In the studio, a good place to be. A safe place to roam the destinations I carry in my thoughts. The faces that visit, little worlds in the pockets of my imagination here and there, where feelings and emotions run free, and feel at home…
The truth is, it is only in the garden where I find an escape and can refuel enough, to come back to my friends day to day…
All with their own personalities.
Truly.
If you use paintbrushes I am certain you feel the same way.
It's like, they are characters in their own right.
I love all of my paintbrushes.
Even the old tattered ones.
No one will ever get thrown away, but more like elevated to royalty when they can no longer be used for painting. It's like, they get to retire to a tahiti of their own 😉
Is it okay to feel actual love, I mean really thump thump in your heart love, for art supplies?
I actually go weak in the knees and get butterflies in my stomach when I go into a proper art store.
I guess this is what happens when you start to get a little bit older, and a little bit wiser. You exchange pointless crushes, for meaningful ones 😉
And so, tucked into this space I call my studio, is where the real me, meets up with the girl I am in my mind's eye.
We collect inspiring trinkets for beckoning the muse…
They inspire thoughts, places…
An old 1800's hotel, at breakfast hour.
Possibly by the seaside?
Gloved women, tender clanking of teacups.
Hats, parasols…
Dapper gentlemen, curled mustaches…
A tune by Sir Edward Elgar wafts in.
We go there…
And, promptly get to work –
Happiest of days!
It is the height of spring, May is here, can you believe it?
Time is flashing before my eyes. Must soak it up as quickly as I can. Do you feel the same way?
From our neck of the woods, we wave madly!
Your studio space is amazing! It couldn’t fail to inspire creativity. I haven’t been arting much lately. Partly because I don’t have a good place to make a big mess, and partly because I am so busy with school and other things. A real artist probably wouldn’t let those things get in the way, so I think I am just a fair weather artist 🙂 Mal says a big tail-wagging hello to Miles and Matty! (even though he doesn’t actually have much of a tail, just a little stub) Can’t wait to see what goodies you have been producing in that lovely space.
Your studio makes ME weak at the knees! =D
I can’t wait until I can have a home with a separate studio… ^-^
But until then, I shall continue to craft & make messes in the kitchen & living room. Hope you are enjoying your lovely Spring day!
XOXO
love the splendid post! thankyou.
I think I’ve said it before, but will say it again…”You, my Fanciful Friendling, are too darling for words.!!!” Falling in love with brushes and such. But then I too have fallen under that youthful fascination from time to time. My poor brushes are placed quietly on the shelf waiting patiently for me to pull them down ;-).
Today it is hot outdoors and I’ve finished my gardening for the day. I hope your day isn’t too sweltering. Do you still have that refreshing outdoor shower in the trees?
Today would be the perfect day to stand beneath its gentle rains ;-).
xoxo me
Me thinks I am typing in bullet points today ;-O
Love your victorian tableau you set up to inspire your painting…….you are so lush…..
An artist featured in WCC too?! I am looking for the new issue today.
Cori Lovekins! The oddest thing though, we are having a cool snap. It
was downright chilly yesterday. Unheard of in May in this are.
WEIRDNESS I tell ya 😉
hmmm, did the internet just censor my post about how it’s SNOWING here again on top of all the pretty flowers?
oh but I do love art supplies 😀
Oh I can so relate to your post. I love my paint and brushes. When little little people come I never put up the “good stuff”, but I do put my brushes on a high shelf. Thanks for the lovely post
Lovely studio tour! Very inspiring… I really enough seeing where other creative people do this there special space. I truly believe it is “special & magical”
I can’t believe it’s May either Vanessa! And YES…my heart goes pitter patter when I go art supply shopping and I have collections that I’ll never be able to part with too, tee hee 😉
Jamie 🙂
“I guess this is what happens when you start to get a little bit older, and a little bit wiser. You exchange pointless crushes, for meaningful ones”
I really like this, Vanessa. 🙂
Loved your 1800’s story. Can almost be there.
Rainy here, but lots of Spring for you!
happy may!!!
I just love all of your paintbrushes, too! I haveone which I use only for Mod Podge. Something about that brush. Maybe I’m odd, but sometimes I just pick it up and hold it in my hand. Happy Day!
Your brain goes to the most amazing places Miss Vanessa. Loved the paintbrush as friends analogy. How you DO think?! Makes me smile.
Cheers – Kathy
Amazing post! Love the mirror!
Oh, I love this post. It speaks to my crafty/artiste-y soul! My surge of adrenaline comes when I am amidst PAPERS! Oh, be still my swooning heart. Especially papers with TEXTURE!
We are having a cold snap here, too, V. It was chilly yesterday, and it rained and rained. We got a good, welcome soaking. Then this morning I awoke to a temp of 39 degrees! Oh, don’t let it fool ya, though. In a hop, skip, and a jump we will all be suffering under 90+ degree weather!
Your studio is so whimsical! 🙂 Love it!
Paint brushes definitely are like little characters, a few of mine even have names. hee hee hee 🙂
So here’s the thing…and I know I probably told you this before…I have an addiction problem. Now BEFORE you get all worried and wide-eyed it’s not what you think. You see my addiction is art supplies. At times it has reached epic proportions where by I think someone may hold an intervention or slap me right in to rehab (kicking and painting). There is something so divinely wonderful about the “high” from entering an art store….the pulse races….beads of perspiration on the forehead….hands get twitchy and there are butterflies in the stomach. I think to myself “I already have 3 sets of “those” BUT then I say “but I don’t have this kind! There is a moment of rationalizing and then the moment where the draw is so intense you buy it anyway. You clutch the bag and then in the studio take it out and breathe it in. And then a flyer comes in the mail or a catalog or somene links to some new thing to try and BAM it starts all over again. You don’t even begin to count the brushes in jars and tins because it would be a rude awakening. Yes ALL of it matters, ALL of what surrounds you matters like individual muses. You (meaning a lot of us)may open a drawer to get something and your heart races again because “OMG I forgot I bought these” tumbles from your lips. Oh yes they are all little characters in our artistic lives…we swoon and sway to the mere thought of it all. We use words like “I need” and “I want” and worse yet….”I HAVE to have”. It’s a vicious cycle of addiction and euphoria that if we aren’t careful a car may pull up with the words: THE GOLDEN BRUSH REHAB CENTER” emblazoned on the doors ….I suggest we quickly don a top hat and beads and bits of this and that and stand perfectly still. They’ll never notice us!
phew….that was one LOOOOONGGG comment, eh?
XOXOXOXO
P.S. that music was used in the movie (my personal fave) Enchanted April. I didn’t know until now who composed it so thanks.
Oh my, what a great place to get lost in…and oh what stories your paint brushes could tell.
Time for me to get back into my art…Happy creating to all.
Waving back to you, sweet Vanessa! We finally have a sunny day after a week of heavy rains. I love seeing your beautiful brushes and thinking of what you will create with them. I love seeing your studio! Have a blissful day! Twyla
Dear Vanessa – your studio looks like an art shoppe!!! A true FEAST for the eyes. Just like you, I get giddy when I’m in a proper art supply shop. I oogle all the paints and papers and pencils. Oh my oh my. 🙂 Your brushes look so well-loved. Thank you so very much for showing us your beautiful studio. 🙂 xoxo Theresa
What is it about violins and spring and art? I think that would be my heaven. I see that and hear that when I want to bring calm to my soul. It is what stirs the muse. Art stores and ballet stores make me feel eternal. I think that there you dwell in possibility. I find such peace and joy when I visit you, friend. Your white spaces make me want to spend the entire next year covering everything with white. I really appreciate this post! Tonight, I get to start making a windmill with the darlings at the high school for the gay/straight alliance students to raise money for field trips and awareness! I can’t wait! They are such compassionate students and art projects make everyone feel alive! Thanks, again, dear one. Blessings and off to get my coffee and listen to more of edward! light and love, Amy
aahhhh…
wellll,
YES—–>
paint brush love!
i know it so deeply
as i still have my brushes
from when i was in high school
and some are as firm as cement
but
never,
i mean
NEVER
would they be tossed to the wind…
NEVER!
:-0
{{ well
i still have what is left
of my pastels, too
but that is another story… }}
don’t you love the brushes
made of animal tails…
i imagine the animals
lined up in a barber shop
of some sort,
patiently waiting their turn
at a crew*cut…
”’no fox was injured
in the making
of this brush!”’
and
so
on…
oh yes indeed!
I am head over heals in love with spring…
I have a bit of magic going on
We have a very old white lilac that doesn’t bloom all that much any more
but my heart sings for purple lilacs
this old bush sent off shoots that have been growing bigger every year
a new lilac bush
that is blooming PURPLE!!!!
oh happy spring
x..x
So true about the brushes! And I have adopted other brushes from other places-my brothers house had some beautiful old decorators brushes left behind and I brought them home. Love is right!
I have not visited for many months, Vanessa, which is rididclous because I love your site. I’ve been peeking through a few posts but got stopped at this wonderful one! I am also hooked on art supplies and stationery…they certainly do make my heart go thump!
And I have a studio that’s packed with an eclectic mix of many things, as yours is. It’s just the best thing in the world to be surrounded by colour and inspration. isn’t it?
I thought your Mother’s Day greeting was lovely…:)
Lynette
Imagination Lane
Thanks for sharing the lovely video with us. It was a nice interlude to my day. I watched it two times. Now I am going to try to find the “where women create” magazine, otherwise I’ll order it online. I do look at the blog posts, from “where women create” and drool at all the lovely spaces. 🙂