I am intrigued by the spaces we find ourselves in; spaces in which to create art…
No matter how big or small - a space to lay down our paints, brushes or tools, put up the easel, or take over the kitchen table. The need is there to claim that space, call it our own, no matter how temporary that may be in terms of daily family living.
I recall visiting a local photographic exhibition some years ago of writer’s spaces, prompting me later that day to dip into Pinterest and collect images of not writers, but artists’ workspaces…
A pleasing corner nook (Google images)
Oh, hello cosy space! I would happily also put up a camp bed in here. (Google images)
With a space of one’s own, you are - to coin a phrase - ‘exactly where you need to be.’ This space is important to you. Actually, no, it’s more than that. It’s crucial. It’s a place, amongst other things, that allows you to channel ‘flow states’ (getting into the zone) in which you can travel with your chosen medium, exploring new territories and experience feelings of exhilaration (or frustration!) through outcomes.
Recently I read a quote by Neil Gaiman who said words to the effect, I hope that in this year…you make mistakes….if you are making mistakes…you’re doing something’ I would like to add to the very end of Mr Gaiman’s sentence, the word ‘right’. Mistakes, if that word really can be applied to the creative process, produces happy accidents, and can also cause such tear-jerking frustration you need to just vacate your space - have some caffeine - and come back refocused, and usually, re-invigorated by the challenge your mistake has created. Such is the push and pull of emotions in your space; a private domain where serendipitous moments, of course, also happen. And, oh the joy when that does occur!
And so today, I opened up and shared my tinsy space on film, as part of Brighton’s forthcoming Fiveways Artists’ Open House in May. Four of my fellow exhibiting artists shall be doing the same over the coming month, giving a snapshot of not just practice, but of their workspace.
I had to tidy up the floor space. Didn’t want Steve tripping over my stuff!
Space is tight in my workspace which made filming interesting and a bit of a giggle to be honest. But it doesn’t matter. My point is that any space will do. You really don’t need that warehouse, those expanse of walls and high ceilings. But, hey, hang on… I don’t deny that that will never be an aspiration. Oh, to literally slosh paint around and potentially end up with a Francis Bacon style studio would be wonderful. Actually maybe Bacon is a bit of an extreme example…but you get my drift.
So, finally, If someone asks me, what does your workspace mean to you? I simply say this… It is a space, despite its size, that lets me be who I want to be, a place of liberty where intuition, experimentation, practice and daydreaming can all collide.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel my post has prompted any follow up thoughts on aspects of the artist’s workspace, or about your own special space for creating art. I would really love to hear about it.
Tan Kingston
Stephen Engelhard is a Brighton based documentary maker and founder of Angel Productions. You can find all about Steve here http://www.angelproductions.co.uk/about.htm
Details of the 2019 Fiveways Trail can be found on http://www.janepalmerbrighton.co.uk/open-house-may-2019
artworkarchive.com
google images