Studio Note #2
It’s a late Spring morning, as I write this. It’s rainy and grey out. I have the studio door open, so I can hear and smell the rain. Aside from a few chatty birds, it’s very quiet out. It’s a good day to be inside looking out. I’m sitting at one of my work surfaces that has a window facing into my backyard. My studio is in the back of my garage so it’s an easy commute. My constant companion, Buster the studio dog, has a prime spot to lay on his bed and squirrel watch and keep an eye on our two ducks. He won’t venture out until it stops raining, or until the ducks start to antagonize him and he must respond.
In the studio this week, I’ve been focusing on a few things. Some might call it busy work, but it’s the best kind of busy work. I’ve been creating some collage elements to go into future pieces. I’ve been prepping boards and paper, so they are ready to go when I want to start a new project. I’ve been researching floater frames and wondering if it might be better to make them myself. That sent me down a rabbit hole of perusing hardware stores and YouTube how to videos. I’ve been going through my inventory to see which pieces I want list for sale. Once I choose those first pieces, I need to sign them, varnish, or seal them, frame some, attaching the hanging hardware, and possibly mat the ones on paper.
It hasn’t been all busy work and no play. I’ve had a chance to revisit some past pieces and make some adjustments. It’s good to let some pieces sit for a while between layers. My process is all about responding to each thing that came before. Sometimes, it is a quick process, and a piece can be finished in an hour. Other times, I need to sand it down or cover it in a layer of paint and start over. There are no mistakes in art. If something isn’t working, cover it up and move on.
Something I’ve been dedicating time to these last few weeks has been my sketchbook play time. This has been the best part of my week because it’s so fun. I’ve created an exercise where I lay out 5 sketchbooks of varying sizes and I quickly make marks with whatever is at arm’s reach. I don’t put too much thought into it because the exercise is about staying loose and moving quickly. This is a 2–3-minute exercise. It has been interesting to see where I started and where I am now. It has only been a few weeks, but I can see the stiffness and hesitancy in the early pages. Having this space to let loose is quite freeing and an essential part of my practice. I can see it carrying over into my painting, which is exciting.
Overall, it’s been a good week.
I’m going to roll up my sleeves and get to my sketchbook play for the day and enjoy this rainy, Spring morning. I think I see the sun trying to peek through.
See you next week with a new studio note!
