Twyla Tharp

What is scratching and how does Ms. Tharp suggest we do it? Knowing how you work in the studio, what methods, techniques, or tricks can you see yourself using from Ms. Tharp's suggestions? She's talking about dance. What would this behavior look like in the art studio?

Scratching is the way that we are to find ideas. Twyla tells us to explore new places, music, books, and art works but not to forget the established artists too. It's theses places and works that can spark a small idea that we can mold and allow to evolve into a bigger creation. I love going outside and seeing the shapes and textures in the world and letting them inspire how my next project will turn out. Since I haven't been as religious with my sketching I have been looking to things like buildings and places to inspire me until I get my personal style better established again before I go looking at other peoples' work. However seeing the way that other artists use their media shows you new techniques that you can incorporate into your own work.

For me actual dancing is what dancing in a studio looks like. I love being barefoot in the studio constantly moving to keep the pencil/brush/charcoal moving. The shapes, whatever they may be, change and I either hate or love them. It's the constant dance that keeps me from hitting a wall.

Inside the Painter’s Studio by Joe Fig

How do the workspaces and routines of these artists support the work they do? Which artist did you relate to the most and why?

their routines help them get into the creative mindset. Some like to work with music or tv, others in complete silence. Some prefer a city others a more natural setting. Some live in their studio space while others would rather separate work and home. For each person these make all the difference in their work.

I can relate to those who like to listen to music. For me music is a way to block out my surroundings and focus on what I'm doing. It also dictates or even emphasizes my mood. This can change the type of work I do. I like a cleaner space but it has to be separate from my living space. At home to do most of my sketching in the attic. It keeps a separation from my art and my home living space.

Looking at Artists' Studios

Most Studios seemed to have some of the same basics:

paint, brushes, canvas etc...

Each had lots of wall, floor, and table space for them to work on.

There were chairs in all the studios, some were actual chairs others were stools.

Some artists preferred music, others a TV.

Every studio is filled with finished works, works in progress, and other small projects or brainstorming ideas.

Me the Senior Artist

Last year I discovered that painting was the media that I preferred to work with. Charcoal was another media that I did a lot of work with. My favorite was mixing the two.

I need to be able to move around a lot and I feel like painting gives me that freedom. I am a very tactile person and tend to use my hands when I paint just as much if not more than a brush.

I like the charcoal because I can help blend the colors with my hands.

These tendencies lead to a sometimes messy space, but I prefer a little mess.

I like being in the corner, and that my tables create and enclosing space for me to work in. I can't work in an open space.

My brother is an artist (ceramics) so our house is filled with all his work.

His work had different colors, textures, and shapes which is they type of stuff that I like workign with when I do art.

I am definitely more of an abstract artist. I've never been someone to draw what I see, but more the shapes and lines that I feel.