04/13/2025
"Seriously, What's the Studio Life Really Like?"
I get asked all the time what my week is like at the art studio. You know, the usual questions: "Do you just, like, make stuff all day?" "Can you buy art right there?" "Is it a gallery or something fancy?" And the ever-practical, "How do you even pay for that?!" 😉
It dawned on me that having a studio outside of the home might sound different, maybe even a bit unusual to some. So, I wanted to give you a real peek behind the scenes of my creative life:
My days often start with the sun. Coffee and my journal are a must, and 3x a week 7:10 am BootCamp gym class (I am an X- Crossfit ju**ie). Then it's the usual morning stuff: shower, packing my bag (laptop, lunch, and always some kind of gluten-free treat), and the twice-a-week son-chauffeur duties because I want to help him save $.
Then I head to the studio! About a 7 minute drive, find street parking. Out comes my phone, tap the Brio app – click, the door's unlocked. I usually pop into the mailroom to see if any exciting packages have arrived (fingers crossed for art supplies!). Then, if the stairs are looking particularly daunting, it's the elevator up to the second floor.
The walk to my studio, #216, always has a little highlight. As I turn the corner, there's almost always Kelly, another artist. Her door's usually open, music's playing, and she's always got a friendly "good morning!" It's a nice little human moment to start the day. I walk past the Fleisher/Olman gallery (not open yet), and then I'm unlocking my space on the right.
The simple act of opening that door is always a good feeling. Off come the shoes (comfort is key!), up go the blinds to let in some light. I set up my laptop and tuck my lunch in the little fridge – gotta get the practical stuff out of the way first.
Then comes the artistic prep. I look at the different pieces I'm working on (I usually have a few going at once). I grab my water bowls and head down the hall to the slop sink to fill them up. There is a ghost in the bathroom, I'll tell that story another day.
And then I have the daily debate: door open or closed? Do I need to focus and have some privacy, or am I open to chats and maybe even a visitor? Most days, I leave it slightly open. A little "hello" to the other artists, and who knows, maybe someone will be curious enough to peek in! I put on a podcast or some music – my creative fuel.
And then? I just get to work. I make art. It sounds simple, but it's really about experimenting, figuring things out, and just enjoying the process of creating something. I'm an artist, and getting to spend this part of my life doing what I love in my own dedicated space feels pretty amazing. It's a cool part of the world to be in, surrounded by other people making things happen.
So yeah, that's a little snapshot of my studio life! Maybe someday you can swing by and see it for yourself. 😊
