Artists At Work: Workspaces and Processes

How do artists develop spaces and methods for making their most authentic work as part of a daily artistic practice?

These artists step out of the usual norm of what people expect an artist to be. Carrie Pollack said that she needs to go out and find her source materials, and cannot always do everything inside her studio. She lets her surroundings inspire her, with a daily walk outside. Hamlett Dobbins said that he does not let the space affect his work, and that no matter where he is; it’s about the work itself, the content, and not the environment that he is working in. Many artists to choose to religiously work in their studio days on end, However these artists prefer to work in their studios only when they think it is necessary. Another important aspect to artists that Dobbins brings up is that artists need to pay attention to whoever they are with in the studio, complete ignorance of people there is not a good think because they miss sentimental moments. It is not like that point is going to inspire me to just leave my work and socialize, but its important to see what other people are doing, and what they are working on. Certain people are messy, and no matter what, while they are working, they create a mess. That is common, and often if artists stop what he or she’s doing to clean, it often stops that spark of inspiration that is keeping them going. Those few methods, to me, are how artists develop methods to keep their work the most authentic and as a daily artistic practice, and to keep producing their work. If an artist over analyzes everything, tries to be spotless, becomes so self oriented though their work, and does not take the time to have a breather outside, they will get frustrated and progress know where. These spaces are what develops and artists, whether it is being outside or creating a mess in their studio, its what motivates them to produce their work.