Juggling Murals, Festivals, and Family Life: : The Creative Circus Act

Andrea Gianchiglia Author

(And Why You're Crushing It More Than You Think)

Okay, real talk: If you've ever felt like you're starring in your own chaotic, slightly glittery version of a circus act, welcome to the club, my friend. Between painting a mural on a crazy deadline, hauling my supplies to a plein air event, wrangling teenagers at a teen arts festival, and managing life with three kids (who seem to multiply like rabbits when snack time hits), it's safe to say my life lately has been "beautiful chaos" with a side of "where's my coffee?" 🌸

But you know what? It's our world. And in this world, we may not always stick the perfect landing, but like the wise old fable says, the turtle won the race, not the caffeinated rabbit.

So today, I'm pulling back the purple curtain and sharing not only my own survival tips but some nuggets from other amazing creatives who are juggling, balancing, and thriving too. Let's get into it!

Story Time: My Week in Creative Mayhem

Last month, I took on a mural commission. You know, because apparently I thought "Sure! I can squeeze a 40-foot wall into my already jam-packed schedule." Spoiler alert: I needed ALL the coffee.

While I was battling time, fear of heights, and paint that dried faster than my patience, I was also prepping for a plein air event ("Let's paint outside where the sun melts your soul!") and helping critique works for a teen arts festival (because why not stack one more creative plate?). Oh, and did I mention the three boys who needed rides, snacks, and "Mom, look at this!" moments every five minutes? Anyone familiar with invention convention?  That was  due this week too!

It would've been easy to feel like I was failing all the things. But here's the thing: Every stroke of paint, every "I see you, buddy!" to my kids, every tiny step counted.

Progress > Perfection. Always.

Tips for Managing the Creative Chaos

1. Prioritize Like a Queen (or King!) Not everything needs to be done today. Seriously. I make a "Must Do," "Should Do," and "Would Be Nice" list. Only the "Must Do's" get non-negotiable attention. Everything else? It'll keep. It's your world, you set the rules.

2. Embrace the 15-Minute Rule Got 15 minutes? That's enough to sketch an idea, lay down a background wash, or brainstorm a blog post title (like this one, which was scribbled between baseball practices). Little pockets of time add up to big wins.

3. Outsource What You Can (Even if It's to Netflix) Sometimes "screen time babysitter" is a legit strategy. No shame. Or if you're lucky enough, delegate a few tasks to friends, partners, or older kids. You're nurturing your creativity—and modeling it for them too.

4. Protect a "Purple Hour" You know my motto: When in doubt, add purple! I have a "Purple Hour" once a week—my non-negotiable creative playtime. No deadlines. No clients. Just pure, messy, joyful creation.

5. Say No Without the Guilt You can't pour from an empty paintbrush, darling. It's okay to say no to extra events, volunteer roles, or even good opportunities if it means protecting your sanity and creative energy.

Other Creatives Get It Too

• My friend Lisa, a potter and mom of twins, blocks off "studio sprints" during nap times. She says, "It's not the long, dreamy stretches—it's the sprints that saved my art."
• Another gem, my buddy Dana (illustrator and part-time cat wrangler), sets a "two-task max" rule per day. Anything beyond that is bonus points, not failure.
• Even the greats, like Maya Angelou, often worked from hotel rooms just to get space from life's distractions.

Moral of the story? You're in great company.

Your Creative Life, Your Pace

Whether you're painting a mural, baking cupcakes, designing jewelry, or doodling while the spaghetti boils over—it's your world, and you're doing amazing.

If you ever need some flexibility to learn at your pace, my art bundles are ready and waiting! Lifetime access means you can binge or baby-step—whatever fits your season of life. And if you're looking for daily doses of inspiration, my free Facebook group is packed with creative souls who totally get it.

(PS: If you're feeling that itch for more community and mentorship, you can totally hop onto the Creative Journey Membership waitlist. No pressure—just an open purple door when you're ready.)

So here's your reminder: Progress is progress. Tiny steps move mountains. And if all else fails, add some purple and dance it out. You've got this, my creative warrior!

Now—tell me in the comments: What's your favorite way to sneak creativity into your busy life?