Nadine J Walters – My Life

Question for me today: How do you make space for being creative?

My answer: With much deliberation. I’ve written before about habits, structure, and my attempts to stay organized and focused. What I’ve learned is that if I want to be creative, I have to be deliberate about making space for it. And by space, I mean both physical and mental. I’m not trying to achieve something—I’m just trying to do the thing.

In yoga and meditation, we often talk about allowing yourself to “just be.” Letting go of distractions, of the mental noise, of anything that’s taking up unnecessary space. That word again—space. You clear it out so you can bring your mind, body, and spirit together in a way that feels peaceful and calm.

The same principle applies when I’m getting ready to draw, paint, or write. I need space—actual time in the day, and an environment that supports me. I’ve been slowly building habits that help me settle into that creative space more easily. And I’m learning to create without pressure or expectation. That’s my version of letting go of the fear that no one will like or understand what I’m making. On paper or canvas, it’s just me, doing what feels right.

Creating in online studios has been helpful. I’m part of several groups, and each one offers something different—space, community, energy. But not all studios vibe the same. Some of the bigger ones are more about people telling their stories than doing the work. Nothing wrong with that—connection matters!—but it can be a little too noisy for me. I’ve started opting out of those spaces, even if the people are lovely, because I just don’t have the energy for it.

Smaller studios, on the other hand, feel so different. The focus is tighter. There’s less chatter, more quiet energy. We share, we check in, but there’s less of that “me” energy floating around. It’s peaceful. I usually leave feeling recharged, and sometimes I’ll go on to paint for hours after we finish.

This designated time in the online studio is one part of the puzzle. But I’ve also been carving out time at home for writing and drawing—and it’s really helped shape my days. I take Andy for an early morning walk, come back, eat breakfast, write this blog, and sketch my daily face for the art blog. That little routine has been working so well to spark my creativity.

After that, the rest of the day flows pretty naturally—whether it’s house stuff, yoga, or more time to make art. This week alone, I’ve watched all the course videos, completed the painting exercises, filled up pages in my sketchbook, painted a portrait, and even dove into two new art books I ordered.

I heard a saying recently that really stuck with me: Good work is the byproduct of habits. That’s exactly where I’m at right now. I can feel the momentum building—and I really hope I can keep riding this wave.