Staying the course to make dreams come true.

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Studio

My creative corner.

I christened my studio space last night and while I didn’t crack a bottle of Champagne against a wall, I did open up the paints and start creating.

I am excited.

It is a dream come true. After hours of moving furniture, pulling up the rug and underlay, scraping the floor of glue and removing strips of wood that held the rug in place, I spent a couple of hours on Saturday sealing the concrete. Yesterday, I lugged all my painting equipment back from my girlfriend’s basement and set up my space.

I am ready. To create. To muse. To throw paint and ideas around on the canvas. I am ready to explore the inner realms of my creative core, searching and wondering and delighting in whatever I find.

Last night, as I worked on a painting that was not making me happy, I saw the parallels in my life.

It’s like working towards a goal. There’s the initial excitement of envisioning what will happen when… your goal is reached.

Studio 1

The drying tables — Gessoed canvases waiting for the muse to strike

There’s the planning and idea-generating. And then there’s the grunt work of setting up the structure, building the framework, creating the map. Sometimes, it’s easy to give up in those moments because — well, because it’s hard and the goal appears so far out on the horizon that reaching it can at times seem impossible.

You dig in. Focus on the task at hand and keep going.

Distractions arise. A shiny object appears on the trail and you think about changing course, redirecting your path.

You dig deeper (or maybe you take a different course, abandon your goal, give up).

For me, creating my studio space has been a long held goal that I kept compromising on, dismissing, altering.

At first, I thought it would be okay to use the space as is — deep, plush red rug on the floor and all. The other section a TV and seating area while the front half was my art-space.

That didn’t work out that well. I didn’t feel comfortable painting with rug beneath my feet — and I hadn’t properly put the table together that I was using and thus, it wasn’t very stable.

I abandoned my space.

For about two years. Occasionally I’d cover the dining room table in plastic, spread more plastic on the floor and paint there — but the set-up was onerous — having to move all my paints upstairs, having to move everything around to make it possible for me to create. And then, having to take it down every time because we needed the table to eat on, and quite frankly, the living room/dining room didn’t look that tidy dressed up as an art studio!

WIP -- need to tone down the green, work on bottom section.

WIP — need to tone down the green, work on bottom section.

And then, I started painting in my girlfriend’s basement and it didn’t matter where I splashed or dripped paint. The floor was concrete. TZ and LS and I painted and laughed and chatted and sipped wine and I loved painting with my two muses, but…

It wasn’t my space. I couldn’t come and go as I pleased, at any time of day or night. My girlfriend has two late-teenage year daughters who still live at home and I often felt like I was interfering in their life — even though I was welcomed. I just didn’t feel comfortable turning up at the door and walking through their living space to get to the studio downstairs.

The idea started to form in my head. If the rug in your basement is the big deterrent, why not take it out?

Ummm…. it’s a big job. I’ve never ripped out a rug before, especially on a concrete floor…

So?  How hard can it be?

And then, at a birthday party for a friend, I chatted with her ex-husband who lays flooring as his business. “It’s easy,” he said and then gave me simple instructions on how to do it.

IMG_4635

C.C. chops up the big old beast

The very next Saturday, C.C. chopped up the big old, heavier than you can imagine home theatre unit that was broken anyway, and I carried out the wood and debris. TV gone, it was a simple matter of moving all the furniture and clutter to the spare room and then, on the Sunday tackling the rug. It took me all day but I did it.

That was a month ago. It seemed there just wasn’t time to seal the floor. Until Saturday when C.C. and I went to the hardware store, bought a jug of clear sealant and I set to work.

And now it’s done. Finished. Complete.

And now, I have my dream come true. A studio space to create in, a special space to simply be present to the muse as she weaves her magic throughout my being, and my life.

All because I had a dream and stayed focused on the job at hand. All because I was committed to my Be. Do. Have. (Be committed to Do what it takes to Have what you want).

My girlfriends and I are planning an art show this fall.

Gotta get busy!

 

 

22 thoughts on “Staying the course to make dreams come true.”

  2. I love hearing about how studios evolve…
    Thank you for taking the time to visit my daughter’s blog! That meant a lot! I love your new painting!!!!!!
    Wish we could do art shows together! 😉
    Have you ever considered selling your work on Etsy?
    Not sure if you ever saw my post on how my “writing studio” evolved from my art studio but if you scroll down you cans see the photos too! I like getting a virtual tour of your journey… it helps us all feel a little closer and connected! 😉

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  4. When we moved 7 years ago, I insisted I have my own space– a study for my desk, books, computer, etc. Of course it has become another clothing closet, storage for gifts, wrapping paper, the giveaway pile, etc.. but still– no one else uses the room! Very important! Good luck with your painting! Look forward to seeing some.

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  5. Hi Louise I tried to comment on my post where you just commented but not sure it went through so luckily thought to cut and paste before I lost it in cyber space!
    Louise, you should check out Etsy! They definitely have a section for fine art and customers actually do pay big money for things they love on there! If you noticed my daughter definitely charges for her time and talent! She is much braver than I! lol. Her little creations really seem to have no problem generating the prices that she asks… and my child sized dolls were never over $70 (I think was my higest price ever and it was a santa or a life sized scarecrow!
    I think that you should always take pictures of every one of your originals and maybe make cards with your one liner inspirational insights that generated from your life experience? I love your art and your heart and I think you would have a lot of people interested in both cards and original larger pieces. By the way totally love your new studio! Congratulations!
    xoxo

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  6. Thanks Di — you’ve just given me an idea on who to ask to take the photos — he has a professional camera and a beautiful eye for catching what works. Thank you!!!!!

    I will definitely check out Etsy! You are so encouraging — and I am grateful.

    Hugs

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