Have you ever felt a little all over the place? Although I’d say I’m always a little scatterbrained, my recent move has left pieces of me in a dozen different places, and that includes my art studio.
At this moment, I have sketchbooks, pastels, and boxes of fabric in my Subaru, canvases and drawings in my parent’s basement, and paint-covered furniture both inside and outside the house. And when it’s time to sit down to work, I start thinking, “Wait, where is my stuff again?”
For two years, I had a personal studio at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and it rocked. It was my first real studio, and now I’m spoiled. Now back home in DC, I am within minutes (and steps) of my favorite people, but I no longer have that dedicated space.
This year, I noticed many friends apply to artist residencies around the world. Anywhere from 2 weeks to a year, a residency offers a dedicated working space in a new environment for a lucky artist. And the more artists I meet, the more this seems like the norm. But right now, having barely settled into DC, I can’t see myself landing one of those anytime soon.
As a natural response to FOMO, I created my own event. I drafted and applied to my very own, “All Over the Place” Residency. Thankfully, I was accepted! :D
For most artists I’ve studied, their best work developed from restrictions. They couldn’t do this, so they did that. This week I watched a 60 Minutes interview with Mark Bradford (link here). Though he couldn’t afford paint, he used endpapers from the hair salon where he worked and created pieces at home. Even more awesome, he now sells massive paper paintings to museums and personal collectors like Anderson Cooper.
Oil painting and collage take extensive setup and supplies, so I’ve been exploring watercolor, a new craft for me. Watercolor makes it easy to do quick sketches, which work well with my irregular schedule. And despite not loving it at first, I’m crazy excited about what I’m making. Sometimes, not knowing where my materials are, I also end up with paint colors I don’t want. But instead of getting frustrated, I treat the limitation like a new rule. The pieces are different, but interesting. Sometimes, I now even limit my materials on purpose.
What are some challenges that you find with your current art space? Leave a comment below!