Living Simply, Creating Fully
I make fully handmade 1840s Adamson-era calotype paper negatives and ammonio-nitrate of silver (ANS) salt prints at a single vintage window, using only natural light and 19th-century chemistry to speak about grief and endurance.
There comes a time in life when you realize that in order to create meaningful work, you have to let go of everything that gets in the way—debt, distractions, unrealistic expectations, and even the traditional definitions of success. That’s exactly where I’ve found myself in the last few years.
After decades of pursuing what I thought I was supposed to want—nicer homes, newer cars, and more stuff—I came to a hard but liberating truth: those things were keeping me from the creative life I truly wanted. I’ve since begun the process of downsizing, simplifying, and re-centering my life around what matters most—my health, my freedom, and my lifelong artistic project: Pictorial Whispers.
But here’s something I’ve also learned along the way: even when you strip away the excess, the world doesn’t automatically make space for your creative calling. You have to protect it. That means building a way of living that supports—not sabotages—your ability to make art.
What follows is the Personal Wellness Plan I created for myself. It’s designed to help me live simply so I can create fully. While this plan is specific to my own life, I share it in hopes that it might inspire you to reflect on your own path—and perhaps build your own version, one that honors your unique needs, values, and creative vision.
Personal Wellness Plan — In Service of Creative Longevity
This plan is built around four core pillars that support both health and creativity:
Physical Energy, Mental Clarity, Environmental Simplicity, and Creative Rituals.
I don’t claim to have mastered all of these things—and perhaps I never will—but I remain committed to aligning with these goals and continually improving. I feel a strong sense of clarity about my mission, my purpose as an artist, and the path I’m on at this stage of my life.
1. Physical Energy
To sustain the physical demands of photography, printing, and living with intention.
- Movement: Daily walking/hiking + light stretching (20–30 minutes). Bonus: walk in silence and observe how the light changes—turn my walk into a form of study and never bring a camera. Take short breaks during the day and practice deep breathing, stretching, and take a short walks outside when possible.
- Strength: Short resistance sessions three times a week (using bands or bodyweight) to maintain strength and stamina for darkroom and studio work. When I have long printing sessions, repurpose some of the wait time into stretching exercises, resistance training, deep breathing, and visualization exercises.
- Sleep: Prioritize true rest. Lights out by 10:00 PM. Aim for 7–8 hours every night.
- Hydration & Nutrition: Keep meals simple and nourishing. Think whole foods—greens, grains, beans, fruits. No processed foods, more seasonal. Treat eating well as an act of artistic discipline and an investment in my personal and creative future.
2. Mental Clarity
To reduce burnout, stay emotionally balanced, and keep my creative vision sharp.
- Digital Boundaries: No screen time before 9am or after 8pm. Avoid any type of computer or phone screen time unless there is a specific purpose.
- Daily Journaling: Write in my journal five or ten minutes each morning or night. Write what’s on my mind—creative ideas, emotional insights, and update my darkroom diary, and anything that I need to let go of.
- Weekly Reset: Set aside one afternoon a week with no goals—no production, no tasks. Just observe, wander, read, or rest. My best ideas have come during these periods.
3. Environmental Simplicity
To shape my surroundings to support peace and creative focus.
- Declutter Regularly: Tackle one drawer, shelf, or box each week. Only keep what serves my art and my peace. This applies to home and the darkroom studio.
- Define Zones: Even in a small space, designate clear areas for rest, making art, and thinking.
- Nature Connection: Get outside daily just to be outside and appreciate nature. No goals, mission, exercise, or task. Watch the trees. Feel the breeze. Listen to the birds. Let the natural world recalibrate my nervous system and my imagination.
4. Creative Rituals
To keep the soul of my work alive and give it a consistent place in your life.
- Morning Ritual: Begin each day with something small but sacred. I like to enjoy a small up of green or peppermint tea while I reflect on my latest prints. Signal to myself that it’s time to create after this ritual.
- Weekly Studio Days: At least two or three full and uninterrupted days per week devoted to my creative work—no errands, no multitasking. Just art. No phones or computers during studio hours.
- Seasonal Retreats: Every three months, take a solo creative retreat (even if it’s just one day). Reflect, recalibrate, and plan the next arc of work. I like to go spend time tracking and finding the wild horses near my home. I get totally lost in the experience and my mind is completely focused on the wild horses and their amazing world.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to adopt this plan exactly as it is. Instead, let it be a mirror—something to help you reflect on your own creative needs and priorities. The real goal here isn’t perfection. It’s presence. It’s creating a way of life that supports your art, instead of undermining it.
If you’re on a similar journey—seeking freedom, clarity, and purpose through your creative work—I hope this encourages you to slow down, simplify, and trust that your art deserves a place at the very center of your life.
Feel free to adapt this plan. Tear it apart. Rebuild it. Make it yours. What matters is that you live in a way that allows your best work—and your truest self—to emerge.
