I will not be daunted. That is the quote of the day and here's why...You won't believe it.
I can hardly believe it.
<BIG SIGH> Some of you might remember what my studio looked like when I had it at the Pendleton Art Center in Ohio (featured in the Spring issue of Studios Magazine in 2012--just before we moved away!)
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| My lovely studio, Bohemian Art Cafe, as it once was in Ohio. *sniff sniff* I miss it terribly! |
I'm moving my art studio...AGAIN. After struggling for the past year to get my studio set up out in the handi-house, I've realized that it just isn't working out.
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| Spider of enormous size! |
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Only one of many many froggies that
visited my studio this year! |
The shed itself is great. But, the frogs, the lizards, the spiders, the
enormous cockroaches (okay, they call them Palmetto Bugs here, but to me they are still cockroaches!), the mice and yes, even a small snake have all stopped for visits. About the only thing that
hasn't made it inside is an alligator. This plethora of unwanted visitors, along with the stifling heat--since a frog or two mucked up the works of the A/C unit--have made this a most inhospitable location for my art. It doesn't seem to matter what I'm working on, one or more of these critters jumps, skitters, or falls on me as I'm reaching for tools or supplies.
I figure I have caused more than one golfer on the 4th hole of the course where we live to completely flub there shot as I scream (I can't help it...1) I'm a girl and 2) I hate when these creepy crawly things land on me--hard to believe this is the girl who used to pet fuzzy caterpillars!
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Currently used as storage, this will be my painting,
jewelry and collage space |
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| Future home of my glass studio |
So, we are planning to move my studio indoors. My glass and enameling will go in one extra bedroom and my jewelry, painting and collage/assemblage will go in another. My sweetie will be moving his tools and wood working studio out to the handi-house--he says that bugs and frogs and lizards, etc. won't bother him and he'll turn on fans when he is working. We might even be able to get his stuff organized with all the shelving that will be available.
Since the two rooms are even smaller than the outside studio, I have a lot of organizing and some "getting rid" of to do. The great thing is that I'll be able to put up more shelves and cabinets and that should make up for
most of the additional space needed since I'm not using several walls (doors) in the shed. And I'll be able to use a walk in closet for some storage--I'm thinking that for now, until I figure out a different solution, the items that I take to markets and crafts fairs can be stored in the closet and the door shut so I'm not tripping over everything as I do now. I have a LOT of items for displaying from my Ohio studio and some of those are going into storage.
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The current studio. A lovely space, if only I could seal it from
the critters aka insects etc. Future home of sweetie's studio. |
I think it will work well. I'll have temperature and bug control, be able to work in the evenings after sweetie goes to sleep much more comfortably than I ever felt going out to the studio outside, and will be able to enjoy time with the cats and dog. I'll have instant access to the Internet and my PC/printer. I'll even be able to have a TV for background.
Biggest drawbacks: 1) moving everything out of the rooms to storage and his studio 2) prepping the rooms with cabinets and shelves, 3) moving everything from the outside studio indoors and 4) it will be even more challenging for me to find reasons to leave the house.
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I can clearly see that there is room for
additional organization in my studio life. |
I do think it will benefit my creativity but I am worried about the space for working on larger projects and how/whether I will be able to ever teach any classes--even itty bitty ones--in these rooms. I'll be able to let go of more stuff that I've not been using or thought I'd use and never did and be able to clear out mediums that I no longer want to use. I'll be able to get an even greater level of organization done and really have specific areas for specific mediums and tools. It's exciting. And daunting.
I will not be daunted.
I believe we are shooting for an April time frame to commit to this project. I have a lot of preparation work that needs to occur before that time. Wish me luck.
