SAL Challenge: Creative Space

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Francis Bacon’s studio

Where do you make art?

I find looking at artist’s spaces just as interesting as looking at the artwork made there. In part, what I’m looking at when I look at art spaces is how people adapt their space to suit their needs (how the studio is influenced by the artwork) and how the artwork changes depending on size and light and flow (how the artwork is influenced by the studio). A studio is a self portrait, a cross connection of life circumstances, preferences, and adaptations. Few studios are perfect, so every space comes with puzzles, challenges of light, workflow, privacy, organization, square footage, and time/budget limitations. On top of adaptations, are personalizations. Some artists function best with a bit of chaos, others with organized tidiness. Few of us have exactly what we’d wish for. It’s fascinating to me.

“To have a sacred place is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room or a certain hour of the day or so, where you do not know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody or what they owe you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be.” – Joseph Campbell, who incidentally did not have to keep up with Seattle rent prices, or provide care for any children

We have the spaces we have. Whether it’s an idillic backyard studio, a rented room, or your kitchen table between meals, those of us who work to create artwork also work to create a space to make them in. For the challenge today, record your space. Materials are artists’ choice.

I’m teaching a series on “How to Set Up Your Studio.” We’ll talk about stuff like lighting, layout, workflow, storage, small space tricks, thinking space, sacred space, photography, and ventilation. Aside from perfect studio scenarios, I’m planning to address real world scenarios as well, so participants will have a chance to problem solve the studios (or kitchen tables) they have so we can work on making the best of what we have. I’m looking for 2 more students. Care to join us? Don’t delay. We start Thursday. Click here to learn more.

Thank you for sharing your work! I love seeing these artworks online. People who post to Instagram or on Facebook will be eligible to win prizes (see details). No matter where you post, tag us so we can find it. #seattleartistleague #salchallenge #artstudio

The June SAL Challenge: Creative exercises once a day for 30 days.