My Creative Space

The place where we create is unique, sometimes evolving as a reference based ecosystem which has layers, sections or distinct areas that can chart our creative evolution.

There seems to be an obsession with those who are non apparent creative’s to ‘de-clutter’ it becomes a mantra which usually follows periods of inactivity in their work. The problem is when they start to try and impose it as good practice in all areas or ‘activity’.

My creative processes are so varied that I cannot safely say there is a method, model or ideal space. Equally my creative environment and circumstances often dictate the creativity itself.

I noticed this when I had a civil service job after my degree (well you had overdrafts to get you through University in my time).

My 6 years studying art and having the luxury of a daily creative studio had lulled me into a state of mental and physical stretching. I could literally ‘swing a cat’ and not hit the canvas!

Having studied commercial art and design for four of those years, I was well organized and disciplined when I began my two year degree in the polar extreme of Fine Art. From early on my time had been organized around client briefs, schedules and the golden rule of all creativity (usually overlooked by those trained to not consider what happens when you leave education -  institutionalized) It’s what you leave out that you have to learn.

When I began working in the office job – BAM! No space, no time and not inspiration.

Having been born into a family of artist’s I was lucky not to have the constraints placed on me by some parents whereby drawing and painting, music, writing etc  is something you do as a hobby and I was always encouraged by my Mother (An art student of the sixties) to pursue my creative development.

The biggest factor was the creativity itself, I had always pursued all of them with equal passion. I chose not to ‘study’ music as at that time it was a very academic path leading to orchestral work – not for someone who had grown up listening to Motown, Zeppelin and The Beatles etc. But played in may bands since the age of 15 as singer, guitarist, bassist, keyboard or anything else I could get my hands on to learn to play.

In some ways I adapted quickly to my new environment where adults behave like frightened rabbits when the boss is around – or worse, like school children telling tales to teacher to make themselves look good. Wow was this a culture shock!

My approach to painting has always been a slowly evolving process and 90% of the time was preparing myself mentally for 10% activity. Mind you the 10% activity could be three days non stop with little sleep!

So what to do when you have no time? No space and when you do get home, eat and sit down it’s time to sleep? I adapted – and writing became my number one creative outlet. Sitting in café’s, people watching with a little notebook and pen – spending my lunch breaks (That’s what I mean about the school mentality) furiously scribbling my thoughts, ideas and poetry. I became schizophrenic in my two worlds. Like a quick change into the superman outfit as I left the office – becoming someone else entirely.

Circumstances change, jobs change and my creativity changes. There aren’t many areas of creativity I haven’t worked in over the last 20 years and I continue to evolve as the creative tools and culture evolves.

So the spaces also evolve. Clean, tidy and comfy café’s are great for my writing. Large open high walled studios for painting or music and my attic space has become the hub for my video and sound production.

It’s not written in stone – a small rented flat in Moseley was the place where I wrote loads fantastic music. It just seemed to lend itself to it for no apparent reason. It was no different to the last rented flat – but had a ‘feeling’ about it.

With this in mind I decided to take some snaps of my creative space in the attic and document my current environment. Organised chaos it may look like, but it’s my space. For this period of time anyway.