Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Studio Space.....

It seems like such a small thing....studio space, space to work, to think, to get the visual clutter out and some clean space IN so I can fill it with ideas, new projects, etc. My studio is not a fancy magazine studio, but a working one. That means, it gets MESSY. I seldom photograph the whole thing; something is almost always scattered.....besides my brain.

The City Dump....no, wait....MY STUDIO. omg.
I have to admit that after working non-stop before the health issues started last year, the studio had become a place I turned my back to; I didn't have the energy to deal with it. When you have too much work and not enough time, things pile and pile. The amount of time to clean it up at the end of the day is usually when I am hustling off to fix dinner, and when that was done, so was I.
But, it had hit critical mass.....and something had to go---the *stuff* or ME, and it wasn't going to be the latter. 

If the sweeper is out, it must mean action is afoot....
I had a friend tell me to focus on one small amount at a time.
And I did. Just one little area, then the next, then the next.

WHAT? There's a TABLE THERE? And the killer shelves...
And finally, after several weeks, I discovered I had a workable space again. 

OMG~~there's ANOTHER TABLE....


With STORAGE! I can FIND THINGS! :-)

It was NOT fun. All the time, there were other things I would rather have been doing, but the little-by-little approach kept me from crash and burn, and left me with *my* space back.

Dang! What a view
 To work.

First project for the *NEW* space!

To think.
To ponder.
To use things I had FOUND....

2 weeks lost; making meatloaf triggered the brain cells and I found them....

And in between it all, a place where a short break let's me have time to smell the flowers.

This is my idea of a Luxury Studio....

Life is good, I'd say!
How about YOU???





Pax....

30 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Wow, I'm impressed! Oscar becomes Felix, LOL!

GlorV1 said...

Oh I'm so happy for you Anne. Please come over and clean mine now and thank you very much.:) You did an excellent job and now you will be all the more creative for it. Hope you are doing good and that life is treating you as you should be treated, in a kind and gentle scythe way. tee hee.:))

Robbie said...

And we thought you were productive before!! Now you'll be producing like crazy!!! Isn't it a good feeling!!! Good you're back at it too!

Jan said...

Congratulations! Now you can reward yourself and mess it right back up. Your clutter is uncluttered and hopefully so is your brain. Can hardly wait to see what wonderful art begins to be made in there next.

audrey said...

Lookin' real good, Anne!!! After our conversation, I was inspired. Now that I've seen your studio, I am SUPER inspired! Went to the Doc yesterday and got meds - on my way to feeling better now. Took your "little at a time" advice and am in my studio right now working on one small pile. One day, I will get to where you are - finding that table that I know is in there somewhere. LOL
Your studio looks great. Happy creating!!!!
Love you. ♥ audrey

Terra said...

Now I know what color your two table tops are, LOL. That's what I say when I clear a surface in my house. Now you are inspired to do some projects and the iris brighten the room.

Mim said...

your studio looks awesome, so clean and tidy and everything in it's place. Sometimes it can be overwhelming can't it - but you did it right - little by little.

Dear Fireflies said...

Impressive work, Anne! The studio looks amazing! Although I do wonder how long it will take to bring back the mess...LOL! :D :D

yoborobo said...

Sure, Anne. Clean your studio so I feel like a complete SLOB. lol! You're absolutely right, though. At some point you have no choice. When you lose art supplies, or a project (or a family member) in the clutter you know you have to do something. I was sorting my fabric last night (in an attempt to relax before bed - a mistake, btw) and I gave up after an hour. Little by little, I might get organized. Maybe. Good on ya, girlfriend! xox

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Debra,

LOL!! Love the comparison~~I have not made it to complete "Felix-dom" yet, but enough to FUNCTION WELL and enjoy my art!
You brought me a big smile though, so here's to YOU! (says wiping the computer keyboard with a dust cloth, Felix-style...)
;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Gloria,

Yes, scythe-woman is being treated well (how else WOULD she be treated, what with the scythe and all...LOL!!!) and if I was close by I certainly WOULD come help clean your studio!
I learned a lot in this process--and life of late, in general--that pecking away consistently gets the job done.
That and a LIST for each day.
Hope you have *HAPPY!* on your list today!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Robbie,

I'm not sure about the producing like crazy...more like producing WHILE crazy...hahaha!
It feels wonderful! I still have cabinets and drawers to go through, but one at a time, as I feel up to it.
I am quite happy, and happier that the table is *art-ful* again!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!!!
Jan, you KNOW ME... ;-D
I am messing it up with work, but really plan to TRY and keep the strategy intact for the cleaning....of course, that was more than two years in the making, so it was one of my more spectacular messes. I mean, if I'm going to DO IT, I might as well do it up RIGHT! hehe!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey,

YAY for YOU! Both for going to the doc (thank you thank you!) and for trying the *small approach*!!! Am quite proud of you! :-)
You will honestly find it is the most amazing thing...that those tiny bits you see DONE are motivational to getting the next step done.
Happy happy!
And trust me, when you find the table top, you'll do what I did~~let out a yell of WHOOO--HOOOO!!!!
Was good talking!
Feel better soon~~♥

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Terra,

Yes, I had rather FORGOTTEN...I thought at one time they were white...hehehe!
I love having the space to bring in flowers; it makes the studio so much more, hmmmmm, welcoming. I love my plants!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Mim,

Yes, overwhelming, and it never ceases to amaze me, when you're busy working (sometimes a couple of things at once) how it goes from NEAT to DISASTER.....kind of like the Dump Fairies come in overnight and have a big party....
Hmmmm....there's a theory!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Amalia,

Oh puh--LEEEEEEZE! Don't jinx me! I have decided a certain amount of mess is acceptable (while working) but the biggest issue before was no proper storage---which I should have bought a long time ago.
As long as Mess=Finished Art=Cleaned Up, I'm not complaining....

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

You KNOW if I lived close, we would have studio *help*....along with studio wine evenings! ;-D
I haven't lost a family member out here yet, but there were DAYS when I wondered if *I* would resurface...hahaha!
Or resurface in one piece, without broken or injured bits...
Critical Mass, my friend.
That's where it always ends up before it gets attention! ;-)

XXOO~~
Anne

Karen S said...

Nice -- I love your studio. Mine's a pig sty too. Sometimes I clean it up just because I don't know what else to do. Sadly, that's not very often.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Karen,

I do find it hard to work with a lot of *things* and not have it get messy, especially when I was doing fiber art and might have to have 50 pieces of fabric on the table all at once, and then use 5....
Of course, I really HATE cleaning, so I am hoping to keep a certain amount of order, just to avoid this little *adventure* any time in the near future... ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

kj said...

Hello! Fitting that you are christening your new and improved space with a red heart. Ah hearts: our compasses to the world and one another ♥

My Mother taught me 'a wall at a time'. When she got too old and too tired to clean a room she just dealt with one wall. If she dusted, she just dusted what was in front of one wall. Small steps make a mile too :-)

Have fun, Anne. I'm glad to be part of your enthusiastic rooting section :-)

Love
kj

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

YOU are the one who made me think of this in doable terms! Your mom's advice, a wall (or pile) at a time!
And I'm getting freaked out because every time I click on the link to my blog from your comment, all my BG formatting etc is GONE.....am wondering if THAT is what they will do when they switch me over forcibly to the new stuff... ACK!
I'm just gonna MOW.
I mow, there fore I AM....lol!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Manon said...

Looking good lady!!!! I did happen to see your container of gesso...lol.....btw.... I have a small bucket of the stuff!!! : )))

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

LOL!!!
Manon, that is ONE active container! I have 4 more that size, two buckets, and a small assortment of specialty gessos that get used now and again.
I am SURE our veins FLOW GESSO!!! ;-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Deborah said...

ANNE!!!!! Did you miss me while my power button would not work??? I missed you!!! My tower and I are both back to turning on. That sounds bad. Especially with the pot gardening. NOW I shall read your post! BIG love, Deb

Cameron said...

Having a clean workspace is just like an empty canvas...they both get messy in the process....but, oh, it feels so good!

Your studio looks amazing!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

*AHEM*
(clears throat)
Well Deb, I am delighted that your power button and TOWER are BOTH WORKING again....*wink! wink!*
And I'm glad your computer is up and running too! :-D
Heck, I always miss you, Oh Blond One!
Big Love!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Cameron,

You are SOOOOO right! With everything picked up, I could barely wait to get started again. During the cleaning the brain was going, "You could do THIS, or THIS, or THIS...." which I should have written down but forgot....
Anyway, it feels GREAT to be back in the grind!

XXOO~~
Anne

Laura said...

Love what you've done to the place!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Ready to make some papers!
Think I have everything I need..... :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

Post a Comment

Talk to me Dahling!
I'm waiting, breathless...... ;-D