New Studio: Progress, a Quick Tour and Some Thoughts and Inspirations
Over the last month I’ve been focused on moving my studio into its new space (maybe you saw a sneak peek in my most recent Joy Letter or in my June Garden Tour video).
My studio had been in a room on the second floor of our home and I moved it downstairs to a room overlooking my garden. I’m nearly finished arranging and organizing.
Want to take a peek?
The most important thing for me as I’ve been creating my new studio, is making sure the space is functional, inspiring, joyful and calming.
It’s meant a lot of decluttering and purging. Cleaning out closets and drawers. Thinking hard about what I need and what I don’t need.
I know this, like my other creative spaces, will be a work in progress. I’m taking my time with it and (other than a couple of moments of frustration and panic) I’m savoring the process.
Storage is always a challenge in any creative space.
One of the great things about this room is the huge closet along one wall.
The doors are awkward (and in my opinion, ugly), but I’m loving how the interior workspace is shaping up.
When this was our bedroom it was a terrible closet with cheap wire organizers that were here when we moved in. We (finally) pulled them out and Matthias has been building shelves and a work table inside for me.
I’ve moved my computer desk into the closet with all of my technology. I love that I can close the doors and literally unplug.
This is also where I’ll have my shipping station and store all my paintings, prints and other inventory — finally, everything for wrapping and shipping my packages is all in one place!
It’s not quite done, but don’t worry, I’ll share it when it’s finished.
Although I love having the business side of things hidden away, it’s important I keep my art supplies where I can see them and easily grab what I need.
On the wall beside the door to my studio, I added shelves for my sketchbooks. The filled books are on the top and the in-progress books are on the bottom.
The cabinet beneath holds art supplies and odds and ends as well as my sweet vintage typewriter.
The rest of my art supplies live across the room on more shelves and on my rolling cart.
The window over my painting table looks onto the side yard and back gate. A batch of self-seeded sunflowers will be opening just outside the window. Birds and squirrels often sit on the fence making me feel closer to nature.
I want my studio to be an extension of my garden. And my garden to be an extension of my studio.
By moving my studio here, I’m blurring the lines between my two creative spaces.
The other window looks directly into the garden and will be replaced by sliding doors (I marked out their approximate location on the wall with tape so I can plan around them).
Sometimes I just sit and look out and imagine what it will be like for my two favorite areas to be connected. To be able to step out from my studio into my garden. To be surrounded by flowers. For my inspiration to be right there. I imagine looking out in the middle of winter and watching birds at the feeders.
The estimated arrival of my new doors is November and although on the one hand I’m impatient to have things “finished”, I’m also grateful for the reminder to take things slow.
Another challenge in all of my workspaces has always been lighting.
In my new studio, Matthias suggested I try one of the overhead work lights he uses for his business fixing computers.
When I first turned it on, I wasn’t sure I liked it — it was too bright! — but when I sat down to paint I was amazed by how well I could see.
My studio isn’t yet finished. I still have bits and pieces to figure out.
I’m on the hunt for a comfy chair and a rug. I need a better solution for all of my books (and the magazines I haven’t yet moved in). I need to decide whether I want to set up a separate, dedicated spot for filming or just continue to use my painting table.
I know the sliding doors will make a big difference in lighting and in the flow of the room, so I’m looking at this set-up as temporary.
Even though the space is still in process, I’m loving it.
Change like this feels good. Energizing. And a new room is a perfect chance for a fresh start.
Which is just what I needed.
Clara seems to approve, too.
I’d love to hear about your creative space.
What’s your favorite thing about it? What are your biggest challenges? What creative solutions have you discovered? What would your dream space look like? Where do you like to look for design inspiration?
I’m guessing you’re probably like me and love getting a look into other artists’ studios. I shared some links of inspiring workspaces in a post I wrote just over two years ago on planning an ideal workspace, but I thought I’d share some more here, too.
My favorite magazines and books with inspiring creative workspaces:
Life in the Studio by Frances Palmer
Making a Life by Melanie Falick
Studio tour blog posts and videos from other artists:
More about my former studio:
The post I mentioned above also looks back at my studio spaces over the years (and includes lots of suggestions for planning a creative space)
Another post is a reminder that our creative spaces’ imperfections mustn’t keep us from following our dreams
And, finally, here’s a video tour of the space
I hope you’re making your creativity a priority. Even if you don’t have a dedicated room for your creative work, don’t let it stop you from creating.