Tidying the Studio

This book was a Christmas gift from my niece this year. I have never been great at organizing. In first grade my mom came home from student/teacher conferences and told me what my teacher had said. She also wrote it on my report card. "Debbie has a hard time staying organized."

I don't know how it happened, but through all my organizing struggles I have found that it's really enjoyable to help my friends get organized. I love to sort and make things look pretty.

This book takes it up a whole new level. Like the title says, applying the principles that Marie Kondo suggests really has been life-changing. This book is all about clearing out the old clutter to make room for all the new, wonderful good stuff to come!

I  began as suggested; sorting through my closet and getting rid of things I never even wear and like Marie says, to get rid of things that don't bring me joy. I've taken loads to Goodwill and thrown out bunches of stuff. And I'm happy to say that I have even gotten rid of some things my mother has given me. I know, GASP!

The magic started happening as soon as this process began. It was during this period that I took on my 30 day painting challenge. Painting every day after a grueling day of teaching little ones is something that I would have never even considered. But as the excess baggage became a little lighter, my ability to commit to something extreme seemed do-able.

There's still more to do, especially in my studio. I've narrowed down my boxes of photos that are possible "someday paintings" and organized my art supplies. I feel less attached to my paintings. It's fun to sell them and send them off to a new home! And the ones that don't turn out like I expected, well, I have managed to take my palette knife and scrape off that wet paint. I have a brand new canvas for the next day and I'm not stuck looking at a failed painting.

I have a stack of paintings in my studio. Some are unfinished from years back. Some I just couldn't get past the first few steps and some are finished and I'm not happy with them. So, there they sit, horrible reminders of failures! Next on my list is to gesso over those paintings that have been lingering. Put them (and me) out of their misery. Thank them for the valuable painting lesson and thank them again for a brand new surface to paint on!