studio cleaning

OK. When I bought this place I live in now the plan was to have  my studio in the basement. Its unfinished and really great for just being messy  and not worrying  about what might end up on the floor. In the years passed I have moved everything from the basement two floors to the master bedroom then to the second bedroom  and now its all in the living room --- a sort of crowded arrangement with living room stuff and dinning room things , my drawing table and my work table. 

Work space matters.

I have felt sort of awkward working in the living room since I moved everything there late last summer. And when I moved everything upstairs I said it was about the light or lack of in the basement but really I just ended up looking out the window  most days I worked there ---- and again the mess factor --- the  feeling that I couldn't quite spread out -- let  stuff drip or  drop things on the floor and  not spend the remaining studio time cleaning.

So on this really snowy day I am moving again. This time back downstairs but this time with more thought about how the space will feel. Its very large and unfinished. It has not been utilized very well by  the  occupant -- me. When I moved in  I had an illustration job so I just started working --- and following was a feeling of not being settled in. I think its good to go for it  and its good to balance all of these  feelings of restriction, and flow and comfort as well ... but not too comfortable. Right ?

What my work space needs to be is organized, warm, a place that I can focus, a place I feel safe in creative wonder-ings, a place that is closed off and open --- That is private but can also be shared  and has space for more than one person to sit--  so when others visit my work they will feel comfortable too. A place that feels grounded-- that has the feeling of being there with the work as one enters the space, resting creatively there,  a space which is quiet and loud in  energy.

Comments

[the swede]

Having been a party to many of the moves, I have to salute your energy and enthusiasm. One thought I have is ... PAINT! Color, for me, is essential. Unfinished concrete walls and floor make the space neutral, but drap and tending to suck the energy out of everything. What color energizes and inspires your creative muse? Wall paint is a cheap remedy!!!
Also - lighting!! Some cheap track lights could go a long way to adding ambience ...
Just my thoughts. Take 'em for what you paid for 'em. :)