Wednesday, May 19, 2010

A Day in the Studio....

Rubber snake and stones on my studio desk...

A day to sink deeply into ones work is a blessing I am ever grateful for - even if its a day of cleaning the studio. Yesterday I built shelves in the new tool shed. Mountains of shovels, tarps, gardening gloves, clay pots, extension cords, rakes, scythes, seeds and sundries were hung on hooks, arranged on shelves and emptied from my studio. For years I've been dreaming of a studio not cluttered with things one would store in the garage or the basement - if one had such spaces. My house is on posts, so, nothing but a hole underneath where a basement might have been. My friend Donna suggested I add a few chicken legs to the posts to complete the Baba Yaga house transformation... (I do like skulls by the way, but they are not surrounding my house, in case you were wondering) Today, after months of waiting, I cleaned, re-organized and began to feel myself moving towards a new body of work waiting to be born. After a few years of profound transformation, I feel different, and I saw this reflected in how my studio came back to life. Its different. The lack of tools is evident, 
but something else as well, 
something subtle - something new. 

 

I got rid of things, I cleaned, I covered tables with kraft paper, I found boxes for pens and paints and shells and bark and all the things I collect. I hung burlap on one wall and made an inspiration altar of sorts. I burned incense and listened to lovely Early Italian Medieval dance music and didn't mind the light rain falling on the tin roof 
and the damp and puffed up Pasha cat 
needing to be let in and out 
a hundred times during the day 
so as not to feel left out. 




As a student, I remember being told, when in doubt, draw. I would add, when in serious doubt of what to draw - clean, re-organize or create an inspiring studio space. Having decided not to heat my studio last winter I have been working at a desk inside, fine for drawing or small paintings, but not for my sometimes large watercolors. My process is too messy, I work on several at a time and it just doesn't work for me in a clean space with a nice rug. Not to mention the open floor plan in the house (not many doors!) 
and agile kitty curious about whatever I am working on. 
(Before this winter serious weatherizing 
of windows, new door and an 
efficient heater are needed)
So its been months since I have used this space. 


Ebbs and flows of work and tides and inspiration. I've been thinking about my particularly cyclical life and how it demands I not get too comfortable in a routine. It helps me to break out of habits in art-making, which is particularly true this winter of not heating the studio. I think it was useful, it freed me up to experiment and play and do other things that will inform my painting. I had inklings today of images and thoughts to follow and I bring the freedom of my winter exploration into my studio, 
breathing new life into my process. 





There are many forest stories to tell as well, 
but tonight its time for dreaming, 
I leave you with an image from a sketchbook 
from a few years ago, 
found today while cleaning. 
A forest story told in ink and bamboo brush....


13 comments:

steven said...

a beautiful space. i could let go of time in there . . . steven

Valerianna said...

Steven - Yes... and I look forward to doing so soon!

Umā said...

What a wonderful studio. We have some similar collections!

Your Pasha cat is so beautiful (I'm admiring the photos of her in the sidebar, again).

mairedodd said...

so glad that you discovered peace and prosperity in your studio! it looks so wonderful - such a great energy... your work is beautiful...

Teri and her Stylish Adventure Cats said...

I may have stopped in before, but I came over from m. hearts blog to say I found the quote you left there comforting; your cats are lovely; and mine would love your feathers

Valerianna said...

Marie, thanks for appreciating my work!

Teri - thanks for visiting, and luckily my kitty leaves my feather alone! Though I don't have such a wonderful collection anymore anyway....

Valerianna said...

m - not surprised that we have similar collections, our blog photos sure reflect that!

And sometime if you and j find yourselves coming over this side of the hills, come visit the forest, the studio and Sir Pasha cat.... he loves people admiring his beauty!
(ok, well, truth be told, he could care less, but I enjoy people enjoying him!)

Donna J said...

If I see Babayaga while I'm in Russia I'll share greetings from Ravenwood!

Windsongs and Wordhoards said...

Looks like a wonderful space to work in and I like all the things you have surrounded yourself with. Your comments about drawing and creating an inspirational space to work in are really helpful... (as I glance over at the cluttered wreck of my painting desk, piled up with kids pens and toys and random stuff that's migrated!)

ArtPropelled said...

I recognize many things in your studio that are similar or the same as in mine.Pebbles, weathered wood, books, Georgia O'Keefe ....

Valerianna said...

Hi ArtPropelled - definitely inspiring things for the studio... and I particularly love that photo of Georgia O'Keefe.

layers said...

hello. thanks for stopping by my blog.
I also love stones, and fossils and animal bones and skulls-- and have a lot of collections in my studio and around my home and gardens-- love all your collections in your studio.

Valerianna said...

Hi layers... yes, I saw your stone collections in bowls and on your library desk.. my garden is also brimming with stones. The river here is a good source for rounded wonders - I usually carry an empty tote bag when I go for a swim knowing that I will be carting home a bunch of new stones, I can;t resist!