Small Space, Small Moves
Right before my ACL surgery, I moved my studio to a tiny room inside my townhouse. Giving up my luxiously large, but expensive studio space was actually liberating. It felt good to be compact. It was necessary to be really organized and functional in the small space. Surprisingly in my little temporary space of 10×14, I was able to program the studio in much the same way that I did in the large space.
I hadn’t spent very much time painting in the new digs and I still haven’t. I don’t really have the stamina yet to sustain a long painting session. My goal is to get in there for about two hours each day until I can extend that a little. Sitting while painting is difficult for me, but if I want to spend any time at all at the easel, I have to adjust for a while. I spent about thirty minutes on a new piece and then realized that I can’t do that yet. I have to set a timer for 10 or 15minutes and then get up and move around.
I’ve also set up a small space in my kitchen for sketching. I’m very interested in going back to the basics of drawing and developing that again. I bought three new sketchbooks; one for oservational,(drawing what I see while I’m out and about), one for imaginings and muses, and one for animals. I’m excited to reconnect with line, gesture and the tools of drawing.
3 Responses
I'm glad you posted a link on Facebook, because I hadn't subscribed to this blog (now I have). Best of luck on a speedy recovery and settling in to your new studio space!
I empathise so much with your situation Marla…making such huge changes to our habits and ways of working/being is very challenging. But it sounds like you are doing a good job at surrendering to your new predicament! I was interested to read about your 3 sketch book idea…..I might try that one out!! I tend to be pretty chaotic and jump around from sketch book to sketch book….anyway, i wish you the best in your new space!
Cheers, Linda
Glad to heat you are doing better Marla and you're mobile again. I'm sure you will make your new studio just what it needs to be so that you can continue creating those beautiful pieces.
Post a few of your sketchbook pages sometime!