Closing the Iron Door

The Art Studio Door

In the book, "The Artit's Way," by Julia Cameron, is a technique called 'Closing the Iron Door.' She might have said, "Slamming the Iron Door," which sounds more intentional.

Julia speaks about the importance of shutting out the world and all its problems, or...people with all their problems, in order to prioritize our creative time and space.

What a great concept...in theory.

Most of us live with others and/or pets. We have extended family and friends. We have bills to pay and household issues to solve. We have schedules and stress over those schedules. None of it is easy to shut out "just so we can create."

The mental concept itself is freeing, though. At times when my mind is a gerbil, oh, maybe at three in the morning, I stop myself and imagine slamming a huge iron door in an imagined house. For safe measure, I add one of those medieval iron arms that crosses it and locks into place. I can say, it feels fabulous.

My Imagined Iron Door

Doing it in my real life is more difficult. It's not that I can't declare my needs and have them honored. I'm fortunate that way. It's that I feel remiss if I'm not pulling my weight or if I'm neglecting people or duties. That is a mindset and a falsehood. Still, these thoughts pull on me as I negotiate with myself to claim "me" time.

Truth is, I can get lost for hours when left alone. I can start painting at noon and before I know it it's seven in the evening. That would be fine if I lived alone, without people and pets, but that is nothing I'd want.

I'm fortunate to have a supportive mate who takes care of things while I sequester. Still, it feels unfair and insensitive. Prioritizing my relationships is equally important. Balance seems to be the key and very hard to manage.

I heard recently that a creative person needs to "schedule" a regular time each day as art time. We are to look at our daily schedule, all we need to do, and find a consistent window in which to claim "Mine."

I did that for a while. I'm generally free around eleven in the morning and could work until about one o'clock. I put a sign on my door, "Do Not Disturb." Unfortunately, my dogs can't read yet, so they howled at the idea that I wasn't accessible to them. So, okay, they can come in. Shut the door. Howls now because they can't get out. No one else howls when I leave them, so I succumb.

Buddy and Scotty: The Howlers

The thing is that most creative people don't become inspired on a schedule. We have creative impulses in the shower, in the middle of the night, or while making the bed. That impulse must be acted upon, not delayed until eleven o'clock. It must be followed through until we have satisfied the creative itch.

So, what shall we do? It's a conundrum.

Perhaps it begins with taking ourselves seriously as artists/creators. Many artistic people will say it's just a hobby or they're dabbling in art. Julia Cameron would say, "If you write, you're a writer." So, if we paint, we are artists. If we declare, "I am an artist, and I'm going to work now", then maybe our mindset will shift.

Another solution would be to find a studio outside the home and go there to create as if it were a job with an end time.

Each year I set a goal. Two years ago, my goal was to create a 'frame-worthy' watercolor. This year it was to create a frame-worthy oil portrait. I think next year's goal will be to "Slam the Iron Door" shut in honor of my art and process, be it in my home studio or a rented one.

A good goal.