We are now in March, three months into the new year. I am working on ramping up my writing and painting output. Yesterday I went into the office I have at home... finally. I've been afraid to go in there for weeks, afraid of dealing with what was in there. In December we had an art show in the studio where my office is located, so stuff just kind of got pushed to the back and ProPanels were thrown up to hang art. The office was a mess to begin with, but shoving stuff out of the way kind of pushed the mess over the edge, and I'm still trying to recover. The goal is to put my office, not only back in order, but to make it more organized and a more pleasant place to be. I began by pulling everything out of the bookcase. The bookcase, you see, has been in the corner. I had a desk against the wall next to it and another computer desk on the opposite wall. The writing desk was moved from one wall to another so that I could be at the computer and swivel to the right to be at the writing desk. So, suddenly my bookcase was 6 inches from the side of my writing desk, which is not an ideal location.
Having pulled everything out, I was able to consider what was what. I have a lot of material related to genealogy—books that my ancestors are mentioned in, for example. I have books about politics, fiction I need to read, books that have been signed and some that are old and delicate. Some of these were not actually on the bookcase; they were lying around because the bookcase was full of unrelated stuff.
Books my family are in
I pulled the bookcase over to the edge of my space, closer to the front door of the studio. Now, it has more space to breathe. I have tentatively put things into it. I love books and I collect them, but I want this to have more than books on it, I want to display other things as well. So, I'm considering what sort of reading/written material needs to be in this space particular where I write and paint. Unread fiction doesn't seem to be what is called for in this office. Art technique and political intrigue are much more fitting. Old books and books that are signed and or inscribed need a safer place to be than a studio that shape-shifts for different events.
Beautiful Old Books and Signed Books
Artwork definitely needs to be around. While I'm trying to be creative I need to be surrounded by ceramic pottery and woodwork that I love. I also need other interesting things... an old decorative doorknob or an interesting bottle. There is a fine line between hoarding and collecting, and I haven't seen that line in quite a long time. It's been buried under stuff. Now my cleaning ideas seem to be growing outside of my bookcase, which is good because that was just a starting place.
Woodworking Art by Thomas irven
Decorated Gourd by Vally Napier
I dedicate the month of March to Finding my Office. My first novelette is being reviewed by an editor at my publisher and I need to be working on my next novel. I need to create more paintings to go along with my novels, because... well because I like the idea and I want that to be a part of my art. So, my first right step this month is to organize my space.
How is your 2020 going?
Why is this even here?