PoppyRow

   So yesterday, the idea of inspiration was tossed around. I’d love to
hear more ideas- what’s your muse? But I want to talk about some of
these things I find most important. I do think studio space is a key
element for most people. I don’t want to say all- because I do know
of one or two rare folk who can set up at the kitchen table for a
few hours, and when dinner is ready, break it down and tuck it all
neatly away. But honestly, for the rest of us poor saps, the idea
of setting up to work can be as daunting to our creative process as
starting a new piece.
   I have found that many of my students who have issues finding time
and motivation to work simply lack the physical space necessary to
devote to the pursuit of their passion. But even a card table that
says “mine” can go a long way toward encouraging work. You’ll pass by,
glance at the piece in progress, and feel more inclined to think about
the next stage, or how to fix a troublesome area throughout the day.
You’ll realize that more time is available to you, even if in smaller
chunks, simply because everything is ready to go.
   In my studio, I’ve got good lighting, and a clunky old darfting
chair that cost me two bucks at a garage sale. Some would say that
natural light is essential to a workspace, but this isn’t always a
possibility for everyone. My studio happens to occupy the finished
basement in my home, which is better than what I had in our previous
home. I hope to keep climbing that ladder until I am state-of-the-art
complete with slop sinks and skylights. Until then- I work with what
I’ve got.
   I keep my walls covered in artwork. Things I’ve done, things
friends have done, things my daughter has done, and things I have
managed to afford from other artists. I cover the spaces inbweteen
these pieces with tidbits of everything- scraps I’ve doodled or
snippets I’ve torn from magazines, or quotes I have printed up
in a large-size font to be read at a distance, including phrases
from my artist statement. I hang anything that might be of use- frames,
reference photos, color charts, anything.
   When people walk into my space- they usually say just being there
makes them feel creative. And that’s the idea. I try to tap that
primal creative energy, and release it, uninhibited into my world.