One thing fellow artists understand is that if you walked into my studio today, it might look different than it did yesterday. Of course the art might be different, but I’m talking about the configuration.
Working out of my home has many advantages, but my studio space and process require me to be as flexible as possible. I don’t have a massive, fixed bench or easel with just the right light. Instead, I have portable work surfaces that I move and reconfigure based on what the art requires.
When I’m working with long strands of copper wire, I need space to move and keep things untangled. When I’m assembling miniature scenes in a glass bottle, I need a focused setup, free from distractions. I also need the ability to work outside every chance I get. That is one advantage of being able to quickly set up workspace behind my home.
My “portable” studio might keep me on my toes, but it also gives me a constant new perspective. The truth about creativity is that it isn’t about having the perfect space, it’s about having the right perspective. Every time I move my tables, I see my materials in different light and from a new angle. A glass bottle looks different when the garage door is open to a crisp Chicago morning than it does under the warm glow of my work lamps at night. And it’s those shifts that often spark new ideas and new directions.
Next time you see a finished piece on my site, know that it was born from this dance of moving parts.