Where do you make art? A studio for an artist is very important.  For me it is my little corner of the world, magical, colorful and a holy and sacred space just for me! What does that mean? My sacred space consists of light and lamps, a big desk, the bigger the better. Music, TV, scanner. Beautiful art and colors, fun little collectables that make me smile. Candles, supplies, comfy chairs, my dog Marley and coffee. It is a sanctuary I have created where there are no distractions and the space is all mine. I love my studio. 
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I don't do chaos! Some artists thrive on clutter, but not me. I am pretty organized, it helps my creative process by knowing where I can find things. It messes with my mind to have clutter, when my mind is organized I create better by focusing on the one thing I am creating.  So what ever makes you happy and helps you create is what you need to do. Music is an important part of my day. I play music as I create, so a great sound system for my iPhone is a must have. I listen to mostly classic rock, 60's style but Adele and chic rock has it's day too. I like classic violin music to think and clear my mind in the mornings but Marley seems to like it a little too much and howls to it. So I usually have silence for my meditation time versus howling.

When I am creating art from coloring books to paintings I always have my assistant by my side. My dog Marley is a labradoodle and is always here she even has a bed in the corner of the studio but is usually found under my desk.

 Size does not matter.
As for size, it really isn’t everything. Unless you plan on painting mural size pieces, your studio doesn’t need to be large. Limitations breed creativity. A small studio means you need to really think about your environment and this can focus your mind and help you be an even better artist. My studio right now is small, I have had large studios, small studios, a boat studio a motor home studio, a basement studio, a garage and a trailer studio and each one worked. For me it is not about the size it is about what makes you happy, what makes you create, what makes your world come alive and inspires you. COLOR! I love bright bold colors. STUFF! I love my shells and mermaids, anything that makes me smile I will sit around my desk to inspire me. ORGANIZATION! I love my file cabinets and pretty file folders and rolling storage bins.  I can create anywhere as long as I have some basic supplies and peace. I start each day out on the computer so candles and coffee are my way of balancing what may come that day. 

I love Georgia O'Keeffe and her simple and organized studio space.  I am no Georgia O'Keeffe! But I bet we would have been great friends.

Some of my basic studio needs are my pens, paint and markers. These are a few of my favorite things!

Anything that inspires you, anything that makes you happy put those things in your studio. I am not a tortured artist I am a happy artist so to create happy I need to keep my sacred space happy!

Every artist deserves a space that begs them to create. Here are my top tips for making your studio or sacred space inspiring and work for you.
1.Display your own art. it will keep you going! Express who you are.
2.Stay organized so when you feel inspired and sit down to create you do not have to spend an hour  trying to find your tools. An organized studio will invite you to create often.
3.Fill your studio with what makes you happy! Flowers, shells, books, candles, pillows. Surround yourself with beauty.
4.Purge! When you have too much clutter and too much stuff laying around it can be distracting. I have closets and closets and boxes full of supplies. I only keep the ones I use everyday out in the open. Simplify!
5.I love my big comfy recliner, keep a corner just for sitting, thinking, relaxing and meditating.
6. Lighting. If you do not have natural lighting get some natural light fixtures and lamps. I can never have enough lighting, I turn every light on because I do not have a lot of natural window light right now and an artist needs lighting. You will feel more inspired by having light!

I hope you enjoyed my little corner of the world where magic happens every day! Be inspired!

Peace, Love and Art!

Anyone can doodle and draw!
I have been a doodler all my life. I doodle on everything! I doodled on a tv, on walls, clothes, shoes and purses just to name a few. All my coloring books and all my art I create have doodles. I was a henna artist in Las Vegas for years and taught my employees how to draw henna tattoos which is just a series of shapes all added together to create a design. I believe anyone can doodle and draw if you know the basic shapes and learn a few tricks.  
To be a doodler there are some basics you need to know. Basic shapes that is. These shapes are important to learn and can take you to the next level in your doodling. I suggest getting  some paper or a journal and a few sharpies or pens (any kind of pen will do) and practice drawing these basic doodle shapes over and over and over. You will be amazed at what you can create by simply learning these 13 shapes. So go ahead, practice is what makes great artists. If this is exciting you and helpful check out my How to Doodle like a pro book available in my Etsy store as a PDF or on Amazon.  Happy Doodling everyone! XO