Showing posts with label studio organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label studio organization. Show all posts
Cleaning House (Studio)
One of the reasons I have postponed cleaning my painting area is that it requires making some decisions. Am I going to use the mica dust/flakes that I've had for 3 years and used once when I made a snow-woman creation? What about the wooden 70's canisters I was going to use for some mixed media project? And the old lamp base that doesn't work?
At the heart of these questions is "Where do I want to go with my art?" This led to thinking about what kind of creations are/will be timeless. There's a lot going on in the art world that makes me think "Cool!" and then I wonder if it will be sitting next to an 80's country geese collection at a garage sale sometime in the future. It's not that trends are bad, but you can get lost in them. I do think there is value in really studying the historic traditions in art and folk art. And there's also value in paying attention to what's going on around you.
As I clean my work area I am asking myself "Which items will I use to make a creation that is timeless and uniquely Dixie?"
Where Women (Really) Create
I do love the magazines Where Women Create and Cloth Paper Scissors Studios. I love drooling over the nicely picked up creative places. Sometimes I wonder if anyone really creates there, though. Or the people who work there must have some magical studio fairy that cleans up. Or they only show the studios of people who are naturally tidy.
I lead a group about Izannah Walker Dolls, and we have a thread going called "Where Women Really Create". What I wish is that there would be a kind of "Clean Sweep" section where these magazines would help a person rework their studios for better function.
I have some ideas about my painting table, which is an old metal garage storage unit that got plunked at the bottom of the stairs when we moved in here. I envision some shelving on adjustable tracks above the painting table. Also,instead of a painting table I could get a kitchen cabinet for one side with drawers to house stuff. Because things slide to the back of the metal shelving in my present arrangement. I need a place to hang painted doll limbs for drying.
Of course, redoing the shelving will make no difference at all unless I change my messy packrat ways. ;-) Even with my organizational challenges, I do manage to make some things!
I bet you feel really good
about yourself right now.
Grin.
about yourself right now.
Grin.
I Finally Finished!
I finished cleaning out my Creativity Zone. Yippee!
The book Where Women Create was definitely an inspiration in the final stages - it helped me focus on getting the cleanup actually done. I will show a a few before pictures - I should be embarrassed, but the before pictures show the amazing changes.
They ought to have a decorating show called, "Designed to Stay" instead of "Designed to Sell". I don't know if the show "Clean Sweep" is still out there but the process was a little like that! I really tried to think about function in my organizational process, but truthfully weeding out is really what made it more functional.
As you come down the stairs to the cellar you turn left and my painting table is right at the bottom. Just beyond the painting table through this door is my sewing room.
Now, I used to live in a teeny-weeny house and all my creativity was in bins that I hauled out and cleared away and hauled out and cleared away and hauled out and cleared away....I know many of you know what I mean. I LOVE having a dedicated space for creating. And YES I know I'm blessed, and I am so thankful.
Another shot of the painting table...
this is where all those Tomato People are born...
this is where all those Tomato People are born...
I'm thinking of skirting the table above with fabric...
As you go inside the sewing room this is the wall to the left of the door...this room is 8 1/2 by 11 feet. There is just enough room to stand between the sewing table and the ironing board.
Here's the evil box of stuffing I was determined to banish...
I decided to divide the stuffing into 4 green soft fabric bins. I can pull one out when I'm working on a doll and it's so easy! Also I added a phone down here (the jack was already there and the phone was $12). I used to hear the phone ring upstairs on the 2nd time and race to get there. Having a phone here is definitely convenient!
This is the wall that's adjacent
to the ironing board wall...
with the stuffing in the green bins below!
This is the wall that's adjacent
to the ironing board wall...
with the stuffing in the green bins below!
Here's what the floor in front of the bookcase looked like before
Here's my sewing table - opposite the door - from BEFORE!
And here's my sewing table AFTER:
My sewing table - which used to be my kitchen table at my old house. I love this table. It has little permanent marker "gifts" left by one of my kids. I bought wooden cubes on sale last year to put things I like to look at in the cubbies while I sew, etc.
I'm messy, aren't I? And this is cleaned up! I am constantly touching the fabric, laying one piece on another to check for contrast, etc. I do very occasionally refold everything but I really resisted refolding the fabric for the picture. This is how I really live. Hey! At least the fabric is IN the bins now. :-)
And here's a sign I made as a gift to myself in this process:
I've designated this 25 cent yard sale chicken as
The Creativity Zone Mascot, to peck me when I leave things messy...
Well, that's it folks. I AM going to change my ways. I think somehow I had associated messy with being CREATIVE. And sometimes that's true. But a cleared space makes room for ideas, too. I want to remember that.
Organizing Studios aka Creativity Zone
I got up this morning to do a search on organizing my Creativity Zone. I've been searching the web for ideas, and I found a reference to the book Where Women Create and I think I'm going to order that book. Here are a few other ideas I found on the web
BUT! I realize that some of you visitors here are also artists, who also have spaces to manage, and tips for organization. Sooooooo....if you have some ideas that work well in your studios, workshops, dungeons, whatever you call it, would you please comment and leave your idea? Or better yet, take a picture and write about it, and then leave a link to your blog in the comments section here? How do you organize your space? Any ideas from all you wonderful artists are appreciated! Please don't send pictures of staged rooms that you don't actually work in. AND Horrible before pictures are especially appreciated. ;-)
The thing that really gets out of hand is the felted wool I've made from sweaters and blazers that I've washed in hot. It doesn't fold well. I need a better solution for that. AND I need a better system for those little fabric leftovers. Right now I've just got them in a basket (overflowing!).
The dolls in case above are a perfect visual image for organization. Aren't they charming? I'm really into dolls and presentation boxes right now. I have a little pocketboook case that I've been painting and intend on filling with some small dollies.
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keep you from doing what you can do."
John Wooden