CREATIVITY

Is Your Workspace A Place of Inspiration?

Artists teach me how to live, again and again

Allow me to admit, I am no artist. Not by a long shot.

Okay, perhaps with words, yes, as a working writer I can say I’m an artist. During my musical theater days, perhaps some moments of artistry too.

I’m more a stick-figure guy when it comes to visual arts.

But I’m entranced by visual artists and in particular their spaces, the places where the hard work and the magic happens — the physical-space sanctuaries they’ve created so they can continue to do their best work.

Julia Cameron, the prolific author of The Artist’s Way would label me a classic “shadow artist” — a person who loves being in the presence of creative types and those artists actually doing it, yet is unwilling to believe they can do it themselves, or is unwilling to do the work involved.

Gee, Julia, way to throw a wet blanket on a guy.

In truth, I’m just inspired when I stand within a creative artist’s space — the paint palette of mixed hues, the watercolors and rags at the ready, the different vessels for preparing oils.

I don’t want to be them, I just want to hang out and be in the presence of creation in action, to be reminded of all that’s possible.

I love the tools and implements.

The supplies at the ready.

The paid-for wares awaiting the creator’s bidding.

You can find me at many an open studio or gallery event, not taking photos of the art, but studying and taking photos of the artists’ desks, their cork boards and vision boards or dream boards.

Some may be mess-cats, but most, I find, put great thought and intention in creating the work space, the environment — the place that will continue to bring inspiration, even on the most down of days.

I was so drawn to the above artist’s space, reminding us that inspiration can come from color, from visuals of all kinds, from a window with a view, from magazines, cards, photos, etchings, quotes, letters from a loved one.

From small altars to our heroes.

I love that idea.

In my writing life, I compose here and there — sometimes at the table, sometimes at the desk, sometimes on my lap. I’m gonna be more intentional in setting up my space, surrounding myself with images of literary and cultural heroes to join my arsenal of inspiration nearby.

I may not be a painter or sketcher, but I can see myself thriving in a mixed media environment, where collages are created to comment on the ironies, indignities and victories of life — photos, pop art, old advertising and high fashion overlain street photography or world events — the doom culture.

Oh, just imagine the possibilities.

If you’re feeling stuck, in a rut and uncertain, get thee to an art store.

Get thee to an artist open studio.

Skip the gallery and all the finished productS. That’s enough to drive any perfectionist into inaction. Instead, go to where the magic happens, where the hard work is done, and allow the environment to seep into your pores.

Let the senses be open to the smells, the sights, the music that’s been selected. The layout of the room — the extreme mess or the meticulous planning. The electricity, passion or focus in the air.

Writers only turning to writers and books for inspiration?

Oh how one-note.

Visit nature.

Visit the artists and creators and pry the soul wide open again to the pain of possibilities, the beauty of birth.

© Joe Guay, 2024

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