time with family, there is value in embracing the opportunities each season brings. If you'd like to follow along with my latest paintings, workshops, and studio updates, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter or visit my website. I'd love to share the journey with you.
