Looking for the ideal creative space

Do you have a space that inspires you more than others? Maybe it's in your home or outside in your garden, or even in your office? Because of a personal quest to find the most creative space possible, for my own unique processes, I'm thinking about the space of others.

This weekend Sarah and I drove around to some local studios and enjoyed the work of some local artists. Two of these artists are also our friends and we both remarked about how, since the studio and display space also happens to be in their homes, the homes and their work seem to be a sort of reciprocal reflection of these people. The homes "looked like" their owners. Their work "looked like" them too! In a strange little way.

Then we went to a local cooperative space and although they weren't "open for business" in the typical manner of speaking, one of the artists there let us in to look around. That space was nothing like the studio space in our friends' homes.

Got me thinking - even more - about my own ideal creative space. It's related to the question I posed a while back concerning what we would do if we were guaranteed success. Ever since then, I've been trying to look at life situations through the perspective of that question. Assuming, if you will, that I will succeed. So in trying to identify my ideal creative space, I'm going on these field trips, looking at the studios of others and examining my own creative goals.

It's been an interesting process. No doubt you'll hear a lot more about it here in the coming days...weeks. Maybe the questions will never stop coming, just like the ideas... 

Comments

[Dena]

My ideal creative space chanages. When I'm working from home, I just know I would be more productive if I were away in a studio or in a coffee shop. When I'm in one of those areas, I'm wondering why I'm not taking advantage of the wonderful gift of being able to work from home with all my stuff. In short, the grass is always greener on the other side...

I tend to do better with fewer distractions. Beautiful beaches and sunny days make me feel good, but I don't want to look at them and have to work. I'd probably produce my best efforts in locked away in a windowless closet for a week...

[Melody]

Dena, it's very good to have your perspective about how the creative grass always seems greener. I think you're on to something where my own processes are concerned, too. Working in a quiet space where others aren't walking around, talking to each other, helps me to stay more focused, too.

Maybe what I need is some interaction with creative people that isn't actually related to my main workspace. Maybe I need to sign up for some more classes. Wait. I've been working on that! :) Enough talking it out over coffee and in the blog and I'll have the best system ever! Thanks for your own input!

Windowless closet, though. Eek. I'm shuddering.