Studio Friday.. Replenish

This week's topic for Studio Friday October 5th was inspired by Robyn: REPLENISH!
Replenish, take a breather, recharge your creative batteries...how do you go about it? Do you make enough time to do so or do you run in danger of burnout?? How do you replenish? Do you exercise, meet a friend, go on a mini vacation, ride your bike, daydream, meditate...?? The possibilities are endless for it. And once you get back to your work, have things changed because of it?

To replenish myself the other day I actually stopped, took a break, left the laundry, orders, dishes, and dust and went outside. A, T and I took a walk. Knowing what the topic was for this week, I brought along my camera and took some pics of the colors. It was a nice break and we needed play time. We sorted and collected acorns, watched bees and butterflies, and visited our pond. The weather has been glorious so it was a great way to refocus on the important things. My family.

Studio Friday: THIS IS THE ONE...

This weeks Studio Friday topic is: THIS IS THE ONE...

"Imagine this: a complete hypothetical scenario... Your studio/creative space gets destroyed in a disaster (don't dwell on the disaster part too long).All people/family members/boyfriends/husbands/animals are safe and sound and well. You can run back in and save only ONE item and carry it to safety. What would you save and why??"

Oh.. this was a toughy!! I just spent about 2 hours today (off and on) re-organizing my 'studio/dining room closet'. So, now that I actually know whats in there again I was able to think about it some. Here it is. My buttons. My canning jar of white buttons. Most are antique, some are bone, glass, plastic, shell or stone but I love them all. Now as far as a disaster goes.. I don't even want to think about it! Bad juju karma!
;)

Spe(a)cial...

"Take a look around you at your studio space...how much space do you have? Take a look at your art...how does your space influence your art in any way? Do you create small or large art works? Do you see a parallel?Take a look at your dream studio space (yippieh!)...what does it look like? What is the layout? Is it big or small? And most important of all: What art do you create in it? Will it be on a larger or smaller scale than before? And what can you do to get closer to your vision this week/month/year?" -Tine at Studio Friday.



Well, I have at my disposal a large studio space with lighting, tables, shelving, the works (small pic at top is of the space before it was finished). Can I utilize it? Not yet. My 2 year old loves to get into everything and so, for now, my dream space, just steps away, remains just that. I do however have a great closet in my diningroom (it was suppose to be my china closet, but I had enough space in my kitchen for its contents) for the items I use on a daily basis. It is unusually neat right now (I think its the nesting instinct.) Most of my art is smaller in format, by its nature I suppose. I don't think that I would make larger formats even if the space provided for it. I am an immediate gratification person, and I like to complete things in a timely manner. So small works great for that. I think that I will use my space more once my children are little more self reliant. (or in school all day) :) At this point, since I am carrying my third, that is going to be a while. But for now, my little closet, well organized, works just great. (and I LOVE the clear plastic shoe hanger on the door!! I can put SOOOO much stuff into it! I think it was 5$ at Walmart but to me its priceless!)
:) Abbie

Recycle.

"Is there anything in your studio that you are re-using? Anything in your artwork? Maybe you save materials from another area and use them in your art? How do you recycle?"

This is my entry for Studio Friday. The topic for this week is Re-Cycle! It is a portion of a larger piece that I just completed as a submission for one of the upcoming topics in the Somerset Studio Magazine.

I try to 'recycle' almost everything that I utilize in my pieces. Most are on wood scraps from our house construction (like this piece), all of the elements are original and authentic. I try not to use reproductions that are massed produced if it is at all possible. The skeleton key, ribbon and tag are all antique, the dried flowers I pressed myself and the keyhole is a salvage piece from a local salvage and antique shop. The papers I used to collage the background are original clippings from an 1888 Farm and Home Newspaper reclaimed from my grandfathers house. Occasionally I will 'rework' an art piece after a while. I'll grow tired of looking at it, pull everything off I can use again, and repaint. Start over. I am in the process of slimming down my supplies and only using that which I have on hand or can get easily and inexpensively. Using what I do pick up quickly so it doesn't find a corner of my space and multiply. ;) It is amazing how quickly a few antique buttons and metal pieces reproduce. They are like bunnies if you don't use them and watch them carefully.