Small Comforts: Winter Edition
Circling HomeWork #46
Today’s HomeWork is short and simple, a list of some things I’ve been doing to make winter more comfortable and pleasant — small, low-effort / low-budget actions or items to stay well at home when the world outside is literally and figuratively cold.
We’re thrilled to be partnering with Paradice Palase to host a free, two-part workshop called How to Talk About Your Art kicking off in just two days. Designed to help you speak and write more confidently about your artwork and creative practice, each virtual session will include practical frameworks and tips, guided opportunities to practice what you’re learning in a low-pressure environment, and time for discussion. We’ll meet the next two Wednesdays, January 21 and 28, at 6pm ET via Zoom. RSVP using the links below!
Check out all of our upcoming events, including a free virtual zine workshop and ongoing admin co-working meetups for artists here.
If you too live somewhere cold with shorter days, what small comforts do you create or find in these months? I’m also considering how making it through the winter on a personal, home level translates to all that’s going in on in our broader communities — what corresponds, what can be done from home, what does taking care of myself permit in terms of capacity for broader care, creativity, and engagement?
I always have my quilt coat handy around the apartment to help me stay warm. It’s oversized enough that I can wear it even on top of a thick sweater or sweatshirt.
Included this in our favorite things roundup a full year ago, still going strong:
So far this winter, my go-to soup recipe of the season has been this White Bean, Rice, and Dill Soup by Naz Deravian from NYT Cooking (that’s a gift link!). If I’m feeling fancy and have the time and energy, it’s great served with Alison Roman’s Dilly Rolls.
Committing to plans in advance ensures I actually leave the apartment, because it’s really 26 degrees and windy. I want to see my friends and not bail (or, I want to not be charged a cancellation fee for my yoga class). I’ve actually gotten out to see a lot more art so far this year because of this.
Next time I go to the studio I’m bringing my small space heater, which is currently stored underneath the bed. Our studio’s skylight, while amazing for the natural light it allows, is drafty and knowing I will be cold makes me not want to go. Like, I will sometimes take jumping jack breaks to try to warm myself up, but it would be nice to not have to. Hand warmers can also be good.
We ended up staying in New York for Christmas this year, and since we hadn’t decorated before I picked up a couple strands of twinkle lights (one red, one white) at a thrift store earlier in the month while on a trip with friends. It cost literally 50 cents and has added so much warmth and coziness. Harsh overhead lights feel so much worse on days when it started getting dark at 4:30 pm, but these give off a fair amount of light when paired with the side table lamp and honestly that’s what we’ve been doing most of the time. We’ll see, but I’m thinking they’ll stay up until spring is much closer.
Similarly, lighting candles adds warmth and a feeling of intention. While scented candles are nice, I like having unscented tapers too to light when cooking or eating a meal so the smells won’t conflict with whatever’s on the stove.
This is perhaps just a me problem, but I have been making sure to always have gloves with me when I’m out and about instead of telling myself I’ll just put my hands in my pockets. Same with having a hat on hand. It really does make your whole body warmer.
In terms of what I’ve been wearing, it’s more or less been a rotation of three wool sweaters I have at the moment. A t-shirt underneath plus comfy pants of some sort (jeans, black pants, or sweats if I’m staying in), Chelsea boots or my platform clogs and I’m good to go. It’s my winter uniform of the year.
While I am definitely planning to get myself into more of a routine with going to the studio at scheduled times, I’m also making sure to keep drawing materials at home (sketchbook, colored pencils, nice pens) at home in case I don’t make it to the studio on a given day. I’m making my best effort to get back in the habit of drawing daily, and from observation much more frequently too.
I love Erika’s solution of keeping fun markers out in a beautiful candy dish on her coffee table to prompt sketching more when sitting around. Inspired to do something similar! I like that it also makes it easy for others in your home to pick up and draw too if they want.
