September Waters II, 2014 – Michaela Harlow – Pastel on Handmade, Deckle-Edged Paper, 12″ x 14.5″

It’s been a busy time, and I’ve been struggling to maintain solid studio hours lately. I know most artists fight this battle. Many things compete for our attention, and the amount of undisturbed time required to create inspired work is significant.

Some days it’s easy to bounce back and forth between phone calls, emails, dog-at-the-door, texts and myriad distractions. But other days, it seems impossible to focus. I honestly don’t know how artists manage to create work in chaotic situations. I’ve always needed isolation and quiet to produce my best work. Today was a good day; filled with long, uninterrupted hours of silence and calm.

September Waters II

 I love working in the studio on these bright, cool, late summer days. I like to hit the trail for a 3 mile run in the afternoon to shake loose and catch the last rays of sunlight. If only we could make this time of year stretch just a little longer.

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