My (Newly) Organized Art Studio
All organization credit goes to Michelle of Organized by MC
Studio Location:
The Upstairs Studio Artists (Visit our Website HERE)
209 Bridge Street
Phoenxiville, PA
I often refer to my studio space as my second home.
In a lot of ways, where we work indeed takes on a “second Home” feel just by the sheer number of hours we spend in that space.
But for an artist, the studio is particularly sacred.
In the studio, we commune with the divine- with the deepest versions of ourselves.
I have always thought of my studio as a friend- not only because one of my closest friends, Neil, works across the hall from me- but because this space has held some of my best memories- time spent alone and wholly connected to myself. I have laughed here, cried here, broken and rebuilt and created and broken again countless art pieces in various formats (physical, digital, audio, written- you name it).
And when you love and respect a thing, you take care of it.
Today, I want to share a project 3 months in the making.
The Backstory
July, 2019
I have recently given birth to my second son in under 18 months.
I am postpartum and hormonal, and suddenly in need of a space in which to work since the spare bedroom that I christened my office when we bought our first home 6 years prior has now been taken over by my offspring. Also, I can’t think there anymore.
In my hysteria, my husband takes to Craigslist and finds the space that will eventually become my own special haven in a matter of 24 hours. I still remember that first day, meeting an astoundingly kind landlord named Bill at 209 Bridge Street in Phoenixville, PA.
I remember the feeling of disbelief. That this place was real. That it could be mine. That we could make this work, as a family.
The first thing I put up were empty embroidery hoops.
Strangely enough, this was before the time when I discovered I could pour encaustic wax into them (that came later, during the quarantine of 2020, when I was desperate to make art and home and used embroidery hoops to encapsulate the flowers my sons collected with me during our daily walks)
I told Bill all I needed was space for a desk, and at the time, that’s all I had.
The Revamp: 2023
The space that had felt so large- so empty- in 2019 was starting to close in on me by 2023.
It started to feel unbearable.
I would walk in and that feeling of calm was replaced by an unease- some extension of anxiety, I felt- and I knew it was time to overhaul the space. I also knew that this was going to be an investment of time and resources- and help.
My husband and I had hired Michele of Organized by MC a year and a half before, when we moved into our new home. It was one of the best things we did in those early days, with three small children and my tendency toward decision overwhelm. I was astounded by how hiring a professional organizer made the daunting unpacking process so much easier (and maybe even enjoyable!). I had known since then that when the time came I would hire her to help me with my studio- and I knew that the time had come. The clutter had reached the point where it was hindering my ability to create, and that was enough of a catalyst to make the call.
Sharing these cell phone photos of the space before Michelle came in is pretty Embarrassing- but I want you to see what she was working with.
From initial phone call to completion, this was a 3 month long project.
It was no small feat.
It was also a collaboration between us- the conversations between thrift store runs and photos texted back and forth were numerous. I painted the walls myself, figured out how to make a sawhorse table after we struggled to find the right working table that was both large and tall enough for my needs, I emptied every drawer and worked around the chaos for months knowing that it would all come together- and it did.
Michelle came on two separate days, two months apart. On the second day she brought her assistant Liz with her, and between the two of them they quite literally pulled it all together.
When we got lunch together at the end of that second day, we talked about how some people see her service as a luxury, while I personally view it as a necessity.
As someone who is highly sensitive to space (and the things within that space), I have felt that the work she does has the power to literally change lives.
I do not thrive in chaos, I thrive in peace. And (for me) that starts in the home.
This place is as much my home as where I raise my children. It is where I raise myself- and if I don’t care for it, who else will?
One of my favorite Details: This repurposed box from my studio mate Neil. Just added some eye hooks & it hangs!
Michelle did an amazing job sourcing unique hanging elements to fit the vintage Look Overall
When you hire an organizer they will ask you (or should ask you), “What are your pain points?”
For me, digital organization is a pain point. I have so many hard Drives, Cords, and miscellaneous Odds and ends that end up getting lost in my drawers (which, by the time Michelle finally came, wouldn’t even close!)
So, as amazing as the walls look, the drawers and computer desk work was the real game changer in terms of long-term help.
Custom Painting of me done for my 30th birthday by Tara Centybear
So one small downside to the studio is the lack of elevators! I am on the top floor (the 4th floor) so in planning for Bringing in any new furniture, we had to be sure it would be doable with the constraints of the stairs! Thankfully, I sourced a beautiful Barrister’s Bookshelf from a friend of mine, and I have some encouraging little notes for all my visitors just before they enter my space (finally!).
Storage Box from Hobby Lobby
This is the main wall in the studio, the spot that used to hold all my work, and now houses all my materials. We looked at so many Facebook Marketplace listings and stopped at various thrift stores, but in the end it was Hobby Lobby that held the perfect storage container for my foraged materials! Again, this was a practice in waiting to find just the right piece before rushing to buy the first thing we saw- a skill that Michelle has taught me over this beautiful process of working together!
Another aspect of this historic building is its lack of walls. We all love the collaboration and group atmosphere it creates, but sometimes we still want to create barriers between our spaces. I found a lovely deep gold velvet curtain which I hung to further deviate my space and it adds such a lush element to it! My cherished hang-painted poem called Covid Funeral (Read it here) and I keep my dried florals on the floor around it.
One year ago my landlord added this wall upon my request (I needed more hanging space!), but to be honest I never really painted it until this summer. For nearly a year, I used a black paper backdrop as my “Wall covering” because I was avoiding the work of painting it- and choosing a color! I am really happy with the green I picked out but I’ll be honest- it took a couple of tries!
In the end, painting this wall became a beautiful memory between my oldest son Johnny and I. I kept him home from school for a Mother-Son date day, and I asked if he wanted to help me with this project. We have a super fun Time Lapse video from that adventure together, and now every time I look at this wall I think of our day together!
The Art Cart!
I had SO MANY RANDOM ITEMS! Artists know what I mean- 23 paint brushes, 6 kinds of glue, 7 X-Acto knives, sprays and framing supplies galore! Again, Michelle changed the studio game with this cart. She came with all the supplies, all I had to do was watch the magic happen! This really freed up my bursting drawers, and now when I need that one random tool, I know where to look!
This entire project has already paid off.
I love inviting people into my space for first fridays and other art events. This year the art community in phoenixville has taken off tenfold, and having a space that I am proud to show off when we open our doors was reason enough to see this through. But, to be honest, I enjoy it most when I’m alone. It’s the little things, like pulling open a drawer (not shoving contents down just to make that happen) to find exactly what I need, with organizers that will grow with my needs over the years.
It’s not losing my train of thought when searching for that one particular notebook, or getting distracted by the mess while trying to get a project rolling. This space has seen 4 years of growth and now I know i can keep growing and it can continue to hold me- and my work- inside of it.
