Inspired by...

I've been wanting to share how my studio is shaping up, with some lovely art to inspire me. It is so exciting to get things up on the wall, making the whole space more complete. 

The top painting is by Diana Mulder, a mixed media artist I met online over a year ago. She created this work of art from a photo I took, you can read the story about it here. I am enchanted by this piece for many reasons. It is from an image of my son, which endears it to me, but also for the connection it represents with Diana and other artists I've met online. I love how she took my original photo and added brighter colors. This image does not do it justice, there is a lot more texture and layers than is visible here. How perfect the color scheme fits right into my studio, too!

The middle painting is by local artist Jennifer Lommers. I found her at the Corvallis Fall Festival, a wonderful local arts festival held every September here in town. It turns out, Jennifer lives in my neighborhood and knows my son from the school bus stop. Small world! I am entranced by her colorful, swirly style. I absolutely loved the large original of this peacock, but settled on the print for now. I am happy to have it framed and gracing my creative space.

The bottom painting is an original watercolor, purchased in Burano, Italy. As Burano is my favorite place for color, this was a perfect add to my studio as well. Other little bits of inspiration on the shelves are a Murano-glass clock, a cute cat figurine purchased in San Marino, and a little die cast scooter I purchased for my son on my first business trip to Italy, before we ever thought about moving there. Everything in this space is a source of inspiration.

Do you have a creative space? Do you fill it with things that bring you joy?

Linking in to Paint Party Friday, to share the art of these inspiring painters with others this week! Kristin and Eva, I hope that's ok.

Peace Comes Unexpectedly

What does this picture make you think of? It makes me think of an ideal kind of day. The kind of day where sunshine comes through the window, and there is personal time to bask in it. Time to work on my creative projects on my schedule. Sit and read or journal if I feel like it. It brings me a sense of peace and calm, and happiness. I took this self-portrait last weekend to show the progress in my studio, because I'm so happy with how this space is turning out. (Visit here to see what the empty space looked like.)

I am drawn to this image today, maybe because of the appearance of peace. This was not how my weekend went at all, it was a "work" weekend. With a garage sale on Saturday, we finished up our personal process of elimination. We all feel so much lighter and freer with the sale completed, left over items donated, and our garage space cleared! On Sunday we spent the day cleaning out our camping trailer, in anticipation of going away for the weekend soon. After sitting for two years, there had been a few visitors in the form of mice and bugs that left their mark. It turned out to be in very good shape overall, and after a few hours of cleaning it was bright and shiny again. Now we can't wait to go camping!

While I had been steeling myself for this weekend of work, it actually turned out quite well. I feel better for what was accomplished, even if it wasn't my dream day in the studio or out with my camera. I guess this is a reminder for me that there is more than one way to bring peace into your life. Sometimes it is slowing down, and spending the day in the sunshine on creative pursuits. Other times, it is completing projects and eliminating the stress associated with them being "undone." There is a great sense of peace that comes along with accomplishing tasks that bring space and possibility into your life.

How did your weekend go? I hope you found peace through your weekend pursuits.


_________________________
What's going on around The Kat Eye View of the World...

• Linking in to the Creative Exchange today.
• The current Exploring with a Camera theme is The Color Wheel: Part 1. Check out the post and join in the exploration.
• Are you ready to find your own unique vision through photography? This is the last week to register for the fall series of the Find Your Eye e-course. Class starts Sunday, September 25! Visit here for more info.
• You can subscribe to the Kat Eye News to stay up-to-date on all the activities around here.

The Possibilities of Emptiness

What do you see in this image? Maybe you see the empty room, and wonder what will go there. Maybe you see the red wall. Maybe you see the tree beyond the window, the world outside. To me, this room is not empty, it's full of possibilities. Welcome to my studio. The Kat Eye Studio. Like a blank canvas, what will exist here is what I will create.

Kat Eye Studio has become real in more ways than one with my move home. First I have this room, what should be a "formal living room" is my physical studio, where my creative space will be. It has the best light in the house with the only south facing window, and it's a nice big space. I've also officially created Kat Eye Studio, LLC as a registered business to offer my classes and whatever else I get inspired to do. I'm so excited to make the "studio" I've been dreaming of real in multiple ways!

This room is going to morph and change over time. During my assignment in Italy I've carefully thought through how I want to use this space for my creative endeavors, and now I get to execute the plan. The final incarnation is going to take a while to get to. I already plan to repaint the wall, and know what furniture I want to go here. The room is currently full of random bits and pieces as we get settled into our house, as you might expect.

But a studio is not much use if you don't use it, and this week I took steps to move it beyond just a computer and storage room into a truly creative space. I painted! With a borrowed easel, a purchased drop cloth, the painting supplies I brought from Italy in my suitcase and a table and lamp in storage I've cobbled together the start of my painting space. I can't tell you how great it felt to turn on the new Matt Nathanson CD (love his music!) and get messy with paint.

Here's a pic of what I've got in progress. The blue canvas is the one I started this week (I was in a blue mood) and the other two were started in Italy before the move. I'm just adding layers right now, and am interested to see where these go. I don't have any intention with painting right now, other than to find joy in the process. Happy Paint Party Friday! I'm back!!

Today I thought I would leave you with what I have going on "in the Studio" (I've been dying to say that for some time now, can you tell?):

• Reflections in Glass is the current Exploring with a Camera theme and I'm loving the images being shared! I find reflections complex and interesting and worth seeking out.
• Are you signed up for Superhero Summer Camp? If not, consider if it's time to do something good for yourself. We have almost 400 participants - yay! If you're signed up already, let me know what you think of it so far.
• We have a wonderful group of people joining my July-August Find Your Eye series of classes. I'm so excited! Registration is open for the next week, and class starts August 24.
• The Liberate Your Art postcard swap is bringing new mail to my mailbox every day. It's quite amazing to see! If you missed my post Monday, head over to see a bit of the art that's been arriving at my house. In the next two weeks that art will be liberated all over the world. So much fun!

Have a wonderful Friday and a fabulous weekend all!