My Atelier ... a.k.a. The Fonzie Room

Although my blog doesn't appear to show it, I HAVE been painting!  I've been working on a really, really big project. No... not on canvas, even bigger!
My art space has gone though a transformation,and I love it!  It's brighter, lighter, and whiter! The ceiling fan lights and lamps are gone.  The green walls are gone.  My brother installed fabulous new lighting, and I painted the whole thing a crisp white.  Did I already say how much I love it!

I love seeing artists' creative spaces.  So, I'll share my (new and improved) one.

This is my spot. Let me give you a tour.

• Paint palettes on Styrofoam  plates because I never graduated to a fancy palette.
• Foot stool because I'm short.
• Computer that's got paint splatters all over it because I use it for reference photos. 
• Easel with what I'm working on. 
• Trash can because I'm a pretty tidy painter
• Drawers with brushes because I tend to accumulate so many.
• Wet wipes and dinosaur-head cat squirter because she sometimes needs a reminder.
• Drawers for my paints and supplies because I'm pretty organized with them.
• Basket of rags because painting is messy.
• Cards and special things on the wall because they make me smile.

Here's the view from the other side.

• A wind chime hangs above where I sit.  I like to make it sound when I finish a painting, or am frustrated with a painting, or just want to jingle it.
• My sewing machine.
• My serger.
• Special things on the wall that hold memories.
• My Cricut (which I LOVE and am just learning to use).
• Boxes of all my hoarded crafty junk very useful artsy/sewing supplies.
• Painting shirts on the back of the door.
• The window where you might look out and see a deer.
• Paintings that are waiting to be purchased to their forever home. 
• My big easel for large canvases.
• Three stations where my friends paint on Tuesdays during the school year.

And here's the other end.

• Where Ron hangs out while I paint.
• Some special toys and books from childhood.
• The other wall where I hang paintings waiting until they're sold.
• The elliptical that we use often, but should use more.
• The other window where, again, you might see a deer.
• A shelf with more memories and more useless stuff crafting/sewing materials.
• The television.
• And finally the shelves filled with... well more junk that I just might need for that next project.

My creative space is called The Fonzie Room.  If you're from my generation, you remember the show Happy Days... Fonzie lived in the room above the Cunningham's garage.  That was what we called this room while the kids were growing up and teenagers using it for all their kid shenanigans. 

After they moved out and we shoveled out their junk reclaimed that space for ourselves, I tried... I really, really tried to change the name. I called it The Atelier. I even made a little sign and hung it beside the door.  (It's french, but if you can't remember how to pronounce it, you an just say in your best Southern redneck "I tell ya'" and that's almost right. Anyway... it didn't stick... I gave up.  It's The Fonzie Room, and I love it.

:) My Art Space

I recently discovered an amazing artist named Lisa of Lachri Fine Art. I have learned so much by watching her videos and have been mesmerized by watching her work.

Last week she put out a call for her viewers to show their art spaces.  I LOVE my little art space, so... I did it!  I sent in a photo of my space.

Let me give you a little tour... from left to right... here we go...

• The Medusa (snatched from my son's room when he left for college) lamp lets me put light where I need it.
• Taped to its stand is whatever I’ve drawn up and am working on.
• The brown drawers hold my paints (I have a lot...  I get a kick out of finding them in lots at estate sales or on ebay...)   
• Top drawer – neutrals, blacks, whites, grays, metallics,
•  Next one down, earth tones, 
• On down – blues & purples,
•  And down – greens, 
• Down – yellows, 
• And – Reds,
• Bottom two – tools like pliers, scissors, etc. and wipe clothes
• Under those brown drawers are some old newspapers.
• On top of those brown drawers are other essentials
• Wet wipes,
• A pack of gum,
• The dinosaur headed cat squirter... ‘cause sometimes the cat just needs a reminder,
• And my Atelier sign.
• Behind the white drawers are some large canvases waiting their turn.
• On the wall is the bag I bought at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a few paintings waiting until some one claims them for a permanent home.
• The white drawers
• Top drawer – small brushes, 
• Next drawer – large brushes, 
• On down – Liquin, mineral spirits, etc.
• And the bottom, scraps of cloth and old socks.
• A trash can
• There’s a foot stool you can’t see, but it makes sitting comfortable for a short person like me!
• The easel shows what I’m working on now.
• My computer has its share of paint splatters... all... over... it... but shows me my reference photo and plays my favorite country music on Pandora.
• My purple chair which is brand new, and it's changed my life! It swivels, and raises, and lowers, and turns, and rolls!  Love it!
• And finally comes my tv tray where I put my paint palettes.
• Last, but not least, my Sonic coke... essential...

 

I love my little space...

My Atelier - noun. \a-t^əl-ˈyā\  [from Old French] 1. an artist’s workshop 2. an art studio 3. a space for creativity to flourish

 By the way...

The way I got my husband to remember how to pronounce Atelier... I use my best Redneck Southern accent and say “I tell ya’!” and it comes out pretty close to the French pronunciation. (Although don’t tell anyone who’s actually French.  They might not agree.)

Thanks again to Lisa from Lacri.com for giving me the idea to take a good look at my space.