Shirley Dickie - Art Studio

Shirley Dickie - Painting Studio

My painting studio is  a huge part of my life, especially when I am working on a specific show.  I combine my creature comforts and life style;  integrating my ordinary living and my creative disarray allows me to flow through my daily tasks and obligations in a workspace that is both comfortable and exciting. 

My Mood Music

With blues music blasting through the painting studio I create the atmosphere that suits my work. Painting is fun, exciting, emotional, chaotic, spontaneous and above all else challenging.

As a functioning space

The painting studio must serve a variety of functions for me.  Everything must be easily accessible, the space must be easy & quick to tidy, the area must be open and flowing with air and light to open my mind, and the atmosphere must be communal to keep me in touch with other human beings.  When all of these factors come into play, I can accomplish a tremendous amount of work.  And don't forget the music, it must be there to keep my mind off of what I am doing, that is; to take "my self" out of the picture.

My "in flux" position

Having been a person who moves from place to place frequently, I have adapted to an ever-changing environment.  Hardly anything stays in the same place for long.  This "in flux" position I find my self "in" helps my creativity allowing abstract ideas and thoughts to easily flow through and around me.  Capturing some of this energy is what my painting is all about. 

Occasionally an "all nighter"

Often I will find I have painted throughout the entire night.  I work my ordinary life around my art making and it somehow works for me.  Artists are a motley crew and very few are exactly the same, each of us develops a balance of lifestyle and "at work" time with an open and forgiving mind.

Encouragement for New Artists - educational

By being open about my painting studio and working space, I would like to encourage beginning artists to not get too fixated on the perfect studio.  Just paint, and keep painting,  paint where you are, paint on what you can find, have, beg or borrow.  The important thing is to keep painting.  And as you paint you will grow, your ability will grow, your way of seeing will grow, your self confidence will grow, and that is what art is all about. 

Thank you for kindly listening to my story.....

Sincerely,

Shirley Dickie