I recently enlarged my studio space. Not by buying a new table nor moving into a bigger space, but by thinking differently.
It started with an increasing desire to bring to life, images in my head. To do that, I have to sometimes paint bigger, wider, more expressively, paint more in a series. I need to move when I paint. On a practical side, I also need to paint standing up without further breaking my back and neck. The previous set up of one small side of the table for painting and the other for writing and non-writing stuff no longer works. The environment/infrastructure does not fit the desire for growth.
I needed to create an environment that can facilitate growth.
Making the change though, initially felt burdensome (urgh, do I need to change? Urgh) and almost impossible. Until I started seeing differently. And started taking risks of trying things out.
Here are the changes
Double up the space from the same square meter.
An easel. Game changer.
Multi-use of the same space. My writing space when I’m not painting. My painting space when I’m not writing.
The transformation went through version 1,2,3, and 4. The last part…to accommodate a new member to my studio—and my art practice. Bringing another vision to life: merging words in my mind with my paintings.
I’m suitably pleased with making these changes to make space for what’s to come.
PS: Speaking of what’s to come, I’ve painted a new series of 16 small originals, Point A to B. Created on the “new” painting table and with the old typewriter. It launches on July 15th, 2025. Here’s the story.