My Sacred Space

I don't think there is any place more intimate for me as an artist than my studio. It is my sacred space. It is the one room that is fully mine, a place where God and I work out details. Details of everything from life to art.

This is where He meets me and talks to me and shows me great and mighty things I do not know. (Jer 33:3)

Wherever I have lived since 1995, I have set up my various in-home studios

It is a must.

My studio is an outward extension of my inward soul. It needs its own place in my spirit, soul, body and home.

I protect this space fiercely. I am very reluctant to let people into it.

This is where the real me hides. The one who loves people deeply yet gets annoyed with them easily. This is where I sing for joy, and this is also where I am most likely to shed my tears. This is the place where it is safe to examine all the flaws in my work and also in me.

If walls could talk, this is the place that would show to the world everything I carry on the inside.

This level of exposure is a monumental risk that I periodically take when I invite someone into my studio. So, if I let you in, it's because you matter to me.

What I mean by "letting you in", is not just a quick tour. Really letting you in means spending time together in my sacred space. I will freely offer up my tools, and materials to share an experience with you where we both create something special.

If you listen very carefully, you may even hear a nugget of wisdom or two from my lips.

Even better, I may share the secret things God whispers into my spirit. Excellent things that make my life much better.

It is where I exchange the wounds of the world for His truth. Pottery has taught me almost every basic thing about navigating this journey called life. Most things are beautiful, some are sorrowful, all are meaningful.

My husband has become used to the fact that I spot the studio space first when shopping for a new house. I have taken over garages, 3 season patio rooms, barns, closets, basements, and sheds. I have glazed on kitchen tables and even drawn my texture designs as we sit and watch television.

My studio is about to get an upgrade as we are moving to a bigger home. Yeah! We pottery nerds understand how quickly a room can be filled up with essential, (wink wink) clay tools and equipment.

My advice is to always plan ahead and plan bigger. It will save you $ in the long run.

My soon to be previous "Pot" shed is 12'x16'. It currently houses:

1 wheel

1slab roller

1 L and L e18s kiln

glass fusing supplies

all of my rubber texture mat inventory

200-300 jars of glaze + the gallons and small buckets

Work that has been glazed and work to be glazed

1 small rolling tool cart

tools, tools and tools... my tools have tools!

towels

a fan, portable AC and 2 portable heaters

1- 6' tall storage cabinet with jewelry making supplies

two garbage pails, one is for plastic

boxes and bins for pottery transport

kiln furniture

and so much more!!!see the below pictures.

I have been blessed with an uncanny ability to cram as much as I can into a room. It's like a puzzle to me. I search for the exact thing that will fit the open space until all is in order.

At this point, I can almost turn around...almost. These pictures show the chaos of transition. I even packed some things already!

My "tent pegs" need enlarging and that process starts today, literally!

Yikes!

What I am trying most to say is that my desire for you, is that you will cherish your studio, it is so much more than you might think. Guarding your studio and guarding your heart go hand in hand. You are special, your studio is special.

For those of us who create, a common household item that has been handmade can bring such joy whether you are drinking coffee in the mornings, washing dishes, serving food to friends, decorating your home or sprucing up the garden. Art's power to bring joy is endless, and we artists are the creators of that joy.

So, when you meet a special person, invite them in. Maybe they need what you have to share with them.

I leave you with this invitation (virtually of course): welcome my friend... into my world. :)

Blessings, Charlene

These photos were pre studio growth... it looks so peaceful and orderly, and it will be this way again!

PS: I got the lid off the teapot! (See the blog Post, "When things go wrong").