I lived in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills for 18 years ! I have my creative highs in a certain coffee shop, sitting at a certain table, facing a certain way, a cleansing breath helps to remove the mind clutter and ushers in a creative peace comes over me whispering, its time to write. At home a particular arm chair speaks to me, this is your spot. read, pray, meditate, create and simple be.
Consistency provides a safe place for creating. So many artists/designers/musicians wear the same thing every day, follow the same schedule, remove all unnecessary distractions and decisions so their imaginations can run free.
What a touching story--me too--always one more supply, a different tray, the other smoother paper, etc. I can find all kinds of ways to procrastinate--and yet, when we moved into a new space, I set up a desk in front of the window separate from my paper work, no computer on it and named it the art desk. I still can find excuses but I'm far more likely to get going and get back to something I've started when I can leave all in place. So happy for you that you have your special "spot" to continue your wonderful journey
This video made me laugh out loud! I have pen creep, I have bins, I have cords, I have the little camera that I thought would be awesome to make videos of the journey to work on my bike, and to video "whatever". Then life happens, elderly family needs care, things get packed and it's easier to procrastinate about the "doing". Thank you, I realized that I am making excuses instead of art.
Most art-making sessions involve a quick clearing of my desk space to make room to work. Having designated jars, drawers, shelves, and carts helps, but it's not enough. As I approach my 9th decade, I can't put off a more general organization. It's a slow process, but as I get rid of piles and boxes of half-finished exercises and barely touched materials, I've found more physical and mental space and time for the artwork I really want to make.
For years, when my kids were little, I didn't have any kind of studio. I used to set my oils up on the kitchen table while they were at school. I painted a 50x60” oil on my kitchen table with a small portable easel. I would get deep into a project and my kids, hubby would come in and look at what I was doing and make unhelpful comments. So I stopped again (becoming blocked being a pattern) When my eldest was away at college for a number of years and wasn't coming back, I took over a corner of her room. It was great, perfect light. Then through life's travails I moved out west, again a corner, and back east again now in a one bed. I have a corner and it’s enough. I used to have a mind palace thing where I’d imagine myself moving into an industrial loft, it helped focus my anxiety but it was never real, lately I’ve realized it doesn’t matter. All I need is a corner, I’m not planning on painting any 8 foot paintings and work mostly small now, and if I decide to, I’ll find a way.
I have a terrific large space on the fourth floor of our condo, but unfortunately, it has turned out to be almost too big in that I feel overwhelmed by the amount of art, craft and sewing supplies. I’m making a concerted effort to scale down and I have a plan for that.
A question for you: are you moving your pay in subscription to sub stack or are you keeping it on YouTube?
I can empathise. Conditions for me had to feel ‘right’, then I decided I’d leave materials out, call it play and just turn up for a few minutes or longer. And I question myself sometimes ‘ what is the art I really want to make’ . Often the question overwhelms me, so on I go, playing, and accept I’m making art often and not just at the art desk.
I’ve taken over a spare room in our home - a small room where I draw,cut,create,paint and generally just play. I, too, have regular tidy up sessions usually after I have completed something. I tend to have at least 3 different projects on the go using different mediums - so to actually finish something is a bit of a miracle and worth celebrating with a tidy-up!! My cat has her own chair (the best one of course) and she loves to be in there when I’m in full on creative mode. It’s taught me that it’s ok to be messy, that there is actually order in amongst what appears to be chaos and there are no rules about when something “should” be finished as it’s my space and I make the rules :)
Your video on cleaning out and organizing came at the perfect time. I have a move looming in the near future and was just thinking about downsizing "my stuff"!
I’ve had a space to paint in my garage; unfortunately the weather has to be right, not too cold or hot. Recently we got rid of a big old computer desk that was taking up space, and I was able to move my “studio” inside to a nice spot by a window. It’s very inviting and I don’t need space heaters or fans to keep it comfortable! Love your essays, Danny!
I lived in Scottsdale and Fountain Hills for 18 years ! I have my creative highs in a certain coffee shop, sitting at a certain table, facing a certain way, a cleansing breath helps to remove the mind clutter and ushers in a creative peace comes over me whispering, its time to write. At home a particular arm chair speaks to me, this is your spot. read, pray, meditate, create and simple be.
Consistency provides a safe place for creating. So many artists/designers/musicians wear the same thing every day, follow the same schedule, remove all unnecessary distractions and decisions so their imaginations can run free.
What a touching story--me too--always one more supply, a different tray, the other smoother paper, etc. I can find all kinds of ways to procrastinate--and yet, when we moved into a new space, I set up a desk in front of the window separate from my paper work, no computer on it and named it the art desk. I still can find excuses but I'm far more likely to get going and get back to something I've started when I can leave all in place. So happy for you that you have your special "spot" to continue your wonderful journey
And I’m so glad you’re coming along with me!
This video made me laugh out loud! I have pen creep, I have bins, I have cords, I have the little camera that I thought would be awesome to make videos of the journey to work on my bike, and to video "whatever". Then life happens, elderly family needs care, things get packed and it's easier to procrastinate about the "doing". Thank you, I realized that I am making excuses instead of art.
Most art-making sessions involve a quick clearing of my desk space to make room to work. Having designated jars, drawers, shelves, and carts helps, but it's not enough. As I approach my 9th decade, I can't put off a more general organization. It's a slow process, but as I get rid of piles and boxes of half-finished exercises and barely touched materials, I've found more physical and mental space and time for the artwork I really want to make.
Please just keep sharing so openly and honestly; I feels so good to know I’m not the only one!
Welcome home Danny. This is a very good space. I enjoyed your essay today!
For years, when my kids were little, I didn't have any kind of studio. I used to set my oils up on the kitchen table while they were at school. I painted a 50x60” oil on my kitchen table with a small portable easel. I would get deep into a project and my kids, hubby would come in and look at what I was doing and make unhelpful comments. So I stopped again (becoming blocked being a pattern) When my eldest was away at college for a number of years and wasn't coming back, I took over a corner of her room. It was great, perfect light. Then through life's travails I moved out west, again a corner, and back east again now in a one bed. I have a corner and it’s enough. I used to have a mind palace thing where I’d imagine myself moving into an industrial loft, it helped focus my anxiety but it was never real, lately I’ve realized it doesn’t matter. All I need is a corner, I’m not planning on painting any 8 foot paintings and work mostly small now, and if I decide to, I’ll find a way.
I have a terrific large space on the fourth floor of our condo, but unfortunately, it has turned out to be almost too big in that I feel overwhelmed by the amount of art, craft and sewing supplies. I’m making a concerted effort to scale down and I have a plan for that.
A question for you: are you moving your pay in subscription to sub stack or are you keeping it on YouTube?
I can empathise. Conditions for me had to feel ‘right’, then I decided I’d leave materials out, call it play and just turn up for a few minutes or longer. And I question myself sometimes ‘ what is the art I really want to make’ . Often the question overwhelms me, so on I go, playing, and accept I’m making art often and not just at the art desk.
I’ve taken over a spare room in our home - a small room where I draw,cut,create,paint and generally just play. I, too, have regular tidy up sessions usually after I have completed something. I tend to have at least 3 different projects on the go using different mediums - so to actually finish something is a bit of a miracle and worth celebrating with a tidy-up!! My cat has her own chair (the best one of course) and she loves to be in there when I’m in full on creative mode. It’s taught me that it’s ok to be messy, that there is actually order in amongst what appears to be chaos and there are no rules about when something “should” be finished as it’s my space and I make the rules :)
Your video on cleaning out and organizing came at the perfect time. I have a move looming in the near future and was just thinking about downsizing "my stuff"!
I’ve had a space to paint in my garage; unfortunately the weather has to be right, not too cold or hot. Recently we got rid of a big old computer desk that was taking up space, and I was able to move my “studio” inside to a nice spot by a window. It’s very inviting and I don’t need space heaters or fans to keep it comfortable! Love your essays, Danny!
Glad you landed here. Welcome!
Me too!