Ever since we moved into this house 5 1/2 years ago I’ve kept my art supplies in the office, which is in a room off the garage on the other side of the garden. This, you see, is where I envisaged making art when we first looked around the house. It seemed the ideal studio space.
I saw myself busily working away on some project or another in this space. It was ideal. It was separate, yet close by. I could spread out my works in progress in here and no one, least of all me, would care. In the summer months I could take my supplies out on the porch, where I would sketch the changing seasons of the garden or make wild and wonderful paintings inspired by the vibrant colours in front of me. A little romantic perhaps, but totally doable.
The reality was very different. I soon realised the room was cold and dark all year round, even at the height of summer. I spruced it up a little, I changed the wall colour and flooring, added a few personal bits and bobs, but still feel uninspired to create anything in here but an awful mess. And so my art supplies went mostly untouched.
When I started art journalling, my supplies slowly made their way over to the main house. I did most of my journalling at the breakfast bar in the kitchen, with Aoife at my side or at preschool. But I soon realised that although the kitchen is the perfect place for us to work on quick kiddie projects together, it is not the ideal place for me to make my art, or to keep my supplies.
Recently, something clicked. I suddenly realised that although the office may be cold and dark, that was not the main problem with the space- both of those can be changed. I realised the main reason I didn’t feel inspired to create in this room is because I had designated it an office, not a studio. Despite all my dreams for this space when we moved in, the art supplies had always taken a back seat. They’d been tucked into the back of cupboards and were hard to get to. Now I was starting to have the same problem in the kitchen.
So over the last week I have worked my butt off, turning the office into a working studio. I’ve cleared clutter, scrubbed every surface and given my art stuff priority. The room feels completely different now. I’m happy to be out here. It is still a work in progress. It still needs fine tuning to really suit my needs, and there are still a number of changes I’d like to make to the room over time; make a little window treatment, change the ceiling lights for natural day light bulbs, make some hard wearing rag rugs for the floor, replace the desk (which Alan rescued from going in a skip 8-9 years ago and is now falling apart, but has served us well since then) and so on.
Spring 2005:
Spring 2010:
(still have no idea where to store that easel for the best)
Now, let’s create!
Wow! You have created a beautiful room for creating! I love the wall color. My studio has green walls, too. It really helps to have a space just for yourself. Happy creating!!!
Man, I wished my house was this clean! You go girl.
What a difference a little paint can make. Looks like the perfect place to make art. A very happy room.
nice cheerful room with good light
Carin, What a lovely space. I can’t wait to see what comes out of it. I am impressed also with your vision statement… something I have yet to do, but I suspect just starting is the hard part. The words seem to pour out once one begins.
Thanks for coming to see my poetry journal and for your kind words.
Heather
ps. my dad is swedish… that means lutefisk every Christmas for us:)
Thanks Janet! I love the green out here. It would have been a little too bold for the main house so I’m glad I can have it here. It’s wonderful having a space of my own now.
Let’s see how long it lasts. I hope to fill it with creative messes pretty quickly.
Thanks Trudy!
Thanks Lorraine!
Thanks Heather! I spent a good few hours jotting down thoughts for the vison statement while doing other things. The actual writing time wasn’t that long cos I’d thought about it all morning.
And apologies on the lutfisk- that is one stinky tradition I am happy to live without over here!
excellent! totally transformed. it’s funny too, to think how the way we approach something colours our attitude to it. whatever it might be.
i was thinking whether you might consider implementing a few feng shui ideas as well, especially if it’s always had an odd or cold feel.
Absolutely! You know I love colour psychology so no surprise I couldn’t live with what was here before.
Have made some feng shui choices in here (the desk for example). Will do more as I go along. The odd feeling is lifting somewhat since I changed the name and meaning of the room.
Ohhh… I adore the space you have created! I am in the process of moving my art from the kitchen table into my “purple room”… which for years was supposed to be “MY” space… just never seemed to get to it…
Glad to meet another Artistic Mom, in process… just like me! YAY!
Thanks Julie! Lovely to meet you too! And oh to have a purple room…drool!
Ooh, pretty green! Mine is boring light grey, but at least it’s light and won’t give me a color cast. I’m trying to living it up with the decor. I’m trying to make my art/craft supplies more accessible, too. And my rickety old desk needs to be replaced, too! I do want to make it more of a “creative” space than an office. Offices are booooring.
I like your space. I remember you showing it a while back. Had a fantastic sewing nook if I remember correctly- I still have to bring my sewing machine and gear out here. Grey may be boring to you, but it suits your needs.
Carin, you’ve struck a nerve, girl, you really have! My creative space is also my office, and like you, I have had times where it’s difficult to get inspiration. I’m now going to look at the space with new eyes, and try to dedicate a specific spot for creating. I do so love your space! And that color, so yummy!
Thank you so much Holly for your kind comments! And it’s lovely to hear that someone else has been inspired by this!