Right now, Klee and I should be in the studio. I should be wrestling with a canvas and she should be making something shiny and ancient-looking. Instead, we are currently buried under a mountain of receipts, spreadsheets, and what I like to call “other stuff.” You know the that vague, soul-sucking category of adult responsibilities and uninvited paperwork that seems to multiply in the dark like evil gremlins.
It is tax season, the time of year when the government asks, “So, exactly how many tubes of paint did you buy in July, and was that a ‘business expense’ or a cry for help?”
Just remember, even when you are stuck doing paperwork, you are still an artist. You don’t stop being a creator just because you’ve traded your paintbrush for a calculator. I’ve realized that it is entirely possible to have fun even when you are doing things that have absolutely nothing to do with your art. In fact, if you can make it fun, then it is not as much of a drag. Of course, the smart thing to do is just hire someone… but if you are anything like Klee and I, you will be tackling it yourselves because…
I don’t know why. Either way, here is what we do to make it fun.
1. Turn It Into A Game!
Listen, the first time we did our own taxes over 15 years ago, we cried. There was no fun and games. However, we have learned a lot over the years and are at a point where we can make the process fun. When Klee and I are tackling our taxes, we turn it into a weird sort of performance art. We make it a challenge. Who can find the best deduction? If you treat the mundane tasks like a scavenger hunt for your own life, the “boredom” starts to lose its power over you.
2. Put on the Financial Cape
As I’ve said before, you have to wear the financial hat to keep the art hat. But nobody said the financial hat has to be boring. I like to imagine I’m a high-stakes accountant for a rebel alliance. I’m not just “paying bills”, I’m funding a creative revolution. Keeping our overhead low and our budget strict is the only reason we get to keep doing the fun stuff. When you look at your taxes as the price of admission for your dream life, they get a little easier to stomach.
3. Staying True Through the Drama
Then there’s the “other stuff” that isn’t paperwork. The drama, the life surprises, the things that try to knock you off your North Star. It’s easy to get grumpy when you feel like your time is being stolen. But even in the middle of a “bad Tuesday,” you can choose your energy. I’ve found that if I approach the “other stuff” with the same curiosity I bring to a new painting, the drama doesn’t stick as much. I’m just an artist observing a very strange, very bureaucratic world. It’s all material to be shared one way or another.
4. The Celebration of the Small Wins
When we finally finish a batch of numbers, we take a break and celebrate. We high-five over the fact that we survived another round of being “responsible adults” before we dive into the next batch.
The secret to living the artist life isn’t about avoiding the mundane, it’s about refusing to let the mundane turn you into a drag of a person. You can bring beauty, love, and joy to just about anything. Okay, maybe not “everything” but you can definitely bring some self joy and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
If you’re stuck doing something today that feels like the opposite of creative, remember this: you are still the one holding the pen. Whether you’re signing a painting or a tax form, do it with your own flair. Don’t let the “shoulds” and the “must-dos” drain your battery.
Focus on who you are and keep your sense of humor intact. The studio will still be there when the paperwork is done, and you’ll be a lot more focused when you get there because you didn’t let the “other stuff” steal your spark.
Now, I’m going back to this spreadsheet. wish me luck!
