Another Studio Refresh

You know, getting your workspace just right is like laying the foundation for the most epic creative journey. For me, it's not just about having a space to create; it's about crafting an environment that fuels the artistic soul. In my previous redesign to this space, I was so focused on getting the easel set up right with my board so I could work in soft pastel on that easel {which previously I'd only used for canvases}, that I didn't realize how I screwed everything else up.  I had unintentionally set up a barricade between me and the outside world. Easel, storage cart, and all the big stuff acted like the Great Wall of Art, blocking my natural light and the sweet breeze that comes through my screen door.

I'm a nature enthusiast; I love listening to the melodious tunes of birds and watching the dance of leaves in the wind. Yet, in my quest to perfect my studio setup, I inadvertently closed myself off from these natural wonders. It's like I had caged myself in, missing out on the very inspiration I adore.
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In this basement studio, I started feeling like I was in a dungeon, which, let's be honest, is a common hazard of basement workspaces. Determined to break free from the creative confinement, I embarked on a mission to enlarge, lighten, brighten, and most importantly, bring the outdoors in.

Enter this gem I snagged from an antique mall – a slender table with a glass top, practically begging to hold my pastels and favorite tools. The best part? It's not this towering monolith; it's low enough that I can peer over it, soaking in all that glorious outside light and fresh air.

I played a bit of musical chairs with my other art gear, too. Easel took a sidestep, tall cart did a cha-cha to the other side of the easel, and voilà – my sightlines to the great outdoors are now unobstructed. It's like my workspace and nature decided to become BFFs.  My studio went from a creative hub to an artistic sanctuary!

Before I started this rearrangement, I had decided a console/sofa table would work best in this spot.  I went out searching for the perfect one, but so many were too small, or too big and chunky...nope I wasn't going to block myself in again!  I haven't shopped for furniture in a while, so I experienced a bit of sticker shock at the prices, too. 

After getting frustrated in the couple stores I visited, I finally headed back down south to one of my favorite antique malls.  I walked into this booth where a friendly lady was restocking her finds, and I spotted this table.  I knew right away it was the perfect length and height, but I measured just to be sure.  The booth owner and I started chatting and she told me she had just stripped this table down to it's original wood, getting rid of the dark brown color it had been before.  She said her original intention was to paint it, but she decided she liked the natural look.  And I liked it too!  My wood easel is natural, and I knew this would be sitting right next to it, so unpainted is perfect for me.  I also love how it has the glass top - easy to clean off pastel dust and I can see through it to the floor, which makes this sturdy gem from the past feel even lighter in profile than it is.  SOLD! :) And for a fraction of the price of the furniture store console tables!

Now, not only am I creating art with newfound vigor, but I'm also savoring the serenade of nature and keeping a watchful eye on my mischievous cat. No more surprise acrobatics as she attempts to climb the screen door!   My studio went from a creative hub to an artistic sanctuary with a built-in cat-watching station.  

​Lesson learned – a workspace isn't just a place; it's a dynamic, ever-evolving part of the creative process. Here's to breaking free, letting the light in, and inviting the great outdoors to dance with your creativity!  And to keeping an eye on feline shenanigans. :)