So here I am sat in my studio/workroom/office typing this. While I appreciate that may not be big news to you, it is to me. It's huge. Its profound, intense, overwhelming, fervent, ardent (yes, I'm just copying out of the thesaurus now). But it is BIG.
This is the first time ever that I have had a space designated to my work. Up until now I've balanced sketchbooks, laptops and
Etsy orders on my knee on the settee or amongst printers, guillotines and plates on the kitchen table. But one of the benefits of holding an Open Studios (in my case open house) exhibition, which I did last week, is that it forces you to focus and get things in order.
That's been one of my problems since going self employed (well, since, always) is keeping focus. It's one of those things I didn't think about beforehand, but now that I have all the time to give to my art and to my business, how best should I use it? And, I'll be honest, the first year and half, of going freelance, has been trying to adjust to that and it hasn't been an easy thing.
My mind is always so FULL of stuff. It never switches off. Ever. It's just full of creative ideas, millions of them. I find being organised really really difficult. The ideas seem to get in the way of getting things done. But now I'm self employed I NEED to get things done because I need to make a living.
So, this is why actually making a room/space for my work has been so massive. I'm hoping it's going to help with how I manage my time and my business. I hope. And, I'm open too, and appreciative of, any other suggestions that may help me focus on the task at hand rather than the million little ideas knocking at the door wanting to take up my time.
Now, back to work.
A glimpse into my creative workspace ... and yes, I did tidy up a bit! I actually do have to keep things relatively tidy or my creative muse freezes up - or dashes for cover, and either way I'm left without inspiration. So, although things do pile up while I'm actually drawing or painting, I always put everything away once it's done so that I can start on the next project with a clean slate/desk.
The studio space is part of my open-plan living/dining/kitchen room (behind the camera), which I love as then I feel as though I'm in the midst of things rather than completely isolated.
Everything on that little table in the foreground is from our next free printables that we're preparing so that we can take a bit of a photo shoot for the blogpost. This is pretty much my side of the studio area.
My trusty coloured pencils are on a trolley so that I can draw in the living-room, or outside (in summer!) if I feel the urge to.
Here's our little organizing station. Fabric swatches, wrapping tools and papers, reference books, and the little black and white drawers are full of tacks, staples, pins, etc ...
That's pretty much it. Hope you enjoyed the little tour, it's time for me to get back to work! Cheers.
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