I'm currently looking for an apartment. One teaching from my mentoring program “Created to Thrive” particularly appealed to me. Matt Tommey, the mentor, always talks about how important it is as an artist to regularly spend time in the studio and really create art.
Until now I was of the opinion that I didn't necessarily need my own studio. Since my artist artist watercolor pencils and fineliners can be taken anywhere and at home the desk would suffice.
After the teaching "Developing and Nurturing Your Studio PracticeI changed my mind. In this talk we learned that nothing makes an artist grow faster than regular time in the studio. Art needs space, both spatially and temporally. Many artists believe that they are not worthy of owning their own studio. But we can also see it this way, that we deserve a place in which God can move wonderfully in my life through the art and creativity that He has placed within me.
When we set aside a place and time for our art, we are expressing that through the sacred creative process we are set apart for something special. It's something sacred because Holy means set apart, pure! It tells us and others that it is worthy and important to focus on. God in me deserves something special, because then I do what God has called me to do! Do I believe that I am worthy enough? Do I believe in my work and my calling? Therefore, it is worth enough to invest in a studio. It should be a space that is easily accessible. Where I don't have to keep setting everything up, then dismantling it and cleaning it again. Where I don't have to ask myself every time whether it's worth the effort to create something for just a short period of time. With everything already set up, all I have to do is sit down and do some quick art and practice.
And I have noticed that this is very true when I think about how to overcome my fear of acrylic . So far I don't paint with acrylic regularly because I need an environment that can get dirty, so far I always have to set everything up and clean it again and again. At the moment I don't even have a place that's really suitable for it.
So I realized for myself that I can have faith that God has a new apartment for me, where I can have an extra small room, where my art is permanently set up and I can get started straight away. Ideally even a living room where I can make art together with others. And since finances are always a challenge - especially in the Munich housing market - I can also have faith in an apartment that I can pay for. What this will look like in concrete terms still remains to be clarified.
I find the thought both liberating and challenging. I am very excited to see how Jesus will lead me here.