Studio Ritual
Hi!
I am stealing away any spare couple of hours I can get to go to my new studio. I have been busy setting it up and making it a place I want to be in. So far the aesthetic is CLEAN, cozy, organized…I have setup so that I only see the paintings I’m working on. The walls are white and clear of any distraction. Everything has a place and I can find them easily. Still figuring out how to FLOW in the space…for example, there is no water in the actual space…so, I am figuring that piece out through trial and error. My buddy James did me a SOLID and installed a hanging system for my paintings I am working on.I am so fortunate to have generous and handy friends! Thank you James!!!!!!!!!!
I saw an IG reel today that was an artist talking about her studio and her rituals and it sparked inspiration in me. So, I thought I’d share mine with you all. I love knowing the ins and outs of anyone at work. Like, ever meet someone at a party and ask what they do and they give you a blanket title…and that’s not really what I want to know. I want to know what happens in the first hour you get to work. How do you approach the thing you do? How much time are you actually doing something productive? How much time and in what ways do you pittle the time away? How is a good pittle in service of the real work? How do you get into a headspace for the actual work?
I have a few rituals that I do to get the space and myself prepped for work.
Step one…enter the space, turn on lights, put my things away and put my apron on ( Mr. Rogers).
Step two, I want to get my senses on line, so I will burn some sacred smoke. It clears the space and it cue’s my brained body for creativity. After, smudging the space I sit down and do breath work and meditation. This helps to get me into my center. Consciously getting myself into the space and checking in with how I am doing. After I meditate I will spend a bit of time journaling any insights that may have come up in stillness.
Step three, stare at paintings in progress. This is also kind of a meditation. I am noticing the painting and listening to my own inner dialogue. Noticing what I like and don’t like. Thinking about a point of entry. All I need is one idea to begin.
Step four, get up and move my body. This can be Qi Gong, dancing, stretching…the idea is to begin to still the mind and get into the body.Then I organize my work space. organizing brushes, pallets, water, etc. Maybe I sweep the floor or organize a book shelf…it’s kinda procrastinating and it’s also a necessity…because once I begin painting I am there for a while.
Step five, begin painting. I usually have several paintings going at once. I am currently working on a series and I want to have some cohesion. By keeping them all together and working at the same time they will feel like family because they are all getting touched by the same colors, energy and ideas at the same time. As I paint I will catch myself falling out of the meditative present moment mindset and into outcomes, self doubt, judgement…so I have to have a consistent awareness of that so I can bring myself back to the present moment and the very next right thing. No future trippin’ allowed.I do this until I feel I am dropping out of the ability to be in flow state….then I know I better stop or else…..
Then I clean…
Ritual are the bookends. They ground me and get me to a place so that I can be like a conduit for inspiration to work through me.The time that I am painting is a sacred time. A time where there is no thought only listening and responding. It’s my time with God and my Higher self.
Another artist I met asked me, “so what do you do?”…I give the blanket answer…”Abstract expressionist”….but, I am working an answer that feels more like what I just described…suggestions are welcome…..
Stay Graceful and Generous,
L E S L I E