Why Rest Makes Me a Better Pet Portrait Artist
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Being an artist is amazing… but you know what is tough? Actually giving yourself permission to rest.
Like many creatives, I have spent a lot of time caught up in the cycle of doing more, pushing harder and sometimes feeling guilty for slowing down. But recently, I had a moment that reminded me why rest is not only important but essential.
Celebrating a Big Win
I have been working as a pet portrait artist in Glasgow for almost a year now.
It has been a journey filled with learning, experimenting and gradually building my little business.
And recently, I reached a milestone that felt huge to me. I sold my first original drawing at an exhibition. That feeling of someone connecting with my art enough to take it home was incredible, and I knew I wanted to celebrate.
I keep a little “celebration jar” with ideas written on slips of paper. When something good happens, I pick one at random. This time, the slip said: a guilt free lazy morning.
Giving Myself Permission to Rest
At first, it felt almost wrong. I am so used to filling my days with commissions, admin, or planning my next project. Sitting with a book and a coffee in the morning, without pressure to be productive, felt unusual.
But it also felt wonderful.
I read. I watched a bit of telly. I just let myself be still for a while. And do you know what? When I came back to my desk, I felt more creative, more focused, and more productive than ever.
Rest is not wasted time. It is fuel.
The Artist’s Balancing Act
Being an artist is more than creating. It is learning when to pause.
Without those pauses, burnout creeps in quickly. Especially when you work for yourself and every commission feels personal, it can be easy to fall into the trap of “just one more drawing” or “I’ll rest later.”
But allowing space to breathe actually helps me to show up better for my clients. When I create custom pastel pencil pet portraits, I want to give each one my full energy and attention. Taking time to recharge ensures I can do that.
How Do You Rest Without Guilt?
This experience made me wonder: how do you recharge? Do you find it easy to rest, or does it feel like a battle?
I would love to hear your thoughts. For me, that guilt free lazy morning was the perfect reminder that celebrating wins and allowing ourselves to slow down can make us better, not worse, at the work we love.
✨ If you would like to see what I have been working on, you can explore my Portfolio of pet portraits, find out how to order your own on my Custom Commissions page, or read kind words from clients on my Testimonials page.
Get in touch now for a quote.