The Myth of Perfect Timing: Why Consistent Creators Win Every Time

Successful Artists Know That Consistency is the Key

You know that feeling when you sit down to create and some days you're bursting with ideas like a confetti cannon at a surprise party, while on others, you're staring at your screen wondering if your Apple Pencil has joined a witness protection program?

Yep, I've been there too.

Here's the truth bomb I wish someone had lobbed at me years ago: consistency beats inspiration every single time. 

Hold up, now. Before you roll your eyes thinking, "Oh great, another guru telling me to hustle till I drop.” This isn't about working yourself into an artistic puddle. This is about planting seeds of routine that'll grow into a thriving creative practice—one that actually supports your art AND your quality of life.

Ready to dig in? Let's talk about showing up for your art consistently, staying organized, and promoting your work without turning into a burnt-out creative zombie.

Why Consistency Is the Secret Fertilizer for Your Creative Garden

Here's the thing about consistency—it's not about creating masterpieces every day. (Thank goodness, because my Tuesday sketches would like to have a word about that expectation.)

It's about building the habit of showing up. Think of it like watering a plant. Skip one day? Your fern forgives you. Skip two weeks? Suddenly your poor plant looks like it went through a 40-year drought.

Same goes for your creativity. Regular tending—even if it's just doodling one flower or opening your design files for ten minutes—nourishes your creativity. And momentum? That's the magic ingredient separating the "someday I'll do this" dreamers from the "watch me build an empire" designers.

Bottom line: Small, consistent actions compound. Eventually, you get big results.

The Fine Art of Finding Time For Your Fine Art

Okay, I’m going to be totally honest with you. Your art needs you to show up. Consistently. Like, more consistently than I show up for my 6 AM yoga class (which, let's be honest, is setting a pretty low bar).

Here's how to make magic happen:

1. Find Your "Sacred Hours"

These are your golden nuggets of time when the stars align and you can actually focus without someone asking where the peanut butter lives (If you’re wondering, the peanut butter is in the same place it's lived for 10 years. Shouldn’t my teenagers be able to find it by now?)

Maybe it's: 

• 5 AM before the kids come stampeding into the kitchen demanding pancakes shaped like dinosaurs.
• 11 PM when the only things awake are your creativity and that raccoon in your trash can.
• Your lunch break while hiding in your car with a sandwich and your iPad.

The key? Guard this time like it's the last scoop of ice cream in the freezer. Make it non-negotiable.

2. Become a Weekly Warrior (Not a Daily Disaster)

Daily practice is awesome in theory, but let's be real: you're human, not a pattern-making robot. If showing up every day feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops, choose a weekly rhythm that actually works for your life.

Try this: 

•  Saturday mornings = Design sprint sessions with your favorite coffee.
•  Wednesday evenings = Creative power hour after bedtime stories are done.
•  Sunday afternoons = Pattern play time while dinner's in the slow cooker. (Slow-cookers are total lifesavers!)

Remember: consistency doesn't have to mean daily—it has to mean reliable. You and your art need to have a healthy relationship and your art needs to know when you're coming back.

3. Calendar Blocking: Schedule a Date with Your Art

Treat your creative time like your kid's dentist appointment or that parent-teacher conference. Block it out. Label it. Defend it with the fierce protectiveness of a mama bear guarding her cubs.

If someone tries to schedule over it, just say, "Sorry, I've got a meeting."

Pro tip: Set phone reminders that actually motivate you. Instead of a beige reminder like “Art time," try "Time to make something beautiful" or "Your creative superpowers await!" Because if your phone doesn't hype you up, who will?

4. Embrace the Beautiful Mess of Imperfection

Okay, so here's the other deal. The one most people don’t talk about: no matter how Pinterest-perfect your schedule looks, life will throw curveballs faster than a toddler throws spaghetti.

You'll miss days. You'll get interrupted mid-brushstroke by a "Mom emergency" (If I taped a picture of the peanut butter on the outside of the cabinet, would that work?). You'll sit down feeling like Monet and end up sketching stick figures.

And that's totally okay. 

The goal isn't perfection; it's progress. If you miss a session, don't beat yourself up. Just show up for the next one.

Give yourself grace. Building a creative routine is like tending a garden. You plant the seeds (your schedule), water them regularly (show up consistently), and weather the occasional storms (hello, real life). With patience and grace, your creativity will bloom.

Organize Your Creative Life Before the Chaos Creeps In

Consistency isn't just about showing up to create pretty things. It's also about building a workflow. It’s about creating systems that work. I know that may make your free spirits cringe, but the thing about having a professional career  is that you have to have some guardrails, some boundaries, some organization.

Chipotle is awesome, but if they operated like a lot of us tend to (or used to) you’d never know when they were open. You’d never know if they would be out of guacomole or queso. Maybe they’d be feeling pizza and that’s what they’d be serving. It would be a mess. You just can’t operate on a professional level without having some things in place to help you be organized and consistent.

• Use A File Naming System
• Batch Like a Boss
• Back It Up (Your Digital Insurance Policy)

 Need more organization magic? Check out my Creative Biz Blueprint—it's got plug-and-play templates for organizing everything from your goals to your pattern collection workflow. Think of it as Marie Kondo for your creative business, but with more colorful patterns and fewer sock-folding tutorials.

Build Confidence in Your Designs

Showing up is one part of the puzzle. The other is knowing that what you’re creating is actually market-ready. Because nothing deflates consistency faster than pouring your heart into designs that don’t quite land with buyers.

That’s where education and feedback come in.

If you’re looking for structured guidance, my Procreate Pattern Collection Masterclass will walk you through creating cohesive, professional pattern collections that are ready for licensing or print-on-demand. Think:

• 25 repeat templates
• Lessons on color palettes
• Step-by-step file prep

And if you just need a quick boost, the Designing with Insight Email Course is my free 5-day series that helps you nail composition, color, scale, and theme. It’s like a gardener’s guide, but for your patterns—ensuring you’re planting the right creative seeds from the start.

Your Creative Garden Awaits

Building a consistent creative practice isn't about perfection—it's about progress. It's about showing up for your art the same way you'd show up for a good friend: with patience, grace, and the occasional coffee bribe.

So do yourself a huge favor—mark your calendar, prioritize your work, sketch that motif, water your creative garden. Every master gardener started with a single seed. What will you plant today?