Today's Post is by Lori Woodward, Regular contributing writer for FineArtViews. She is also a contributing editor for American Artist's Watercolor and Workshop magazines. She writes "The Artist's Life" blog on American Artists' Forum and is a regular contributor here on Fine Art Views. Lori is a member of The Putney Painters, an invitational group that paints under the direction of Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik.  Find out how you can be a guest author.


This post is a continuation of my previous blog - on how addicting social media can be. In the comments section of that post, Clint Watson provided a link to an article on why the brain's chemical dopamine is responsible for our always seeking new information. That article, written by Susan Weinschenk, Ph.D, shed light on why I get sidetracked while online, and opened up a host of ideas of how to beat Internet addiction.

Our Brains Crave Intermittent Reinforcement

Here's the theory: Since my brain craves new information, experiences and daily unexpected happenings, I might as well accept that and make my work environment meet those needs more effectively than being online does. I expect that the rapid feeding of my brain while working on a painting or writing a blog will never feel as efficient as when I'm on Facebook. In fact, connecting with people online continually is like a sugar high - ultimate pleasure with a "low" feeling that follows.

Peak Experiences For Artists Don't Happen Every Minute

One problem though. The rewards for hard work in the studio/office are slow in coming. First, I need to get darned good at my art in order to create a sensation and be remarkable (worth remarking about). Secondly, there are days when I just don't paint very well, but I've got to stay at it anyway because I never know when I'll have a great day. The more years and practice I put in, the better the chances are I'll have mostly good painting days.

Number 1 Needed Fix: My Work Environment Is Unpleasant

After thinking about these things yesterday, I came to the conclusion that my studio is just too small. It's in the smallest bedroom of our home and at the present time, there isn't any room left to store supplies or back up from my easel. Since I work in both watermedia and oil, I need two painting stations. Then there is my collection of books, still life items, reference materials, canvases, paints, and frames. In fact, right now I'm storing frames in 2 places outside of my studio, and they are taking over our living space.

While my husband and I were talking over space options, we came to the conclusion that I need to use the largest room in the house to make art - the living room. Because I've been trying to use the smallest room, my art "stuff" is seeping into every available corner of our home. So, today - I'm feeling pretty good about setting up a new space that I will fall in love with. The small bedroom that I'm currently using will become a storage room for canvas, frames and other items I don't need to access often. In other words, the junky-looking stuff can stay behind closed doors.

If I'm really having the time of my life in a space that I love, the Internet won't hold a candle to my studio. The key here is to make my workspace unavoidably attractive. For starters, I plan to hang some of our art collection (by other artists) in my studio, set a comfortable chair next to a bookcase that showcases my favorite art books, set up adequate lighting in my work-spaces, and finally add an area for playing mood enhancing "painting" music.

Professional Artists Have Great Workspaces:

I'm willing to bet that many of my wildly successful artist friends have a great studio setup. In fact, I covet Nancy Guzik's studio. Kathy Anderson is currently expanding  her space with a home renovation, and Dennis Sheehan has the entire upstairs in an old New England barn. Each of these artists is prolific - could it be there their workspace is a sanctuary that they love so much that being anywhere else just doesn't compare?

The Internet Interrupts The Creative Zone

Oh, and one last item: my PC with Internet connection will be separate from my art space. While the Internet is vital to marketing my work and writing, it has no place in the midst of art-making. So now I embark on the first step of making my creative life more attractive. It begins today by creating a space that I adore being in.

FYI: I once had a 2000 square foot studio outside of my home, but when the monthly rent ($900) became prohibitive, I opted to move back home. Hey, keep me honest by asking me in a month or so how my new space is working, OK?

Sincerely,
Lori