The Ritual of Creative Time

Sometimes when the day is done and everyone has gone to bed, I go to my studio to create. I start by pulling out materials I want to "play" with. This usually includes items I've been saving for a rainy day. I fill a jar with water and pick my favorite brushes.  I find a journal and open to a new page, canvas 

or decide to work on an existing page in my journal. 

Then I find music that inspires me. I love Pandora because I can create stations that fit many different moods. Pandora provides music based on my mood. I often get introduced to new music and that adds to my inspiration.

Tonight I began to play with images and textures from magazines. I started by ripping pages that captured my attention. Then I went back and cut out the portions of the page that inspired me. I then cut the pages in to smaller shapes. 

Tonight I was inspired by stripes and lines.

My next step was to paint, stencil, scrape and drip colorful paint on my canvas. I let the canvas dry completely and then added my magazine strips
on the canvas with heavy gel medium. 

The result begins a story that I will add words or poetry to on my next session in the studio.

Tonight was a happy night of creating.

Art Studio Storage Solutions: Cigar Boxes

I shared this week about how I organized my art supplies using cigar boxes. I wanted to say a little more about that for those of you who might want to try it. 

 I got my boxes from a local cigar store. I searched out a few shops for the best boxes. I found the older cigar shops (the ones that have been there for years, family owned, lots of locals hanging out to chat) were the best ones.  Maybe its because they  have a deep history with their customers offering the best cigars. The result has been really great cigar boxes.  

There were 2 types of boxes...the cardboard boxes ($2 ea.) and the wood boxes ($4 ea.). I'm not sure what the going rate is for cigar boxes but this shop has some of the most interesting boxes I've seen, so the price seemed right.  

I looked for ones with interesting art. 

I looked for ones that were big and rectangular.  

I got a few with a latch (to keep the box closed if it took a tumble). 

I looked the ones that were about the same height to make it easier to stack on a shelf.

I walked away with 6 lovely boxes and lots of ideas for storing my art supplies.

I created labels for my boxes with Martha Stewart Bookplates in copper. These bookplates are adhesive and have a really strong hold. (Careful putting them down, they are hard to remove). I used my lovely label maker and the cards provided with the book plates to create short descriptions for the contents of each box. 

I love my new storage.

Let me know if you try this or if you have any other creative art storage ideas.

~ Julie

Art Studio Snapshots

 

This weekend I rolled up my sleeves and tackled my studio space. My art projects started to migrate from my studio desk to the dining room table and that is a no no for me. Things had gotten so bad I had a hard time finding supplies I needed in the studio. I even noticed that when I had quiet time to myself, I would leave the house instead of using the time to do some creative work. I just felt overwhelmed in my studio, which drained me of the create spark that makes journaling so fun for me. 

I have an Art Studio Style Pinterest board to give me inspiration on how I want my studio to look.  I'm clearly drawn to studio spaces that are clear and organized. I love beautiful storage and simplicity. The visual noise of the clutter is distracting and leaves me feeling drained. 

This weekend I spent a few hours at night clearing my desk.  I listened to Alejandra's Home Organizing Tips on YouTube. She is so excited about organizing I get excited just listening to her.  I let go of a lot of scraps I was saving. I immediately glued any bits I loved directly into my journal. It was a great way to start a new background. I tossed, stacked and cleaned until well into the night. 

In the morning I got up to look at the desk in the morning light. There was a honey colored glow to the room and for the first time I realized all that clutter was blocking out natural light. I was so inspired to create right then and there. I took photos of my desk and made new pages for my weekly journal. I had so much fun.

By then end of the weekend I was inspired to create some beautiful storage. I saw a photo of artist Wendy Addison's Studio  on Pinterest and I was inspired by her cigar box storage solutions. I love the way the boxes look and how they hold a good number of items and can be labeled for easy identification.

So now I have a clear desk with lots of room to create. I have already created 3 new journal pages and I started this week's weekly journal. It was so nice to create pages again.

Art Studio: Organizing My Brushes

 

I found this amazing container at Target on clearance for $5.
It was in the gardening section but I thought it would be great for my art supplies.

 

I currently have all my brushed in a variety of cups and containers.
They often tip over from the weight of the brushes. 

 

I was able to fit all of my brushes into this one handy container.

It's perfect and saves so much space on my work table. 

I can see all my brushes in one place. 

I can tote my brushes to other rooms.

I love it!

Art Studio: My studio is filled with things that bring me joy and peace

I love late summer. 

The lighting on my patio is perfect for painting in the early evening.

I've dedicated a portion of my patio to my easile, paints and brushes

My studio is a peaceful
place among the trees.

Everywhere I look I see little reminders of the things that bring me joy and peace...

• The Buddha I got in Oakland at a Zen garden shop. I remember when I bought him, I wanted to get him home safely so I put a seat belt on him.
   
• The tiny metal Buddha my big Buddha is holding. A gift from a good friend I adore.
  
  
•  The lush green succulent jade plants that where once
  2 small pots and now has grown into 6 big beautiful bushes.
• There are the big beautiful paint brushes I purchased in Amsterdam. They where my first really "good" brushes and I cherish them.
  
  
• There is a funky metalic pink Hoola Hoop I got online at Hoopnotica.  I wanted to be one of those girls that could do hoola hoop tricks. After knocking down several things in my house practicing...the hoola hoop has retired to the patio until I
  get brave enough to practice in public.
  

Art Studio: Working on my patio.

 

I'm working on a new painting this week. 

I'm enjoying the process of choosing color, pattern and technique.

I've also learning to let the painting unfold in its own time and

let myself fall in love with the process.

In the past I would do a painting in one sitting. 

It just didn't feel right until it was completely done.  

I'm learning to do as much as I can or feel like, then step back
and let it breathe a bit before making my next move
or determining that its done. 

Now I'm free to just create without all that expectation.

 It's been such a joy to layer color,  text and texture

without concern for the outcome 

and when.

Going through my stash of Stamps for Art and Craft Supply Flea Market

I have cleared out my studio of some gently used art supplies for the Art and Craft Flea Market at a Work of Heart. For 2 weeks, I went through every drawer, closet and storage box to find items I no longer use. I found over 100 items that I will be selling at the Flea Market.  

• Rubber stamps
• Watercolor & Acrylic Paint
• Decorative tape
• Tissue Papar
• Art Magazines
• Scrapbook papers
• Jewelry Wire
• Storage Boxes
• Beads 
• and more...

There will be a lot of great stuff at the flea market. If you are in the area and need some art supplies ... stop by the studio on Sunday.

Art and Craft Supply Flea Market at
A Work of Heart on
Sunday, October 21
10am to 3pm.

Studio Space: A Beautiful Mess

I'm inspired by artists who keep a neat studio. I have never been able to do it for more than a day or two. My studio usually gets messy when I'm not using it. If I don't create for a week or two my desk starts to become the catch all for everything.This just reminds me to create...create...create.

Home Studio Spruce Up! AFTER photo

Home Studio "AFTER" photo

This is my lovely newly organized home studio space. I have all my favorite supplies in drawers, everything is labeled and put in clear boxes. My BIG juicy journal is out on my desk and ready for inspiration. I was so inspired I created my new banner for this blog..."visual communication". Yep that banner was made in my new studio.

Home Studio Spruce Up!

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon and I feel inspired to spruce up my home studio. My studio has been taken over by found objects, art supplies and half finished projects. Its time to move the energy in this room. Its time to breathe life into this room again. So today is the day.

This is the "before" picture. When its done I'll post the "after" photo.

Where I create!

 

I am always on a quest to create the perfect home studio space.  In the last few months I have organized and tossed out old brushes, dry paint, and put like things together. It's beautiful...I can finally find what I'm looking for when I need it. The process has made it super easy to create at home when the creative muse strikes.   

I have to tell you about my metal room divider... I had a metal room divider that separates my studio from the rest of my living space. One day it started making me feel cramped and closed in...so I moved it in front of the big wooden table where I journal and create. Ahhhh! The room opened up and the creativity began to flow. 

The metal made it easy to display my art and I found strong magnetic hooks to hang a few of my paintings and other inspirational objects. The other day I found some magnetic plastic shelves at the dollar store. I spray painted them a metallic color to match the room divider and presto...I now have a perfect place to store my stamps. I am so proud I had to share.