In 2015, my husband and I were looking to relocate and searching for a new home—we had seen at least 20 when I got his call to say that he thought he had just found our house, or at least “my” house. Despite having been an artist for the past ten years, I had not even considered trying to find a home with an “actual” artist studio, so this property took me by surprise because it came with a ready-made “actual artist studio”. Just to be certain we would get the hint, the Universe sprinkled in some synchronicity—the retiring artist seller and her husband had similar names as ours, and so it was meant to be.
It’s hard to imagine that I could find a better space than this to create my botanical arts. I had worked out of unfinished (think dirt floor) basements, garages, and spare bedrooms, so I was more than ready for an upgrade. I am a home body and savor being able to roll out of bed during a sleepless night and get to making or have all five of our adopted dogs laying at my feet throughout the day. I value my creative time as somewhat sacred, so when I am in the zone I would be too easily distracted in a more public space. Hence, working out of my home space has always been what is most ideal for me.
My studio has seemingly unlimited storage space designed with an artist’s needs in mind (e.g., large drawers that fit my giant sheets of paper) and ample, dare I say extra beautiful, light from four large windows and two skylights. A cozy loft space that we aptly call “my apartment” overlooks the studio, and it offers even more skylights that sit perched at eye level to the surrounding forest.
A glance around my studio reflects my interests—rather than displaying my own work, I like to have the work of other artists who inspire me in my space, along with cherished pieces created by my ancestors. I keep a collection of stones, statuary, and keepsakes from travel on a set of bookshelves that line the steps leading up to my loft. This way I pass some of my favorite items each time I go up and down the stairs.
The studio overlooks views of the gardens from most windows. Since so much of what I do begins in the garden where I collect most of the botanicals that I use, being surrounded by my gardens is vital both practically and as a source of constant inspiration. I tease that the flower fairies do much of the work for me. They are tiny, though, and so I have to manage my expectations regarding what they can actually accomplish.
While the studio had me at “storage options” (this maker is a Capricorn and she likes to keep things organized), it is the light that I marvel at every day. I know exactly when the light is best for painting, photographing my pieces, styling my ecoprinted scarves on Quin, my mannequin, or setting wet collages to dry in the sunny spots. The four-leggeds know the light as well; on a cold winter’s day, I watch them chase around the sunny spots to lay in.
Like many of us, I’m a one-woman production team playing many different roles. I dream, design, create, market, pack, ship, bookkeep, order supplies, set up and transport my mobile boutique most often by myself. I also tend to get very dirty, both outdoors in the gardens, but also indoors with my botanical dyes, paints, pastels, glues, pigments and potions.
My dogs are also my constant companions in the gardens and on more ambitious plant collecting expeditions, and there is often a cat or two perched above me in the loft area waiting to catch a glimpse of the flower fairies. While I like to listen to music while I work, you can also catch me listening to the Gaia network to indulge my passion for interests in ancient cultures, quantum physics, holistic healing (I’m trained in homeopathy), meditation and the like. I consider it a bonus to be able to learn while working, especially when doing the more monotonous tasks like packing up orders.
In 2015, my husband and I were looking to relocate and searching for a new home—we had seen at least 20 when I got his call to say that he thought he had just found our house, or at least “my” house. Despite having been an artist for the past ten years, I had not even considered trying to find a home with an “actual” artist studio, so this property took me by surprise because it came with a ready-made “actual artist studio”. Just to be certain we would get the hint, the Universe sprinkled in some synchronicity—the retiring artist seller and her husband had similar names as ours, and so it was meant to be.
It’s hard to imagine that I could find a better space than this to create my botanical arts. I had worked out of unfinished (think dirt floor) basements, garages, and spare bedrooms, so I was more than ready for an upgrade. I am a home body and savor being able to roll out of bed during a sleepless night and get to making or have all five of our adopted dogs laying at my feet throughout the day. I value my creative time as somewhat sacred, so when I am in the zone I would be too easily distracted in a more public space. Hence, working out of my home space has always been what is most ideal for me.
My studio has seemingly unlimited storage space designed with an artist’s needs in mind (e.g., large drawers that fit my giant sheets of paper) and ample, dare I say extra beautiful, light from four large windows and two skylights. A cozy loft space that we aptly call “my apartment” overlooks the studio, and it offers even more skylights that sit perched at eye level to the surrounding forest.
A glance around my studio reflects my interests—rather than displaying my own work, I like to have the work of other artists who inspire me in my space, along with cherished pieces created by my ancestors. I keep a collection of stones, statuary, and keepsakes from travel on a set of bookshelves that line the steps leading up to my loft. This way I pass some of my favorite items each time I go up and down the stairs.
The studio overlooks views of the gardens from most windows. Since so much of what I do begins in the garden where I collect most of the botanicals that I use, being surrounded by my gardens is vital both practically and as a source of constant inspiration. I tease that the flower fairies do much of the work for me. They are tiny, though, and so I have to manage my expectations regarding what they can actually accomplish.
While the studio had me at “storage options” (this maker is a Capricorn and she likes to keep things organized), it is the light that I marvel at every day. I know exactly when the light is best for painting, photographing my pieces, styling my ecoprinted scarves on Quin, my mannequin, or setting wet collages to dry in the sunny spots. The four-leggeds know the light as well; on a cold winter’s day, I watch them chase around the sunny spots to lay in.
Like many of us, I’m a one-woman production team playing many different roles. I dream, design, create, market, pack, ship, bookkeep, order supplies, set up and transport my mobile boutique most often by myself. I also tend to get very dirty, both outdoors in the gardens, but also indoors with my botanical dyes, paints, pastels, glues, pigments and potions.
My dogs are also my constant companions in the gardens and on more ambitious plant collecting expeditions, and there is often a cat or two perched above me in the loft area waiting to catch a glimpse of the flower fairies. While I like to listen to music while I work, you can also catch me listening to the Gaia network to indulge my passion for interests in ancient cultures, quantum physics, holistic healing (I’m trained in homeopathy), meditation and the like. I consider it a bonus to be able to learn while working, especially when doing the more monotonous tasks like packing up orders.
