above left to right: me, jo packham and michael garland-as taken by my daughter, last night 6:30pm.
I know, I've been remiss at blogging again, but I've had good reason. I've spent every spare second (why are there never enough of those?!?) trying to get my art room ready for it's close up: a photo shoot for the Where Women Create quarterly publication. (Can't wait to get the new issue in stores February 1). In my defense, I had short notice, but then again, my art room really isn't kept in photo ready state. Ever. I wish I couldn't leave the house without everything in order, but i don't have that issue. Just the opposite; I have no problem working on something up till the last second, dropping it and running out the door. And I don't feel the need to get back to cleaning it up once back. My creative whim might pull me towards something else and off I go in that direction, assuring myself I'll be back to the other in short time, but that "creative time" is what I find to be so illusive being a mom and wife and everything else we try to be in life. Before long a real mess can pile up. I'm really good at that unfortunately. I came really close to getting everything put in it's place, but truth be told, I did end up pulling some of my "I have enough of this to sell some at my next teaching gig" stuff out into the hallway. Surely someone else must have had to do that for their photos?!? I can't be the only one, can I? A messy, whirling dervish at times?
Well, you know my art room's secret now. But really, this time I'm really going to try to stay organized! (Oh please, I hope I've got it in me!) I'm not sure what magazine issue my studio will be in, but of course, I'll be sure to let you know. Thank you Jo and Michael for the hours of fun!
Congrats on being featured in my new favorite publication! Every time I see a nice and tidy studio I become slightly jealous but then I remember that they had to do some serious cleaning and we don't see what's been shoved in closets or under the bed!
My studio is forever a mess and the kitchen table hasn't been used in ages.I have vowed to clean everyday but when I'm up till 3am and up at 7 am that kind of never happens..
I look forward to being inspired by your space and thanks for sharing your studio secrets :)
Posted by: Christine | January 24, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Congratulations on the cover of the Journaling Magazine--I love the blue bird. I can't wait for the new issue of Where Women Create and the one you will be in. I too share your need to clean up before I go out. Right now it is a layer of scraps and supplies. My daughter is also working on her High School art show next week. She is spread out in the downstairs and I am spread out upstairs. Then there is the corner where my son is practicing the slide trombone for auditions. It really is worth it. I don't think we could create neatly.
Posted by: Geralyn Gray | January 24, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Oh Cool! I love that magazine. So inspiring. Congratulations on being one of the chosen :) I'm excited to get a peek at where your creations are born
Myself being one of the victims of self-inflicted studio messiness, I've given the issue a lot of thought and have come up with the following options....
-get rid of all of my stuff. I can become the first artist to create with air, space, and shadows
-hire a live-in maid
-change my personality so that I'll be less creative and more fastidiously neat
Seriously though, my solution has been to have only some of my supplies in the studio, and store the rest in boxes in the basement. My system will be perfect once I go through the boxes and label the contents so I know what is where, but at least my teency workshop space is manageable now
Posted by: Lilli | January 24, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Congrats! I hadn't heard of this magazine before...now I will be looking for it at all of the magazine stands in the market. Can't wait to see it!
Posted by: Katherine McKamey | January 24, 2009 at 12:23 PM
How exciting! I love the first issue even more than the book and am looking forward to more.
Posted by: Tina | January 24, 2009 at 06:49 PM
I love that: "A messy, whirling dervish at times-". I could be you, as you expressed me succintly!
Posted by: Bee Rozatti | January 24, 2009 at 06:57 PM
I really enjoy that magazine, and I am always so impressed with your latest creations, so it's a wonderful combination!
Posted by: Beth Evans-Ramos | January 24, 2009 at 07:06 PM
What fun! I love that journal and can't wait to see your space. I can't imagine they will ever run out of artists to feature; perhaps it will go on forever!
Posted by: Judi | January 24, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Jo is a doll (& so is her daughter). They used to have a store "Ruby & Begonia" in Ogden, Utah....they are display divas. Who else would sell glass bottle sodas from a very decorative hand painted pull-down handle vintage refrigerator for sipping while browsing. Maybe that could be your next project!
p.s. too much orderliness makes creative people nervous...
Posted by: Jill James | January 24, 2009 at 07:59 PM
Oh! You have now idea, I'm completely the
same,start on a project drop it run out
come back and pick up another project.
A complete whirlwind of components and stones
everywhere, although I know how to navigate
the piles if I move them I'm lost.
So I just go with it.
Posted by: wendy humphreys | January 24, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Congrats to you!! Creative people can't be neat in my book! I can't wait to see more of your studio. You are such a gifted artist! Yay, you!!
Posted by: debe | January 24, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Congratulations! I love seeing how we create. I have the book and love it. Great blog also!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 25, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Congratulations, Pam! They chose well...you are an inspiration to so many people...gracing the pages of Jo's new magazine will be another way to do that...
Posted by: Nancy Jamar | January 25, 2009 at 01:26 PM
I bout the last issue of WWC and loved it. Can't wait to see your studio in the Feb. issue Pam!
Posted by: Emily | January 25, 2009 at 02:54 PM
Neatness? Pffft. Who needs it? The best art come out of the messiest studios;)
Posted by: mummakat | January 26, 2009 at 06:29 AM
I can't wait to see your studio and hope it will generate some new "storage ideas". I recently went from a very large space to a VERY SMALL space and am drowning in "stuff". I would love to know if everyone keeps ALL their wonderful Somerset mags??? and if so, how do you stash them, asks someone who just bought ANOTHER!
Posted by: double d | January 27, 2009 at 07:11 AM
OHHHH...I can't wait to see that issue!
lori
Posted by: vintage flair | January 27, 2009 at 08:50 AM
You are not the only one with a messy art room. I do x-stitching, rug hooking, paper art, scrap-booking, ribbon embroidery, sewing, painting etc. I clean my room up maybe monthly but the real creative juices are flowing when my room is a mess. So I don't feel bad about a messy work room because it means I'm having fun.
Posted by: angela | January 27, 2009 at 06:16 PM
Your studio situation sounds so much like me. I too work until the last second, leave everything out ALL the time and work on multiple projects all at the same time. Sometimes I flit so much that I confuse myself. Terrible. I'm just so grateful no one is calling me for a photo shoot! Ahhhh! That would be a nightmare!
Posted by: Bethany | January 28, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I would love to have a tour of your house. bet it's filled with all kinds of yummy inspiring things all handmade by YOU!
Posted by: kim | January 30, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Having just thoroughly cleaned my studio for an art weekend with friends, I can really sympathize! The best part of cleaning up is finding what you didn't know you had!
Posted by: Terry Handel | February 03, 2009 at 05:51 AM
Pam, I bought that issue of Journaling, didn't realize it was the very first issue and immediately fell in love with the idea of art journaling, and your work. Thanks so much for the inspiration. And for opening my eyes to a whole new world of creativity for me.
All the best,
Francesca
Posted by: Francesca Di Leo | March 01, 2009 at 05:55 PM