With the change of seasons, come the faded summer breezes and late nights. The onslaught of the holidays, end of the year and colder temperatures can easily have many creatives and artists distracted from the work on hand. Then again, it’s not all that comfortable shivering in a barely heated studio, working on your next project with your coat on, when you could be out shopping or having a drink at a myriad of holiday parties and get-togethers with friends.

…as others become distracted, this is the perfect opportunity for you to stay focused on your career

Ever notice how gyms are emptier during winter, especially before the holidays (then packed for a week right after New Year's)

Ever notice how gyms are emptier during winter, especially before the holidays (then packed for a week right after New Year’s)

The slowdown affects everyone, in many careers. People stop going to the gym, perhaps gain a few pounds. They cuddle inside under blankets and do marathons of their favorite show. The commute to work feels more arduous and even a bit lonely sometimes, especially for those of us hidden away beneath layers of shirts, sweaters, coats, and scarves.

Distraction is not just commonplace but even welcomed at times.

But as others become distracted, this is the perfect opportunity for you to stay focused on your career – your creative career. Even as some businesses and galleries close for the season, there are still many things that you can do and should do!

Update your CV. With a busy summer that you have had, it is important that you maintain a current CV for others to review.

Update and maintain your portfolio especially when you have you complete a major show or project. Photo by Waqed Walid

Update your portfolio. Every year, the residents of Viable Studios get together to create a booklet of annual works. Though this book is not publicly available, it serves as a catalogue that we use many times internally for reference, inspiration or just nostalgia while we’re taking a break over coffee. We write notes in the book for ourselves and others and use it as a tool to help us on our endeavors for next year.

 

 

Travel. If possible, take a few days to travel. Art Basel Miami Beach happens during the first week of Dec and Armoury Week occurs a few months later in New York. These are extremely valuable times to meet other creatives, business owners and collectors to help further your career.

Send out proposals. Though this should be something you do throughout the year, you should really focus on this more so during the fall and winter. Many curators and galleries are working on their shows and exhibits months and months ahead of time, and sometimes even longer than that. If you want to stay busy next year, you need to get those proposals sent out today.

Reflect and Experiment. If you find yourself with time to spare between the holiday madness and parties and can’t make it out to travel, then reflect on your part year. Review what works and projects were successful, and critiques you may have received. Play around with new styles. You’ll never know what you’ll come up with. Many of us here at Viable Studios, get together every so often for paint night, where we just paint the night away with no specific theme, or purpose. Painting for the sake of painting. Some of our favorite works that we keep in our permanent collection are from paint nights.

Take time to reflect on the past year and what goals you want to accomplish next year. Photo by Noah Siliman

If you want to further your creative career, just like any other career, you cannot afford timely distractions or time out of the studio. Putting time in everday, even when it’s cold out, will help discipline your work ethic and can help make your creative endeavors into a lifelong career instead of just a hobby that you occasionally do.


About the author(s)

Asa is a founding member of Viable Studios and helps with Viable Studio’s operations and management of talent.

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