The Birth of a Studio

Posted on | April 21, 2010 | 5 Comments

I have known for years that my lack of patience was a major downfall in my personality. This lack of patience deals with getting things done not impatience with people. I am a doer. Decide to paint the bedroom one morning……done that evening. After moving into a new/old home with a one car garage with zero insulation I knew I had to do something. The Colorado winters are a bit too cold to not have any insulation in the area where I work all day. I decided to add another garage to make it a two car garage ( of which the car will NEVER see) and that would be my studio. Insulated and all ! Sounds great….right?

With my mindset in tow I figured out how long it should take and prepared my psyche. Oh, how wrong I was! I forgot about inspections, electricians, drywall, wet concrete, painters, the sealing of the concrete floor that has to sit for 3-4 days before I can stain the floor, rain, drying time, etc. Having the best crew in the world didn’t help with my impatience.

I guess what I am saying here is….. I need a little help.

How do you handle your impatience? Does it effect your your ability to write, paint, create?

I need some “feel good” advice.

(PS….I would have added photos of the studio in progress but the files were too big ….another thing to learn)

Category: Creative Flow, Creativity, Frustration
Tags: birth > Frustration > mindset > Strength > studio
5 Comments

Comments

5 Responses to “The Birth of a Studio”

Kim
April 22nd, 2010 @ 5:26 am

Gwen, this is a wonderful post and kudos to you for moving towards this great studio for yourself. Like you, I am patient with people and many things, but when it comes to myself forget about it! I am sure it is your eagerness to begin working in your new space (probably along with getting work-people out of your house) which makes you eager to be done with all of this construction business. What do I do? Research! Yes, I just reconcile myself to the fact that this business is out of my control and decide it is an opportunity for research. My camera is always at the ready and (more recently) the sketchbook reminds me of the importance of making a mark a day, at least. I look for subtle hints such as how does the hue of the cement change as it cures or when the sealing is applied? Can I reproduce that in a color swatch? What does it look like when the rain falls on different surfaces? Is that a graphic worth exploring? Is there a texture in the skin surface of a work-person which is appealing? Etc…it goes on and on.

So for me, trying to turn the tables on the situation and making it an opportunity I would not normally have is the only way for me to deal with my own impatience.

I bet you get some great suggestions here. I will be eager to hear what others have to say.

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gwen Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 6:06 am
@Kim, Research….great idea. It is a thought consuming process as well as educational. Yes, I am very eager to get into the space so I can create. It has been way too long and I get a bit cranky when I can’t feed my soul.

I was thinking about you this morning and was trying to remember how we met on line. Of course it doesn’t really matter when and how but I am blessed that it did. Hopefully we will be able to meet in person one day….perhaps Taos, New Mexico? Lots of wonderful doors there!!!

[Reply]
Kim Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 7:24 am
@gwen, Oh Gwen, you are right, there are a lot of great doors in Taos! Believe it or not I get to that part of the country from time to time, so it is absolutely a possibility we might meet up sometime.

Here is the funny thing, I think we caught up on LinkedIn, but I rarely visit there. It was one of those meetings which was meant to be, you know? I, too, feel quite blessed. We have quite a few parallels going here as far as our thinking and our travels.

Okay, it is off to the studio for me now…mind you, it is just a tiny little bedroom. That garage studio sounds delightful!

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Gaye Lindfors
April 22nd, 2010 @ 5:39 am

Hi, Gwen – You can see the big picture and all the steps it will take to create it (probably much like when you paint?). Your vision is clear. It’s the messiness in the journey that is not as rewarding perhaps. You aren’t in control of completing those steps, and there’s not much creativity involved, unlike when you paint.
But here’s the good thing…so many people are unable or unwilling to create the vision, and they start moving anyway. Without intention. I think your impatience is what helps make you an amazing artist. You can see the end result, feel it, and then you create it. Your beautiful pieces of art don’t just happen–they were intentionally designed. I’d prefer to see art that was created this way, rather than someone who just “did the tasks” on a canvas. I have to remind myself to keep the end result in mind when I write. Move through the activities, knowing they are creating my chapter.

[Reply]
gwen Reply:
April 22nd, 2010 at 5:59 am
@Gaye Lindfors, Thanks Gaye…yes, it is the messiness and probably lack of control that is also bothering me. I should take the advice you give so beautifully on your site…”What would happen if…..” I have taken those words, applied them and come up with some very interesting answers and ways of looking at situations.
I too, will keep the end results in mind….a wonderful nurturing place where I can dance with creativity.

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