I remember my first studio fondly. It was in my first apartment and consisted of a wall covered in plastic bags, a large picture hook and a small cart of supplies. That was 35 years ago, and since then I have created in spaces ranging from a closet to a large room, utilizing anything from
a pochade box (painting box) to even a small sketchbook that I can carry in my shoulder bag.
I have lived in our current home for over 20 years, and my children are grown and gone, but throughout that time my spaces have shifted depending on the needs of our family. I have always been grateful to have space in the smallest room in our home or the largest, complete with exhibition walls and storage space. While raising my family, I shared spaces with playpens and toys, and in all of those iterations, I learned that all I really need are the supplies that I love to use.
Art Studio
After attending art school, I thought I needed a big, beautiful space with the perfect studio furniture in order to be creative and be taken seriously as an artist. Initially, my work consisted of large paintings which I was always able to create, even in my first little one-room apartment. If there was no wall space available to me, I just threw a drop cloth on the floor and worked … something I still practice to this day. A mentor once suggested hanging my work in progress in order to view what I need to change, and also to recognize what I have accomplished, so my studio has become the space that allows me to do that.
Several years ago, I was diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis in both of my shoulders, a painful condition that meant I could no longer paint on large canvases. As I struggled physically with years of treatment, I also struggled with the direction of my art. I knew I wanted to create a body of work over a year-long period of time, but wasn’t certain what that would entail until one day my youngest daughter suggested that I paint portraits — something I had not done since my college application in the mid-1980s.
This ended up being a bit of a blessing in disguise as I began to create large bodies of work that consisted of a number of smaller 8-by-10 or 7-by-14-inch paintings. Since this work is so much more flexible to create, exhibit, and ship, I have received even more opportunities to work in different spaces, such as artist residencies or outdoors.
Artist Residency
I have had the privilege of working as an artist in residence in some of the loveliest spaces. This has given me the opportunity to explore new media and experiment with new work. It is also a wonderful opportunity to get feedback, either from other artists or from people who visit these spaces.
My current body of work, titled Women of the West and inspired by a previous residency a year ago, has now begun during a new residency and features paintings on paper of historical female western Canadian artists. As a female artist and longtime resident of Alberta, I have felt the challenges that many women face in the art world today — and have an understanding that in the past, the challenges were even greater. Researching archives on location opens the doors to the history of the women artists who contributed to the growth of arts in this region.
Over time, I noticed that in taking one small step after another by creating one small painting at a time, I have been able to paint over 600 portraits of women. I also know that I could not have done this on my own. As much as I hope to inspire and encourage other women, I have been supported, too. As solitary as this work can be, taking part in residencies has been a wonderful collaboration.
Plein Air
These days, with my daughters living in different regions and countries, travel has become a bigger part of my life. This has meant that utilizing sketchbooks has become even more important. I love capturing memories rather than collecting things on my trips; and, since we walk so much, I need lightweight, easily accessible items. When I paint closer to home, I still use the small 6-by-8-inch paint box that inspired so many projects (I call it my “studio in a box”) and always have it ready to go. Over time, some of my favorite supplies have grown to include a small sketchbook, a small water brush and a miniature set of watercolors, which originally consisted of a mini Altoids tin filled with watercolor paint. It is easily accessible and extremely lightweight.
I used to be very specific about the primary colors I used, but now find that the particular colors no longer matter to me, as long as they are a version of yellow, red (or pink) and blue. Sometimes I add a pencil crayon or a fountain pen filled with red ink to my kit (love the contrast of red with the sketches), but find that the simpler I keep things, the greater the possibility that I will actually create while away.
I happily paint while in a train, plane, vehicle, hotel, park or café … and any time we stop to have a rest, bite to eat or a drink. It really is a lovely way to while away my time doing something that gives me so much joy. Plus, those sketchbooks have become an important part of gathering inspiration for my work and are wonderful mementos of my travels.
Challenges
After developing adhesive capsulitis, I had to switch from working on large canvases to small; and, after 35 years, my husband developed an allergy to acrylics, so I began to switch to watercolor. Every time I finish a project, I am afraid that I may reach a sort of “writer’s block” as a painter — and yet it never happens. Eventually, I learned to view each challenge as an opportunity to try something new.
There have been many quiet times, which I have learned are times to rest, and there have also been many times to celebrate. Those times are always so much sweeter when experienced with a group of inspiring women. The beauty of creativity is that it is endless, though I often have to remind myself just to create for the pleasure of creating in order to keep that well flowing.
The biggest lesson, for me, has been to recognize that the space does not really make a difference. Once I realized that the supplies I loved to work with and the subject matter that drew my attention were the most important parts of my creative practice, the space where I painted did not matter as much. I still maintain a home studio but, with the work I now create, I have been moving further and further away from it.
The ability to practice creativity anywhere is the greatest thing. When I realized that I could work in any environment, I simplified my supplies and began to receive many wonderful opportunities as an artist. Sometimes changing my space is as important to my creative process as actually creating.
Throughout all of my years as an artist, I have had to make many adjustments in order to fit the needs of my family and accommodate my physical limitations. A number of years ago, I was given the best advice by an artist who encouraged: “Pay attention to what draws your attention and focus on that.”
Her advice made me realize two things:
1. All I need is my pochade box or a small sketchbook to create anywhere.
2. I can create something large that is also meaningful out of a group of small things.
It has taken a long time to get to this point in my life as an artist. I thought that everything needed to be perfect for me to be inspired or to be taken seriously as an artist. I thought that the space, the supplies, the subject — basically everything — had to be “just right” in order to create something that mattered. Yet, the more I found myself working away from my studio — whether it was live painting for an event, creating a mural, doing work as part of an artist residency or just documenting the world around me — it became clear it was the actual act of creating that mattered.
Nothing brings me more joy than painting, so it is important that I find space in my life for it. After learning of the challenges that female artists of the past overcame in order to create, I realize how fortunate I am to receive so many incredible opportunities as a female artist in this world. I also know that I would paint no matter what, as I believe I have been created to do this work. I believe that so many of us are.
