A Room of One's Own

In 2008, there was an announcement that the studio at 607 Artspace was available. The location was ideal--only ten minutes away from my day job in the downtown core. I could go there every day after work.

Huge windows filled the main room with natural light. There was a sink in the small room; washrooms down the hall; water, electricity and heat included. Perfect!

I was more than ready to take on a solo studio space. I wanted to work in silence without the social give and take that makes a shared space run smoothly. I wanted to walk away from a work in progress, leaving it lying there in all its unfinished mess and know that it would still be there when I was ready to come back to it.

I also wanted to work big -- bigger than my small basement studio would allow--bigger than was polite in a shared space. Big paintings and big prints. My large press had been disassembled when we moved back from Ontario and it was past time for it to be reassembled and put back to use.

It was wonderful to be able to put all my scattered art belongings in one big space. Some plants and a couch; a tea kettle and a fridge--a creative sanctuary -- a place to wrestle with ideas and materials and the elusive muse.

The big press was re-assembled and new blankets purchased. I acquired a large table to use for both block cutting and inking. I solved the soaking sink issue with a tool trolley and a plastic tub. I built shelves to store equipment and more shelves to store finished work.

First and foremost, I made things. Things that did not have to defend their existence to anyone but myself. Things that I could share with those who were curious. Things that allowed me to explore where the muse leads and I am happy to report that the journey has been wonderful.