I reorganized and de-cluttered my studio Sunday...and in the process realized how many unfinished art projects I have laying around! Half painted canvases and scratch pencil drawings galore! I really should challenge myself to do something with the unfinished canvases.
I'd love some feedback from you other creative gals. I wonder how many projects you work on at a time? What do you do with projects you start and never finish ...do you revisit and rework them until you get to a point of completion? Do you repaint the background of canvases and start over from scratch? I'd love to hear more about each of your processes.
A journal entry & rough sketch for my room redo |
I've really been enjoying the Creative Courage e-course I've been doing hosted by Stephanie Levy. Last week, one of the topics focused on Improving Your Workspace. Stephanie challenged us to really take a look at our studios and envision a place where we feel relaxed, inspired & excited to work.
Part of the problem with my workspace had been that I had been adding so many things to the room that I just didn't have any place to spread out. The top of my desk was so cluttered that I had no room to lay out supplies while I was working & that was putting a slight cramp in my creativity. So I fixed it!
I started by rearranging the furniture. I picked up a new bookcase (thanks Goodwill $12.99 ~ score!) so I was able to completely clean off my desk and make a proper worktable. Not only that, I can now just swing my chair around and work easily at the desk or easel!
I'm on the lookout to find a longer worktable...but the newly de-cluttered desk is working much better already!
I may resell a lot of vintage goodies in my Etsy shop, but I hold a special place in my heart for thrifted art & books. I tend to collect a tad too many paintings & framed prints. By keeping the larger pieces of furniture offset from the wall a bit I have a place to store what isn't hanging. This is much nicer than before where it was all just lining the walls. Though I already had some inspiration pieces hanging on the walls, I filled in a few more of the open spots with some of my own art along with pieces from my Thrift Art Gallery.
New Bookcase & Art Storage |
I'm so much happier with the space now! I'm feel more relaxed and creative, and have had so many ideas generated throughout the process.
I have to admit though, I'm not the only one enjoying the new room.
Stella seems to have found her new spot too...I even caught her napping up here this afternoon without me! Silly dog :-)
I can't wait to see whats coming up this week in Creative Courage! I'm feeling so grateful that I signed up for the course! Thanks again to Stephanie & the other amazing women in the group.
Cheers ~ Lara
Bravissima!
ReplyDeleteStella is a very clever dog, I am sure she's doing some creative thinking while hanging around your studio. ;-)
I LOVE your space. It is such a wonderful mixture of ecclectic ephemera and it looks very cozy and inviting. I would love a rug like yours! You did SCORE with that bookcase. It is awasome. I have a "thing" for shelving and storage!
ReplyDeleteWell, as for me, i also have tons of half finished or abandoned projects. I just keep them and sometimes i revisit them and paint over or collage over...i figure that eventually i will get to them. It sort of bothers me that i have so many paintings that i dont complete. I wonder why i stop in the middle? But i guess sometimes i just lose my feel for it or i am easily distracted I am not sure...but your question about this has really got me thinking about it and i am going to make it a priority to pull out my stack of "wayward art" and give them makeovers! Thanks for the studio tour and the inspiration!
I love your space too :) Reorganising my art supplies always gives me inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI really only do small work, A4 size - if that, so I tend to finish what I started in one or two sittings - I prefer that, and I can even get slightly annoyed when I CAN'T finish something in one go :) But there are pieces, especially ones with a lot of emotion attached, that I sort of HAVE to leave for a bit, and it happens that they don't get finished at all - because my feelings change, for example. Mostly, I just leave them unfinished, with a bit of lettering as to why. Actually, now that I think about it, that actually MAKES them finished. Because that is what is... Anyway, that's my way :)
I hope your rearranged space gives you much creative juice! :) xx
How funny that we both tackled our work/studio space this weekend. :-) I love your studio. So colorful, cheerful and inspiring! It was such a pleasure meeting you a week ago.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that! You are so talented! I know you will finish the canvases and they will all be AMAZING!!! Loving the studio! :)
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