the living art studio
the living art studio
come on in!
hello sweet creative!
An art studio is so much more than a working space with clever storage and art supplies spilled all over the place. It has a soul, a mood, a unique vibe made of the hopes and dreams of the artist, infused with the magic of the art that comes to life between its walls.
A studio is a living thing, I would even say a friend: sometimes we’re the best pals ever, joyfully in the flow, and other times we don’t get along that well, we sulk and stay away from each other. But whatever the mood, it’s definitely a relationship.
In two previous blog posts in April, HERE and HERE, I shared the recent make-over of my creative space, focusing on the practical side of things: how to set up different work stations, and creative ways to store and display art supplies. I took plenty of pictures, but there was something missing… me, the artist, and the art being made!
So I invited my photographer Christelle to come over and capture a glimpse of life in the studio, and today I’m thrilled to share some of the pictures.
inviting inspiration
If you’ve ever taken one of my online classes, you know that in my process, it all begins with inviting inspiration: gathering beauty, mindfully collecting and arranging inspiring elements that resonate with your soul, that tell your story, that make your heart sing… I especially love to bring nature into the studio: freshly cut flowers and greenery from the garden, pebbles from the beach, feathers from a woodland walk…
I make inspiration mood-boards with colors, patterns and images, art from other artists, inspirational quotes and little notes from my loved ones. I also love to flip through favorite books and rummage through boxes and baskets filled with images, textures and words. I find that it makes such a difference in my art, and in my experience of the creative process, when I take the time to make my space nurturing an inspiring.
where the magic happens
Once inspiration kicks in, it’s time to create! I love to have several different projects going on at once: from working in my art journal to creating a small series, or working much bigger at my easel! Whenever I get stuck during the process, moving on to something else really helps me get back in the flow.
organized chaos
Something else that helps me stay productive and in the flow, is to have a well lit and organized space. I love to have lots of supplies on display: the ones I use the most, but also the ones I find especially beautiful and inspiring, like those big, soft paint brushes! But I also love that everything has its place, so that my creative mess doesn’t get too much out of hand. I talk a lot more about art supplies and creative storage in my previous post, check it out!
I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse of life in my studio! (you can also take a backstage peek at the photo shoot HERE). And I hope it will make you want to spend more time in YOUR creative space, maybe even change a few things around and fall in love all over again! Because really, no matter how big or small your space is, from a corner of your kitchen to a room of your own, this is about making it work for you, making it a friend who supports your creative dreams, lights you up and makes you smile!
There will be days when it’s a total mess and you will probably change things around from time to time. Actually, since we took these pictures, I already changed my own space quite a bit! Mainly to move my painting table and easel closer to the window. It faces North-East and now that we’re deep into autumn, I treasure every little ray of natural light.
I wish you a lovely, inspired day. And if you need a little nudge to get creating, I would love for you to join me in my virtual studio and come paint with me! Find all my classes here: