Treat your Studio like Sacred Space
 

Your studio is where you create from yourself. I believe our studios should be sacred and almost a little holy. They are a place where we should perform ritual that almost bounds on the religious.

I have completely redesigned my studio after seeing Bill Whitaker's. I painted, cleaned, blocked off windows, and got rid of tons of old art supplies that I knew I would never use again, but was keeping anyway. Anything that did not directly equate to making art I took out. I even created a little altar to "the Muse" on one shelf.

After the transition, my studio really became a place where I wanted to spend time. I have developed this morning ritual and this evening ritual.

In the morning, I will go in, put some music on, burn a little sweetgrass (incense), and sit and look at what I did the previous day for about 5 minutes. Then I prepare my paints and palette for the day.

In the evening, have taken to going into my studio a few minutes before I go to bed. I put on some music, and study what I did for the day and think about what I need to work on tomorrow. I then clean my palette, rub a little walnut oil into it, polish it, and hang it on the wall. Next I clean my brushes I used that day, dry them, and put hair conditioner in them. Finally, I clean up a bit, burn a little sweetgrass (incense), and take the trash down. Then I sleep.

It has made a profound difference on how I look at my art and the creative process.

What is your studio like? What rituals do you perform, if any, to get you oriented to painting, or just enjoy your studio space?

Here is the tranisition:

BEFORE
http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com/My...Before-400.jpg

AFTER
http://www.fineportraitsinoil.com/MyStudio1-400.jpg

Reflection is good
 

I have a sitting area close to my easel where I can view my current work in progress. I also have a pretty good library of books within arms reach. There I enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and study or just reflect. I sometimes wonder if I chose this profession or if it chose me.

Reflection is good in that it helps me to evaluate how far I've come and what my needs are to get to the next level of accomplishment. A good place to do that helps to maintain a peace about my work.

Morris,

I agree that reflection is a big part of art and it is vital in your space. Think about the importance we as a society put on buildings like libraries. These are places of reflection, study and often creation as well. The atmosphere is quiet and almost reverent. It is wonderful to create such a space in your home that is centered around your creativity. Someday, I would like a studio large enough to accomodate a complete sitting area, a little sculpture area, and one wall with all my favorite paintings.

Sacred space
 

Well, I work in chaos. The entrance of the house is the dining room, which is now my studio. I've taken the majority of the dining room table and the bookshelves, now all covered with paint and other miscellaneous stuff. Last Sunday I made birthday dinner for my stepson and we ate in the family room, on the floor. Birthday cake with 22 lit candles was exciting served oriental style. We have the remnants of four grown children stored in every room in the house (including one of the children). Add one big dog and three cats and life can be hectic.

I've been considering moving my painting to the basement. I used the entire basement for my quilting business and there would be a lot of room if I sold or donated my sewing supplies (I had a fourteen foot quilting machine, and still have a table that is 12'x5'. Does anyone work in a basement successfully? I have color corrected flourescent light already.

Right now the only sacred space is in my mind. When painting, I hear and see nothing that goes on around me. I play my favorite music but don't notice when the cd is over. I have often sat down on cat (Snickers), or tripped on dog (Zoe). God grant me the serenity!

Michael,

I love the muted green on your wall. It makes me want to repaint my studio, were it not such a hassle to get it cleaned out and organized.

Is there a reason that muted greens or browns are preferred in art studios or is this just a trend?

I am amazed that you can get away with reflection time. I run through the house and do my chores as fast as I can just to gain more time at the easel.
I literally live at the easel and already feel mighty guilty for it.

To reflect at one's progress and set goals is a wonderful idea. Setting goals is no problem for me, but reflection on how I am progressing makes me very depressed and unsatisfied. I think its safe to assume that most of us have idols whose work we admire and aspire to come close to, although their skills seem eons away from ours. How do you keep yourself from getting utterly frustrated?

Room to dance
 

My original studio/office was the smallest 3rd bedroom in my house. Both it and my bedroom face north, but the light is shaded by the wrap around porch.

When my daughter moved away to college and the pursuit of the American Dream, I took over her room, much to her surprise. "What no shrine?"

However, this room faces south and I'm not crazy about that. I'm contemplating switching again, putting the studio up front in my bedroom and vice versa. Either way, this extra space has given me a lot more backing-up room.

I once placed the drafting chair in front of my easel, but after kicking it out of my way a dozen times I've moved it back to the drafting table for good. I now paint standing. I've been known to paint myself into a trance and not move from that spot for hours on end, which stocks me up a bit.

My computer center is at a 90 degree angle from the easel area which is where I reflect, read and write. This gives me time to sit and contemplate my work, both ahead and just finished.

I have a bad habit of not being able to stop, though. Once my brushes have been cleaned for the day and my palette is covered, I now find I have to get out of there or I'll grab a brush for "just this one little thing" and start all over again.

This room IS my sanctuary. I've added random 36x36 blocks of cork board, to which I tack anything that I might want to use some day, and I've added a small stereo. The music has turned out to be my timer. I put in 3 CD's, Chopin and friends or J. Arif Verner type and set it to shuffle.

When the play stops, I take a break. This should save my knees in the future. I pulled the doors off the closet and have set up a series of movable shelves that I use for still life set-ups.

Using Wiremold, I've fashioned a track lighting system in there where I can control the light source and intensity. (I made my living as a lighting consultant for years and get all of this a factory cost.)

P.S. Read up on C.R.I color rendering index. Just because your light has a Kelvin temperature close to that of sunlight, doesn't mean it has a good C.R.I. Don't buy the new GE reveal. That pretty much sums it up. Oh, I've just added a dog bed. Hopefully the dog will learn to use it so I will stop stepping on her as I back up!

I managed to get the best room in the house and..
 

I have only had my own studio for about 6 months, and I can't see how I managed to survive without one. Not so much about "where did I paint before" as I have only been painting for 18 months or so, but where did I escape to before.

My studio is definitely sacred. It is the room I enter as soon as I make myself a coffee in the morning. I spend any avaliable time in there, and I tend to be creating a pattern of habits already. It is the only place in the house where family leaves me alone, and time flies by when I am there.

I have a radio which I turn on using the "sleep" function, so it turns itself off each 60 minutes. That way I can monitor how long I am there. I have organized my things. However it is not always tidy. I think I am more creative in unorganized surroundings. I think having the studio really helps me stay focused on my creativity, and I can switch off from all other daily duties.

A question about north facing windows: I am in the southern hemisphere, and my studio has 3 sides of windows, northfacing being a bit smaller than the 2 large 2 metre east and south windows.

Is this an ideal situation? There is so much talk about north facing windows, and I actually have a blind on the north window and use the large east/south ones more. I have ample light really, and tons of sunny days, so I haven't really come across any problems yet. I paint with the east window behind my left shoulder. :?

I have been trying to post a four paragraph response to Lisa, but the system won't take it. Cynthia, is there something wrong?

Michael,

For whatever reason, I can

Michael,

:) You were only one of two posts this morning when I happened upon your wonderful post about your sacred place to be. I posted a wonderfully descriptive passage that I suddenly felt so warm and cozy about due to your previous writings and zip-p-p-p-p-p ----something happened, my pc went off and out with it my heart felt message. So here goes again although you know how it is when it

Lisa,

Down Under, it's south-window lighting you want, if you're going for the counterpart to the northern exposure often described by those on the other side of the equator. The goal is simply to avoid lighting that moves around on you, as will happen when depending on light from windows through which the sun shines directly.

Thanks, Steven
 

Thanks, Steven, for clarifying that, I thought it might be better "upside down" Down Under. I paint in front of the south window. Perhaps I should re-arrange my easel so that the south light is from behind my right shoulder!? Hmmmm....

Anyway, thanks. I think I read somewhere you were based in Aussi at one stage. Today in Queensland it is 33. Hot!

So far, what makes my studio a sanctuary and the place that I most want to be is the fact that my paint is in there!

My studio is much messier than Michael's "before" picture but I have been thinking I should tidy it up a bit. However that would take away a day when I could actually be painting, so tidying may have to wait!

Michael,

I can now see the initial studio images, and I wonder if all that glare off the highly varnished doors in front of your easel isn't distracting? Likely the photo was taken from an angle that exaggerated the reflection, but I'd still appreciate your observations.

Steven: I am Still "Short Posted"
 

The light was not as intense as it appears in the pic.

Sacred space
 

After reading Steven's post about his sacred space, I'm feeling quite grateful for my chaotic, messy, noisy, overcrowded, warm, dry, well lit, ghost free, aromatic (food), large (kinda), and loving space!

Hmm
 

Michael, I think the point with Bill's elegant studio and now your's is about attitude and visual reminders.

Have you read the story of Sargent's portrait he did of WB Yeats? Yeats was rather well-dressed and Sargent remarked on this to which Yeats said, "I dress well to remind myself that what I do is important."

Hi Michael,

I thought this was kind of amusing (meaning my spaces) and relates to my disorganized thinking in the "plan ahead" thread.... These are photos of my studio:

I do keep, nice music. I love the young Josh Groban's CD for working here. I have my art history books which I shelve under the piano, my pastel work books behind my stool in apple crates from VA, cans of fixative which I do not use normally in a wine rack that supports the old stage coach chest with my towels and other stuff in it. I try to keep it in order, and have found the wonderful box files a great storage tool for pastels. Another view:

Now contrast the above with my "graphic" studio or office. It is a larger space and custom built to fit. Unfortunately it is on the lower level away from windows (done on purpose because of the equipment). It is usually in total disarray unless a client is coming over. My wonderful music is replaced by Rush on the radio. : oops:

What I didn't photograph was the floor with my two servers for above. But also the grave yard of non-used Macintosh equipment (I am a MAC addict). And all the stuff everyone wants to store since they are painting the main room outside my office. Another view:

Elizabeth,

Great pics. It's nice to see that you have a little sitting area. I believe that it is also important to keep the computers away from the painting area to minimize distractions like forever checking and posting on forums like this - a problem I fight daily. :)

Steven: A longer explanation now that I can: my easel is right in front of those doors, and they are pretty shiny, but I don't really get any glare from them if you stand directly in front. Also, the light coming in was normal north daylight, but it looks in the photo like the sun was about 2 feet away from the window - another fact of photo distortion - light sources always appear brighter than they are in reality.

Lisa: I had typed a long message to you about hemispheres and how the sun tracks through the sky based on where you are, but could not post it, sorry. The gist of it has already been discussed, so I won't reiterate it. I might put your easel so that your nice even south light comes down on it at a high raking angle. You may need to block off the lower part of your window to make that work. Here they make blinds that go from the bottom to the top and they work really well.

Elizabeth, looking at your work space I wonder which one truly reflects you. In which one are you the most comfortable, the utter clutter or the fully organized? I have found that at times my studio will look like a hurricane hit it. It makes me so on edge that I can't concentrate on my work, before I clean up. The same holds true for my kitchen. I have to have everything cleared away, no dirty dishes before I can start making a new mess. I wonder what our little quirks mean and how it affects our ability to be successful artists. Any psychologists online?!

Michael...thanks!
 

What a shame your long post didn't make it to the forum. Thank you anyway for your time in answering my questions. I have re-evaluated where my easel should be, and have moved it already. I think to a better placement. I am still trying to do something about the other problem you mentioned...moving the pc away from the painting area. I did make it out of reach, but noticed I scoot along the floor on my chair when I hear I have a message to reply to. The one benifit of that is at least that MAKES me move back and look at my painting from a distance. And the longer the message, the longer I sit back and focus on the painting. So it isn't all bad!

I have never heard of upside blinds DOWNUNDER! :D

Beth, surely you're referring to the Band, and not the conservative gentleman. :o

Enzie, I actually love both of my places, the computer will always facinate me and drawing will always make me hummmmm!

Steven, of course I listen to Rush, then I turn on a little Aerosmith, Blue Oyster Cult, Peter Frampton etc..... lol!

Phew! That makes me feel better. Listening to Limbaugh while painting would make me frantic! Not that hard rock wouldn't do the same, but Rush L. is so crazy I would be snapping brushes!

Michael, rest easy. I was talking about the office space - not the studio. I would go nuts listening to anything that wasn't contemplative there. I find the most irritating thing to be the phone or the kids asking for a ride to volleyball. I tend to lose my balance while in the studio. I want the rest of the world to just go away! Along the lines of music: I like Chant (that Marvin illustrated the CD cover for). I like to play Taize. (sp?)

Hello Michael,

I had a revelation about a year and a half ago. I realized that the degree to which I could use my studio as a sanctuary would be the degree to which I could grow as an artist as well as a human being.

I realized that a ritual of a few pages of classic literature before working, or even during breaks would increase my knowledge of quality literature immensely after a few years. I see that as important to my growth as an artist because the depth of ourselves that we bring to the highest forms of art is what allows our own art to grow to the height of the arts that we saturate ourselves with. It's no coincidence that Michelangelo was schooled by Lorenzo D'Medici in the arts and sciences.

As I grow more as an artist I wonder how I could have ever painted in the past listening to The Beatles or Led Zeppelin. When I can listen to anything now, it must be classical or quality audio-literature. I just finished a week of listening to Plato's Symposium.

Still, as the years pass, I see that I cannot handle the disturbances that I was able to handle before. It feels good. The same way a monk who spends his time in meditation becomes more and more sensitive to his surroundings, an artist does, too.

Anthony, what wonderful ideas you have given me! I have a huge copy of the classic "Riverside Shakespeare" (his collected works) that I have been meaning to crack open for years. The book is too big for bedtime reading but might be just right to read in my new cozy studio chair when my eyes and feet need a break.

And maybe I'll put some classical CD's on at the same time, for good measure.

Thanks again for the inspiration!

Anthony, others on this site have mentioned musical and even scientific connections to art, and you've touched one of my favorites with your literature reference. In my artist's statement, I tried to articulate this, John de la Vega (portfolio is here) just taught a portrait workshop, and he was the perfect blend of philosopher/boot camp instructor. Among other things, he taught that a painting has to forge an emotional connection with the viewer to be successful.

I decided to leave my books out of my studio - for clutter control - but I must say a large stack always finds its way to a pile on one of my counters.... as well as a legal pad for a continuous journal/sketchbook.

Sacred space
 

It's blues and jazz here, all the way. Norah Jones, Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Johnny Lang, Susan Tedeschi, and when I'm really working, Keb Moe's Mississippi delta blues keeps me happy.

Jean