Clearing Your Creative Masterpieces

As I strolled through one artist’s studio after another at the annual open house in my town recently, I was struck (as I always am) by the beauty, creativity, whimsy, novelty, audacity…

and the sheer volume of it all.

Art can take up space – lots of space in some instances. I know the dilemma well: I’ve watched many readers and clients struggle with what to do with their beloved crafts and artistic projects (in various stages of completion). But it wasn’t until I found myself snaking through the hallways of a gigantic collective studio space that I wondered: what do these artists do with the stuff that doesn’t sell?

Artists create. That is what they do by definition. Unless it is a musical or dance performance or a culinary experience, most plastic and decorative arts (that are not ephemeral or consumable) – paintings, framed photographs, furniture, antiques, sculpture, jewelry, fabrics, live installations, books, clothing – need space to house, store, display, and enjoy them.

And if you know me, you’ll know my tough-love position on this issue: No matter how precious or valuable, or vital your things may be to your personal survival, self-concept, health, or well-being, unless you have a permanent and dedicated place to house them, they are…clutter! Yes, this includes valuable heirlooms, fancy cars, and fabulous artistic masterpieces.

No home, no have. It is that simple.

Still it begs the question: if you don’t have enough space in your home (or studio) to “have,” how do you deal with your prized stuff? That’s not a rhetorical question. I honestly don’t have a satisfactory answer. My art comes in words and photos which can be easily contained inside my 15-inch laptop.

But there are answers I know. Here’s one: I came across a wonderful article posted by Feng Shui author and life coach Tisha Morris on my SpaceClear group site on Linkedin. It’s called “Clutter Clearing for Creatives” and you can read it here.

Photo: “Chihuly Glass” [exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA] by Stephanie Bennett Vogt