Studios

If you don’t already have a studio space of your own set up at home, now is the time to start working on it. My studio started with a small space in my kitchen and then it grew larger, then moved out of the house, then back into my house and shrank into a small corner, then grew again and it’s now in my one-car garage. Carve out a space that is yours and guard it like a dragon guards a horde of gold.  Lots of things will try to steal your studio space and your studio time: jobs, families, money troubles, your own psyche, and a million other priorities that will claim your art isn’t valuable enough for the space or for the time. You are literally the only person who can protect your studio space and your studio time. It’s a tiny country and you’re its only army. You don’t have to sacrifice everything for your studio, but you DO have to sacrifice something. 15 minutes a day is better than nothing. 5 square feet is better than 0.  

Equipping a studio can be expensive. If the only space you currently have is at the university, now is the time to think about how you will outfit and maintain a studio once your time as a student is over. Some of you work at the university, and continuing to take classes is a great way to have access, but nothing beats being able to sneak a few minutes or hours in your pajamas without having to travel to campus.  

Asking to visit an artist in his or her studio is almost always a good idea. Most likely they will welcome the camaraderie of a fellow artist who is curious about their process. The worst that can happen is that they will say no. Generally they’re pretty welcoming though. Pay attention to how their space is set up and ask LOTS of questions.