Creative Ground Zero

I have been a fan of a local water color artist for several years now. Kate Worman Becker creates amazingly wonderful paintings. She allowed me to commission a work that I’m planning as a Christmas gift. I plan to publish an article focusing on Kate in the near future.

Kate invited me into her current studio recently, when I was allowed my first viewing of Heritage the commissioned work. I must say, I could feel the creative energy the moment I entered her work space. That energy is the inspiration of this discussion.

Kate’s studio brought back fond memories of my mother’s sewing and quilting room. Olson’s room, the name that mom deemed her area, was where I first discovered creative energy.

A modern water color studio was nothing that I expected. The vision of a canvas on an easel, Kate working with brush in one hand a mixing board in the other. Her smock covered in drops of paint. That may be a romantic vision of a painter, but not the most practical.

  Kate’s easel is a drafting table. Water color runs, she works the painting in layers. If Kate worked in the “romantic” concept, her shoes would either be very colorful or the floor would. Again, I plan to share more about Kate in the future.

Doug Edwards is another painter, but his canvas is far different. Maybe it seems a very stretch, but in my thinking, Doug’s restoration shop is a artistic ground zero. It must be admitted that Doug turns out beauties that may even exceed factory specifications.

Maybe I’m just sensitive and more tuned, but I can feel the creative energy when I’m in Doug’s shop.

I mentioned my mom’s work space. “Olson’s Room” was above a oversized two car garage, making the area that large. There was a large long arm quilter, the 4′ × 16′ table the machine was mounted to dominated space. Mom had two sewing machines, a cutting table and shelves and steamer trunks to complete the feel.

Besides quilts and sewing, my mom dabbled in about anything cloth, she knitted, crocheted anything of the matter. Mom also made dolls and painted.

Some artists probably don’t need a fixed space to produce their art. My photography friends would need to go to their subjects. Musicians must go to the people to perform. Musicians probably have rooms where they go to practice, though.

Ryan King has a large room dominated with all his guitars. He can practice anywhere, but he probably  prefers there. I should ask him.

Even as an author, I have my own creative ground zero. I utilize my space more in novelist mode, though. My office has furniture that holds special meaning. That helps to inspire me. The most important tool beyond my computer is my big, too comfortable chair.

I’m more portable, per say, in journalist mode. My needed tools to report or blog is my smartphone. When I write in this discipline, I write anywhere and everywhere! This article is being composed as I sit behind the steering wheel of a semi. Don’t worry, I’m utilizing wasted time sitting in a grain line.

Unlike my best guess about Ryan King, I spoke to another journalist – Blogger. Cindy Ladage is more experienced and more successful. My  incorrect assumption was  that Cindy wrote more “portable”.

Surprisingly, even though Cindy does write wherever is convenient, she does have a favorite place to pen.

Cindy shared that her place of business is her kitchen. This is where her main computer is set up. It also gives her the convenience of looking out the window to view her cherished farm. Even a traveling lady needs the sights of her home.

I focused on a few local more known artists among us. The truth is, there are MANY more in the Antique Iron Mafia circle with wonderful artistic talents

I am thankful for our artists. Without them our world would hold no color