My work space has been specifically designed for my working practice. I am very fortunate to have been able to move from a room in our home to our recently converted garage. I spent a lot of time designing the interior to be suitable for what I would need and also how it looks. Colour is really important to me and so I wanted a lovely bright, pink room and white and natural accents.
I'm still finishing up this space and may add in a calmer colour to replace the white in my painting corner. Each element of my room was carefully thought over and planned and I can't wait to use it more. There is a desk for working on the computer, a sit/stand desk for creative tasks and order packing for my small business. Large storage shelves, which we made from reclaimed scaffold boards and then sanded and waxed them.
Some small bookcases for extra storage and my beautiful sofa to sit and draw on or just rest sometimes. That was a big part of the design for this space. I wanted somewhere I could be really comfortable for times when I needed a softer place to sit. I wanted it to look great too so I could have a lovely background for my videos I film for YouTube. I decided to add a cloud mural behind it to break up the pink but also to create a more imaginative space to fit my illustrator theme.
Above the cloud mural I have shelves of my illustrated greetings cards. These really brighten the space, give it my personality and also seeing them there inspires me and reminds me of what I have achieved so far.
We are currently installing curtains to soften the daylight, as it has got a bit too bright in there to be comfortable. It took a while to figure out the heating but that is done now and as the weather improves I am sure it will be wonderful. The carpet we laid also helps to give it a cosy, homely feel, which I really love. When I come into the new studio, it's wonderful to put my slippers on and have that lovely soft carpet underneath my feet. Really adds to the experience of being in there.
This new studio space is a real blessing to me. I really needed a space where I could fully focus and have quiet. In the house I found there where a lot of distractions, noise, interruptions. Since moving into my new studio, my concentration has improved and it's also lowered my stress levels. It's wonderful to have a separate space to work and study in and yet still be so close to home. I do find it also helps with work/life balance which was very much needed.
In addition I have added not just my own artwork but also artwork from illustrators who inspire me and that I have become good friends with. An inspiration moodboard with pictures I am enjoying right now. My enamel pin collections from other artists and some favourite soft toys that make it feel like home.
I am quite a night owl and so find that I am generally better from lunchtime onwards. I've got into a routine of completing simple tasks, inspiration and maybe some sketching in the mornings, whilst I spend time with our two dogs and then after lunch I can then go into my new studio and focus on whatever needs to be done that day. I generally aim to go in there most afternoons, sometimes I do go in in the morning depending on my schedule and I know I can always stay a bit later if I need to. That is especially nice now that the lighter evenings are here and when I go to lock up it's still light enough to see what I am doing!
Time is fairly flexible for me right now, it's opened up more this year and so I can freely come and go, I tend to be really focused in the hours I have now and then make time for family, commitments etc around that and vice versa.
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