LET THERE BE LIGHT
The quality of light in your chosen workplace has a significant impact on productivity. One of the most effective things that you can do is bring natural light into your space. To reap the benefits of daylight, try to avoid working in areas with no windows. This can be further enhanced by positioning mirrors across from windows so that they filter light back into the room. Minimize drapery in your studio space so that sunlight can easily seep in!
There is no one-size-fits -all solution for lighting in your workplace. When you’re optimising for creativity, remember that your creative process has various stages. When daylight hours are over and you’re thinking about your next project; waiting for that all important ‘light-bulb’ moment, a dimly lit room can elicit feelings of determination and encourage innovative thinking.
CREATIVITY BEGETS CREATIVITY
Your creative self is a fine-tuned machine which needs tending to! Whether it’s hanging another artists’ print in your kitchen, a painting in your recording studio, listening to music whilst you sketch, or thumbing through graphic novels over lunch, exposure to others work enhances out-of-the-box thinking and our best creative selves.
“Many artists seek inspiration in external source materials in their daily creative practice…offering creative professionals the opportunity to introduce an element of surprise to the creative act.”
Dr Laurens Rook
EMBRACE YOUR MATERIALS & CLEAR YOUR HEADSPACE
Rather than tucking away all your art supplies in closed drawers, try giving them pride of place. Embracing your abundance of tools and having them on display in an organised fashion can bring you joy.
Avoid clutter – the stereotypical mark of the creative space! Unwashed mugs, strewn paint brushes and a barely visible desk beneath the piles of sketches and rough drafts. Having multiple visual stimuli can be extremely distracting and a disorganised space can be psychologically immobilizing. If your studio needs some TLC, don’t fret, even the act of clearing it provides a sense of accomplishment which translates into motivation.
Exposed containers or carts can be a successful addition to your creative workspace. Sticking to shallow containers will inhibit the accumulation of clutter and ensure retaining access to all your significant supplies.
“Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”
Mary Kondo
COLLABORATION
Diverse environments can fuel collaboration and the artists who flourish in them. Placing ourselves within creative environments and surrounding ourselves with other artists / artwork builds an uplifting and self-sustaining community. Filling our own workspace with others’ art fortifies an ecosystem of creativity and empowers other creatives from many mediums to continue in their craft.
“Collaboration should result in constant reflection. It’s an opportunity to interrogate other’s ideas”
Jo McCullagh
If you prefer to work alone in your studio or find that your bedroom is your creative sanctuary, there are still ways that you can incorporate collaboration into your routine. Try scheduling online meetings, visit a co-working space or keep one afternoon a week free to do a little networking.
BONUS TIP: SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
Although not directly correlated to your space, connecting with likeminded creatives, whilst branching out in the artist community can be extremely beneficial to your business. You can learn from other influential people within your industry or even take on the role of a mentor. Mentoring can be a meaningful way to support emerging talent in the creative community. Meet for a coffee or share a few days in the studio together!
MAKING TIME
“It’s not enough to create space; you have to create your space for a specific period of time… giving your mind as long as possible to come up with something original.”
John Cleese
Your surroundings may be a perfect “oasis of quiet”, but you need to make sure to set aside time with no interruptions. Creating boundaries of space, away from ordinary life is imperative for creativity to happen. Before making final decisions, allow yourself pondering time to lead you to the most creative solution possible.
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