I photographed my work space last night, before the sun went down, with nothing to light the room but the last of the golden hour creeping in through the huge window that faces West. I made these pictures for a dear woman friend of mine who is doing a thing…but I thought you might like to see them too!
I really like my work space.
It’s selfishly arranged since I am the only person to use this half of the building.
I flow between tools as I work, my body has the room mapped perfectly, I wear grooves in the poured, pebbled epoxy floors. If I was to change one thing about my space, I’d change the color of the walls. The former owner’s glass blowing ex-wife painted them a deep mocha hue. I’d prefer them to be the lightness of space breeding white or the pale grey of a dove belly! Otherwise, it’s home sweet creative home!
[…and then this morning! Oh the light!]
Have you a creative work space?
If so, what’s it like?
What would you change about it, if you could?
What does your dream studio space look like?
My Dream Studio:
I’d love an entire refurbished barn — about 100 years old, fully insulated and finished on the inside with plenty of huge windows that let the light stream in, a mountain view to the West and a prairie view to the East.
I’d like it to have a wood stove for heating during the colder months and huge sliding doors to throw open in the warmer days of summer.
I’d like the South and North entrances flanked with aspen groves and perhaps a raspberry patch or two.
I’d like to watch my horses and jersey cow graze as I work, a blacksmith forge on the main level and a tidy work space up in the loft — a space for my antique typewriter collection, letter writing, painting, reading, napping and journaling…and kittens.
RW tells me he’s working on it.
HA HA!!!
Dream big or not at all,
that’s my motto.
For a better view of these images, pop over to my Flickr
site and view them on black!
x
What does your dream studio space look like?
My Dream Studio:
I’d love an entire refurbished barn — about 100 years old, fully insulated and finished on the inside with plenty of huge windows that let the light stream in, a mountain view to the West and a prairie view to the East.
I’d like it to have a wood stove for heating during the colder months and huge sliding doors to throw open in the warmer days of summer.
I’d like the South and North entrances flanked with aspen groves and perhaps a raspberry patch or two.
I’d like to watch my horses and jersey cow graze as I work, a blacksmith forge on the main level and a tidy work space up in the loft — a space for my antique typewriter collection, letter writing, painting, reading, napping and journaling…and kittens.
RW tells me he’s working on it.
HA HA!!!
Dream big or not at all,
that’s my motto.
For a better view of these images, pop over to my Flickr
site and view them on black!
x
You have a large workspace, unlike me, although I shouldn't complain because I do feel fortunate that I have an art studio to create in. I took over the smallest bedroom in our home. My family has just recently offered me the family room. Although it would work wonderfully, I would feel guilty taking away such a large space from my family.
Where do you have your beautiful art studio, is it in your home?
Nena: I have a REALLY large work space. Some metalsmiths work at a tiny desk sized bench. I have an 850 square foot building I do my work in — the building is separate from my house. THOUGH, RW uses part of it as his man-shop.
Much to his chagrin, I moved some tools into his space this weekend past — I just needed more ROOM on my side of the building!!! Hard to believe!!! I know!
Your workshop is almost as big as my apartment! Haha. Your studio looks perfect. I would feel like I were inside a candy shoppe if I set foot in inside.
I adore seeing into your space like that. (And I think we have similar farm girl dream, mi'lady… I'd leave it all for wide space and horses and room to roam…)
i love how you are constantly creating something new and different and surprising. your workspace is lovely 🙂 and your dreamspace sounds dreamy!
xo
sami
ps. check out my cute print giveaway!
http://glimpseofglamour.blogspot.com/2011/04/love-ly-giveaway.html
i love seeing glimpses of other artists studio spaces. i am envious that you have your own space… i would love to have my own studio space. it is one thing that has really been bugging me lately, i know that sounds selfish, but sometimes i just want to be alone and quiet while i am working without someone else buzzing around me. lately i have been feeling this way a lot. sometimes it just feels so good to be quiet and still.
J Jane: HA HA!!! Candyshop! Well, I like that phrase…
Fawn: We totally do. May our dreams come true!
Sami: Well thanks! Hopefully the dreamspace becomes reality some day! Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Owl: You know, I'm rarely quiet and still, but I like the space around me to be quiet and still. I like to be the only thing pinging about in my creative space……:) I hope you get a space of your own someday soon.
you already have a perfect work space.
however: robert loves you [and you, him] so very much, i can imagine that, yes, he IS working on your having a more perfect and new work space.
of course, every possible surface in your NEW studio will be covered, sill and shelf and window, all.
you are a dear for allowing us into your very private space.
xx
Fox: It is a perfect space, for now! Today, when I unpack new tools, I don't have a clue as to where I'll be setting them up! I'm going to have to expand my work space into the second chamber of the building…and you're right, covering surfaces is just the sort of pretty chaos I can't up but work in, always. 🙂 You've seen it, up close, haven't you!!!
I like it,sort of like me. A little bit of everything 🙂
I love this glimpse into your creative space, thank you for sharing your crowded windowsills and lovely piles of treasures with us! I am fortunate enough to have my space in a spare bedroom in the house…I love the activity of my lady and my roomate buzzing around going about their business while I'm banging away at my bench! My wishes are as follows…one very LONG bar height table to work at so that I do not have to sit but can stand and freely move from task to task, some kind of contraption with many small drawers to keep my metal tools organized and safely out of the reach of the humid tropical air that seems to breathe rust onto any surface it pleases, and finally a simple sound making device to hook up my ipod to so that I can create to the sound of my favorite music! (the living room is at the other end of the house and the music has to be cranked up really loud to be able to hear it in the studio!)…I think these are modest requests/dreams and Im working on bringing them to life one step at a time! Oh, and "dream big or not at all"…possibly my favorite Plume-ism so far! Mahalo Jillian!
I live in a small apartment so I have boxes piled up everywhere. They are filled with various materials waiting to be used in new creations..
Dreaming of a bigger place to work in!
xxPiia
I like the lighting, and our shop reminds me of our electronics and machine shop here at school…we live in an old building…very nice! I like your spotted shoes! x
Yay for big shops (and windows). I've got a little converted bedroom in the basement and a little tiny window. I have managed to cram quite a bit of equipment in it and have plans to make it even more accomodating. I tried to paint it a bright color (first robin egg blue, then warm green) but it seemed too distracting so I've settled on a soft warm pear color and its very nice. Someday I would like to work above ground (and not under my sleeping baby's room) with lots of windows, flower boxes, and maybe some tweeting parakeets. Love to you Miss Lovely!
Your studio space is amazing. What you're describing as a dream space sounds a lot like the artist studio that is profiled in the most current Whole Living Magazine (May 2011) The studio they show is so inspiring. She helped build it herself, I suggest checking it out.
So lovely to see your space and all the inspirational bits you've collected to fill it. My creative space right now is about 110 square feet… which actually ends up spread all over the rest of the house. It can't be contained really =) The dream would be to have an entirely separate and much larger space near the house – like yours!
Bradley's [mythical] Narwhal!!!!
love you to the depths of the cold Arctic sea…. I hope you and I see the Narwhal together one day, when we are little old women with silver hair, still-nimble fingers and adventurous hearts.
xo
You have an incredible space for creating, Jillian…I could LIVE in your studio! 🙂
My ideal space would be part indoors, part outdoors…a separate studio overlooking rainforest, or mountains, or open sky. It would be filled with natural light, and one wall would be floor to ceiling windows that open up completely like a concertina. The floor would move seamlessly from indoors to a verandah outdoors so I could work outside whenever I felt so inclined. So, in effect, a studio with three walls made by man, and one made by Mother Nature! 🙂
The climate in certain parts of Australia is so good that it's entirely possible to work outdoors for most of the year.
I will keep dreaming…one day…
Fab post. Love peering into other artist's work spaces. It's always so fascinating!
Thanks for sharing your current as well as your future dream studio.
I'm thrilled to finally have my own studio space exactly because it's all mine. I walk in and feel at peace. It houses both the practical/ utilitarian things as well as the items that connect me to my favourite memories. More space would be lovely and a few old, beautiful wood furniture pieces instead of IKEA stuff!
Nevertheless, I feel lucky to even have one!
My dream studio would be an old barn, garage or small adobe with huge windows for max natural light and to bring a feeling of living outdoors as I create. Oh, and of course a nice big slouchy couch and lovely artwork to enjoy.
So much fun to dream!!!!
Thanks Plumey…
xo
My dream studio would be outdoors….totally unrealsitic and impractical (to some extent)…but were talking dream….surrounded by trees as my walls and blue skies as my ceiling…critters peeking in and visiting for long periods of time….i would be able to dome it for rain…and the temperature would always be comfortable and breezy. Many paths in and out….and a wonderful napping place….with sunlight streaming in through the treetops.
Jillian, Your studio is full of inspiration with your collections from nature. I have a windowsill and shelf full of my treasures too. I never return from a walk without one of Mother Natures gifts.
I had a wonderful studio. It was a house built in the 1840's. Only 900 square feet. It had a cute front porch with a cottage garden inside and out of the white picket fence. I ran a small B&B in the front of the house with my studio space in the back. This little house was right across the street from our house. I loved it!
Two years ago we combined households with my Mom to help her out. I had to give up my lovely little house. Now I have a room that was my Dad's "office". It's a tight fit, but I love being in my Dad's space. I painted the ceiling yellow so it feels sunny even on dreary days.
I have dreams of a board and batten out building with studio space on the second floor for me and a workshop for my husband below. He builds the most beautiful kayaks. He needs a place to create too.
Dreams DO come true.
It was fun to see your studio. Thanks.
fabulous and thought-provoking post. it always seems like such an intimate glimpse into a life when i focus on someone's studio space. this may be a silly question, but what are the pointy things on blocks? are they supports for your enamel work in the kiln?
I'm really enjoying reading the new comments coming in about personal studio space and the descriptions of future dream spaces.
Again, this is a lovely post!!!
xo
C: YEAH!!!!! xx
Sierra: Ooh! Good call on the bar height bench….one of my benches (well…two of my benches) are this height and I LOVE it. And when you get that soundmaker, get Bose! xx
Piia: Oh sister, you'll find out that you can NEVER have a big enough space! There's always something to fill it with…or some sprawling project that demands all the square footage! x
MLJ: I do too! The lights and the shoes! x
Sand: Oh. That pear color sounds beautiful! I'm with you on the natural light — makes the soul shine and the hammers sing! x
Samantha: OOH! I'm going to try to find a copy next time I'm out in society! Thanks for the tip!
Sara: Hey, I drag things in from the studio all the time — it makes RW crazy! As I said above, you can't EVER have too much space!
Khobe: YOU KNOW IT!!! xxxxxxxx
Belinda: I kind of DO live in it:) I love your dream, by the way….LOVE it!
M: I think we all have that BIG WINDOW dream in common. Natural light is so beautiful….I think stones and metal shine truest in it which is nice when working with the stuff…..the bigger our eyes, the bigger the view we need……xx
Sue: I LOVE HOW YOU DREAM!!!!!!!! x
Cinder: YES! YES! YESSSS!!!!! Our fellows DO need a place to create also! Handmade kayaks??? Sounds like you have quite the catch there! Thanks for dreaming with me! x
Calamity: Well, it's funny you mention it, it's kind of a scary thing to share…..I don't know if anyone else agrees with me on this opinion….but it's true for me. Those pointy things are my enameling trivets, they do exactly what you thought:)
M: Me too:)