Amid the clamor of the world, quiet your heart,
For only in stillness do the shadows part.
Let the noise fade like whispers on the breeze,
And you'll find the forest, beyond the trees.
~bdmiller
It’s been three months since we had the new carpet installed .. And while most of the house is back in order, one space still remains untouched: my art studio. The paintings I once worked so passionately on are now in piles, stacked in boxes, and crammed into corners. I walk by the room daily, reminding myself it’s waiting for me to breathe life back into it, yet I haven’t taken the time to reorganize. Why? I can’t say it's a matter of not knowing where to start—I think it’s more about carving out the time to do the things I love. The irony isn’t lost on me that I haven’t painted in a while, either. It feels like my creative flow, once so strong, has been shut off.
I know I want my studio to be more than just a workspace .. It needs to be somewhere I can draw inspiration from, a space that makes me excited to create. I envision a room that’s not only functional but also full of personal touches: photos of trips and adventures past, maybe a few antiques or items that inspire scenes. Something that feels good to be in.
I’ve been browsing websites like Houzz, trying to find ideas that resonate with me .. But nothing has clicked yet. I guess part of the process is waiting for the right vision to fall into place. In the meantime, I made a small but meaningful step .. I brought home a favorite painting of mine from work. We’re moving the offices, and I decided to take back this piece, a long, skinny tropical sunrise scene inspired by our trips to Hawaii. It’s one of those paintings that feels alive with memories and color. Perhaps it will help me find the inspiration I’ve been searching for.
Maybe this painting is exactly what I need to spark the transformation. A reminder of past adventures and a nudge toward future creativity. Eventually, the ideas for the studio will come, and I’ll get back to what I love .. Painting. Until then, I’ll keep envisioning that perfect space, one that makes me feel like diving into a canvas once again.
I recently came across this quote while doing some reading..
“I have an idea that the only thing which makes it possible to regard this world we live in without disgust is the beauty which now and then (people) create out of the chaos. The pictures they paint, the music they compose, the books they write, and the lives they lead. Of all these the richest in beauty is the beautiful life. That is the perfect work of art.”
― W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil
