The Artist’s Nook
Utilize Feng Shui to design your studio
Anyone who likes to be creative knows about burnout! The rush of new inspiration is electric, it drives the artist to create - many feverishly. But with a high comes a low, that inevitable rock wall rears its ugly head and absolutely nothing is working…
I know this all too well. When creativity has gone somewhere on a hiatus, instead of letting dread win out, let’s make a spot for creativity to thrive when the timing is right. After all, it will return and when it does, you’ll be ready! Let’s make a space that inspiration can live.
“Art builds a deeper perception of nature and human interactions. ”
Setting up your Art Studio
I like to create art. Yet, I like a tidy space. For years I would take out my paints, sketch book and various supplies and fill the island or kitchen table up. After I completed my project, I’d put it all away, typical stuff… But what I didn’t realize is the excuses I began making. I would tell myself that I would do it another time, it was too much to take everything out, I didn’t have a room for art. Or I didn’t feel like cleanup. Well, it’s probably no surprise that I went several years not creating much. In fact, I really lost my creative spark and got caught up in filling my days with things I had to do rather than things I wanted to do. So, here’s how I turned it around! I created a method that worked for me, you can implement your own version with what works best for you.
Let’s get started with some questions!
1. Do you have a designated room that things can be relatively left out, so you can pick up wherever you left off?
2. Do you need to hideaway your crafty items because you need to recharge from time to time?
3. Are you having trouble figuring out how to find space for projects?
Whether you have a spot, need a spot or want to be able to move items out of the room or the view, I have some ideas for all of it!
Colors Bring Emotion
Bright, cheery colors evoke magnetic energy, while deep earthy tones are grounding and bring solitude. Consider, color hues that work for the mood you need to stay on task. You can even create the color hues with accessories and art within your space, or splash it on the walls for a continuous color zest.
The designated room
For those who do have a special room, just for this purpose, you are lucky! And even though you do have a space which is half the battle, it can be setup for better success! Now, some of us artist types enjoy seeing our own work, some are far too critical and would rather other inspiration. It’s good to analyze where you fall here. Perhaps, you even fall somewhere in the middle. It’s important to hang art that speaks to you on the wall, especially in your work area. Consider hanging an art shelf, so that you can changeout pieces from time to time, an artist can easily feel stagnant, so it’s important to keep things interesting!
Versatility is creativity!
Next, organizing with easy storage for art supplies is key to keeping the momentum going. If a creative spark hits and you find you don’t have the right paint color or lack paper, it just might stifle that great idea. With great organization you can keep on moving toward your artistic goals.
The Hideaway
It all comes down to movability here, think rolling wheeled carts, table hutch, desk, or a combination. You can find many great options and with the addition of wheels it can transform the functionality in an instant. All the while you can leave projects out, yet still stow them away in a closet, pantry or other room. Not only that roll that creative cart just about anywhere that creativity strikes! An alcove or corner can be converted to your imaginative space. Utilize curtains that can be pulled back when in session and closed for a minimalist, clean look.
Finding Your Space
Well, well you know the struggle, I’ve had it too! Yup, I am short on space and have always found ways to reinvent what I already have to suit my needs as they change. Looking around and seeing options and new ideas in a home that your always in, can be difficult to look with fresh eyes. Yet, if you can keep trying you will find your perfect solution too! Look in sunny spots, such as a sunroom. Convert an outdoor shed into your artist retreat. Reinvent an old armoire with an extendable table to slide a chair under. Perhaps built-in cabinetry can be utilized much like a vanity with pull out chair, yet for your designs. I have even utilized closets for a hideaway workstation.
Art comes in many forms. I like to look at the individual artist in all the ways they can be inspired to create. The bonsai for instance, is no doubt an artform, but did you realize gardening and landscape are artful forms of expression too? I hope you pursue and add things into your life that make you happier, bring a fullness and keep your creative spirit alive. You may not realize it, but art builds a deeper perception of nature and human interactions. It’s then no surprise that born out of the emotions, art has the power to translate emotion in powerful ways. Art evokes the virtues that we dearly need more of, compassion, love, forgiveness, awe, and so much more!
Fill Your Home with Your Craft
Celebrating many styles of art, especially your personal taste is key to balance and harmony in the home. Adding in natural elements that inspire your art are a great feng Shui tactic that can be easily done.
Here are some ideas for many common artists types:
The Weaver: Hang woven basketry on walls, a tall basket style floor vase is striking, as is a woven pattern on textiles. You can frame a stunning piece that you have created and display it as framed art with a shadow box or stretched across a canvas! The woven together pattern is true art, take a closeup picture and frame it! Remember the time spent and the wisdom gained can be reflected through the meandering harmony of the weave. This is essentially, a timeless display that evokes time itself.
The Potter: Pottery must be displayed and perhaps I’m biased, but I love an imperfect piece. I enjoy the impression of truly handmade items and the inner meaning I derive from the perfectly imperfect! Put those beauties on display, add greenery or shelving to showcase. Even utilize them with everyday objects, such as replacing a cup for pens and pencils with a pot. Pottery soap dishes are lovely, as are a spot to rest your kitchen sponge, making the mundane tasks just a little bit less ordinary.
The Painter: Oh, colors! Place the colors and patterns you love on the walls and enjoy. Replace them seasonally to inspire art all year long with color play that evokes the mood of the season. The globs of paint that fall on a set of overalls or a floor cloth all speak to the creations you made. Consider an off-beat art piece taking shape. That drop cloth could take a new form with a pillow cover or wall tapestry. The paint palette, when ready to retire makes a colorful statement itself as fresh art, so display it!
The Woodworker: Carved wood, even scraps can take on a form that the artist can only see. Make useful everyday objects out of wood scraps, by keeping your craft close. You’ll be inspired to create with the rough and smooth wood grain textures visually accessible. Make candle bases, finials for lamps, paper weights and wooden saucers or interesting shapes for coffee table and bookshelf art.
Writer: Books that inspire, poetry, song lyrics, even children’s books all have a cumulative effect. Remember the first things that inspired this in you. Keep favorite writers close and read often, yourself. Keep inspirational quotes framed, on pillows or bookmarked. Calligraphy and beautiful penmanship can encourage the flow of the pen, as can you taking up such an art form. Visit bookstores and thumb through old books that have that quaint familiar scent. Reinvent old hardcover books as art. Paint or cover books with monochromatic colors and decorate the home with them. Try a favorite script across a pillow cover with fabric pens.
Gardener: Place seasonal seed packets in a basket for an easy reminder to plant. Botanical books and prints can serve as a reminder of what you love. Keep learning, the more a gardener sees and knows, the more they want to grow! Indoor plants are also very important to keep that creativity alive and setting up natural light areas for growing is a great idea. Look to make indoor window boxes, find low light loving plants and bring in bouquets that inspire. Keep vases handy to enliven the room with natural displays. Additionally, landscape pictures, fruit and florals will all serve as a stunning view.
Now, create I say!
I know it doesn’t work like that, but the artist’s struggle to keep on creating is real and the things you do to make a home for that soulful kind of outlet is going to bring you more joy. Do not let the excuses or constraints take you from your inner artist, instead grow and be inspired in sensory experiences you can create to further support your artistic endeavors!
