We Asked the Artists: What is Your Ideal Work Environment?
For creative types, a space for working is often the biggest challenge. Creating the ideal environment for work is not always possible. However, there is usually an atmosphere that we work best in. People with a dedicated work space can come and create whenever the mood strikes them, while others have to accommodate families, noise, or other disturbances. I usually have the 10 square feet in the middle of my bedroom floor with which to assemble my supplies and create. Once I begin, I have the added challenge of trying to keep the dog from walking through my wet paint. But I create some of my best work when I’m holding him back with one hand and stamping/painting/drawing with the other.
Since everyone is different, here are a few of the ways that these artists like to work. We asked:
What is your ideal work environment? Do you like to listen to music, or do you prefer silence? Do you like to work alone, or share studio space with others?
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“I share a space with my husband, but he doesn’t work from home as I do, so I have the space all to myself on most days. That’s the ideal environment for me because I tend to make a lot of noise when creating…I like to work on multiple projects at once, one minute I could be hammering metal, the next minute I could be machine sewing, but almost always, I enjoy having music in the background. Even though I enjoy all genres of music, my favorites include classical and contemporary instrumental. This kind of music encourages my creativity.”
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Cat Kerr has been published in Somerset Studio, Somerset Studio Gallery, Belle Armoire Jewelry, Sew Somerset, Somerset Memories, Jewelry Affaire, Somerset Holidays & Celebrations, and Belle Armoire.
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“My ideal work environment is at home, in my own studio. I prefer to work alone; it is a rare person that is allowed entry into my personal space. If I have a deadline or a commission of some sort, I prefer absolute silence, sometimes I’ll work like that for weeks. If I’m playing and doing art just for me, I have the Rock music cranked up.”
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Renee Zarate has been featured in Art Journaling, The Stampers’ Sampler, Somerset Studio, Take Ten, Somerset Studio Gallery, and HandCrafted.
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“My creative space is a tiny cupboard where I work alone, there would be no room for another (!), in peace and quiet. It isn’t ideal due to the size with me struggling to store supplies and work within such a wee area but I am lucky to have a designated space to call my own.”
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Lynne Moncrieff is an artist living in Perth, Scotland, and has been published in Somerset Studio, Somerset Studio Gallery, Take Ten, Haute Handbags, Somerset Life, Somerset Holidays & Celebrations, Sew Somerset, and The Stampers’ Sampler.
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“I work on my own in my studio and that definitely works best for me. On those occasional times that I have worked side by side with other artists in a studio setting, I always find myself more focused on the social aspect rather than the creating. There are times when I listen to music in the background but generally I find silence more conducive to art making. When I get in the zone, I don’t even hear the background music anyhow.”
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Seth Apter is the author of The Pulse of Mixed Media and his work has appeared in Somerset Memories, Somerset Studio, and Somerset Apprentice.
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“My ideal work environment is of my own making. I like to work alone, with music playing, a candle burning, natural light streaming through the windows, fresh air, and surrounded by the materials I collect. I don’t want to be in conversation or on the computer or anything that distracts from the pure energy of messy, magical, and meditative creativity.”
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Anna Corba has been published in Mingle, Somerset Studio, and HandCrafted, as well as publishing her own book, Doodling in French: How to Draw with Joie de Vivre. Her book and stamp line are available at The Shoppe.
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“It is a beautiful mess! A great big beautiful mess with supplies scattered everywhere, little piles of this and that, but I know where everything is. I have a lovely little studio but somehow I always find myself standing in my kitchen, I’m not comfortable sitting down while I work, hours pass and next thing I know I look up and my husband’s home and it’s time to make dinner!”
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Sandra Evertson’s work has appeared in Somerset Home, Somerset Studio Gallery, Somerset Studio, Artful Blogging, Somerset Workshop, and Altered Couture. She has also produced five, whimsical stamp collections that are exclusively available in The Shoppe.
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“My ideal work environment exists in small pockets of reality, most of the time I am a creative tornado, messy, unorganized and surrounded by chaos. Every now and again however, everything has its place, mellow acoustic music is playing in the background and I am left undisturbed for hours as I watch my images appear from what was once discarded scraps of wood. Then I wake up. Truth is I use to think I had to have it all together before I could begin to create…then I would find myself so wrapped up in the idea of creating and what I needed to get or organize before I did it, I never actually got to the actual creating part. Now I simply do it. I clear enough space to do the task at hand and get busy. One day I want to be like Cathe Holden…I do have workshop envy I must admit.”
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Michelle E. Black is a photographer and artist that has been published in Somerset Studio Gallery, Somerset Home, Somerset Holidays & Celebrations, Somerset Apprentice, and Somerset Studio.
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“For my creative work, I like to work alone. If I am concentrating very hard on detail work, I have no sound. If I am working on things that require less focus, I love to listen to podcasts or NPR. I find that the talk radio helps keep my inner critic busy allowing me to work more in the flow.On Music: That all depends on how loudly that little muse is whispering to me on any given day, if he’s extra noisy and has a lot to say I work in complete silence, so I can pay close attention. If he’s feeling a little less frantic I put on an old black and white movie and travel back in time a bit. It’s a pretty cool feeling to be working and imagining the antique materials I love actually being used in the time period in which those movies take place!On working alone: I’m never alone; my muse keeps me company along with two tiny Chihuahuas and a loud Bengal cat.”
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Claudine Hellmuth is an artist and illustrator whose work has appeared in Where Women Create, Stuffed Magazine, Somerset Studio, and Artful Blogging. She has also produced a line of stamps available in The Shoppe.
While the ideal work environment is not always possible, it’s important to know what gets the creative juices flowing. We hope that you are able to take these artists’ ideas and create an atmosphere that helps you create.
What’s your ideal work environment? Leave a comment below.
Posted: Tuesday, June 23rd, 2015 @ 1:16 pm
Categories: Uncategorized.
Tags: Anna Corba, Cat Kerr, Claudine Hellmuth, Ideal Work Environment, Lynne Moncrieff, Michelle E. Black, Renee Zarate, Sandra Evertson, Seth Apter, We asked the artists.
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I like to have music in the background, listening to different genres depending on my mood. In addition, I like to burn incense and have something to drink such as coffee, tea, or a glass of wine, depending on the time of day. I usually work in my studio alone, but do share it with my daughters when they’re in town.
My chippy white vintage gateleg table with piles of art supplies on top has morphed (via carpenter hubby) into a 14 ft long counter top & cupboards above & below to facilitate my creativity (nah, he just wants it to be neater….) but I’m grateful & can’t wait til the dust settles so I can (find) use my supplies and get back to some tune filled creative moments to get MESSY!
We had a home office put in our house. One side contains the Computer and printer and office storage. My side contains tons of craft supplies and files and a nice work space with good lighting. It’s hard to work with both of us in same room . He likes it quiet and I like music. So I do without. It is not an ideal situation, but it’s better than it was years ago when I worked on my lap or on a table that was available. I still end up on my lap in some other room doing drawings.
Personally, I prefer working alone in a quiet place: no phone, no emails and no bombardment of the senses. I do aloud music, in most times; I listen to world music or classical crossover and sometime soft radio. When I start a new doll, I set aside to sketch and think. Next, my mind just creates and it bubbles and it comes up with ideas. I love when my studio is clean and organized and everything is put back in is initial place so I can start fresh the next day.
Marie Georghy Jacob
Doll artist at Atelier Miss Georgia
In my cozy studio, that is sectioned by my particular art mediums such as papercrafting & mixed media, beadwork, sewing, & watercolor supplies, I am most satisfied. Natural daylight spills onto my workspace. With a “guest seat” available I do so enjoy sharing the space at times, but mostly I create on my own. Acoustic music, some with old gospel hymns that touch my heart, usually soothes my soul and quiets my thoughts so that I can let my creativity flow.
How blessed I am to have this “me” space that makes me smile when I enter. Others that enjoy my studio wonder how I can ever let another thing in, BUT I can find every little thing that is needed in a heartbeat!! Organization is my key.
SO SO BLESSED!!! THANKS for asking!!
Joyfully…~Sandie
I work in a very fast paced, energetic office at our local University from 8 to 5. My husband is home bound with health problems so there is almost always music or the TV on. We are a family of that loves noise. However, when it comes to creating, I never take my studio space for granted. It is messy and unorganized, yet it still feels like a day at the spa, relaxing and calm, allowing me to listen to my own thoughts, create my visual stories and be completely free of distractions. I get gloriously lost in the silence – it’s when my best work is done.
I just recently have a room of my own-but I find myself sneaking back out to the kitchen table. The light pools through the French doors and helps motivate me-besides I can quickly tend laundry or make my favorite tea.
I thrive best alone-if I have company-I want to chat. My space is messy, but I like my projects laid out and ready for me to spiral inward-when time allows. Art for me is like a labyrinth-layer by layer memories surface. I wish I could have everything in see through boxes, a view of the ocean would be ideal and a window seat-to crawl into with piles of pillows and books.
I loved reading everyone’s responses~ I think I am most like Renee Zarate~
the artwork by Kat Kerr is outstanding.
Cat Kerr’s resin houses appeared in the summer issue of Somerset Studio Gallery.
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STUDIO SPACE THAT MY HUSBAND BUILT FOR ME……BUT IT HAS BECOME STUFFED WITH PROJECTS , INSPIRATIONS,AND SUPPLIES…..TOO CROWDED TO WORK….. SO I CONTINUE TO DO ALL OF MY ART AT MY KITCHEN TABLE,USUALLY WITH MY I-TUNES IN THE BACKGROUND, AND A CUP OF TEA OR ICED TEA (DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR)AND SOME SORT OF SNACK …UNTIL MY FAMILY GETS HOME AND IT’S TIME TO MAKE DINNER!!! LIFE IS GREAT!!!!
I have also taken over the kitchen table. My work desk proved too small to accommodate a large art canvas.
My ideal space is my office/studio. It’s fairly small but it’s always the right temperature and cosy. The window lets in natural light, and looks out on to greenery. The walls are covered in pictures and photos that have a great deal of meaning to me. I listen to my favourite music while I’m working in there and …… it feels like home.
Sometimes small spaces are the best places to work. I like my cozy little bedroom for working because it does feel like home.
My favorite place to work is in our sunroom. I have a beautiful view of our yard and gardens and the light is wonderful. Yes, it does get rather messy, but I usually know where everything is. My orange tabby is often napping nearby, except when he decides to inspect my work. I rarely have music playing – I enjoy having a window open to hear the birds and the breezes – during the warmer months, of course.
I chose a big, bright room in our home (it appears as a ‘stone turret’ from the outside of the house) to fill to overflowing with art supplies to create cloth dolls and ‘petite innocent’ paintings. i love to create well into the night .. all alone. and i adore having ‘gurlfrenz’ come over and we sit at our large dining room table surrounded by windows with one entire wall being a mirror that doubles EVERYTHING .. including the light! for the last few years .. most of all … i love painting with my three little ‘grande-fairies’ (ages 5, 7 and 8). we have been painting together since they could hold a crayon and scribble .. and together we have learned so much and made charming art and ‘forever memories’.
I love when an entire community gets together to craft, whether it’s girlfriends or grandkids. And I am incredibly envious of your turret! I can picture creating in my own little tower and it must be a very inspiring space.