Studio 11

I have a complete floor in the garage loft-which is good because now I won't fall through if I have a creative stroke of genius. Half of the loft is to become my 11th art studio (the other half-family storage).

I've had a numerous spaces over the years-some more successful than others. As I think back some of the studios seem like mere figments of my overactive imagination and in reality actually were kitchenettes, living rooms, dining rooms and other various and assorted spaces that I claimed a corner in.

In graduate school I had a "real" studio in a house owned by the university. We fiber art grad students had spaces in a 4 bedroom ranch across campus. All critiques took place in the common area-the former living room. Generally these were fairly civil events-not the estrogen induced scenes that some think occur when 8 female artists are under one roof. Though there was one "studio mate" that I regularly wanted to throttle on principle alone!

The artists that were heavy into dyeing and caustic materials had spaces in the basement and those of us who had weaving or painting habits had bedrooms. I could never get use to the space though-it felt weird like "little Suzie's bedroom"- my urge was to decorate it rather than work in it. I spent much of my time looking out the window.

Over the years I've discovered that the space least likely to be conducive to art making are those that are shared with my office. For me stacks of file folders and bills are a major distraction. Those "real life elements" pull me off my purpose...just asking to be straightened or paid or read.

I had a great space in our last house (thanks loving hub!). It was beautiful...almost too beautiful. It had great light and white, white walls. Just gorgeous. I am still a painter/ fiber artist/sculptor, but now my tool of choice is an airbrush. My painting is intuitive and not particularly neat-well let's just say it-not neat at all. I am the queen of over spray. So those white walls and the office combo scene and a number of equally impressive procrastination alibi kept the production down.

So I am not finishing the new space much, except to possibly put in a ceiling and wall to separate the storage area. I am digg'in that window and can't wait to get a table up there-I think the lace curtains gotta go though.


Since the space is accessible only through a pull down stairs I am wondering if I can pull them up from the studio...hummmm..privacy!