A Creative Space
Artists have long been impacted by their environments. Cave dwellers etched the walls with little figures of the world they saw around them. 19th century impressionists captured the way that light changed with their paints. Joni Mitchell’s “Ladies of the Canyon” is titled so as to pay homage to Laurel Canyon, a site of great creativity in the 1960’s. Miley Cyrus’ “Malibu” was similarly inspired by the misty waves rolling in along the California shore. Access to great exteriors can shift a writer’s perspective and give them new fodder for songs.
The same can be said of an interior: a white walled room and a yellow walled room have different auras. The presence of a velvet couch or a stimulating rug design can bring out new energies in a writer. The sheer absence of furniture save a piano in an echo-y, marble room will inevitably turn any artist into a balladeer. A dimly lit, cramped space will similarly turn the same artist into a whisperer of internal thoughts. A chaotically colorful space might have the opposite effect, cultivating instead upbeat rhythms and pop-minded melodies. The specifics are conjectures at best, but the general statement is true: your surroundings impact your writing.
That’s why I advise artists to cultivate their space. Paint the walls with colors that leave you energized. Fill it with equipment, of course. But, also take time to include books or knick knacks that spark intrigue. A mirror or a bouquet of store-bought flowers, even the right coasters can make a difference in your space. Spend time and energy putting together your bedroom, office, or studio to make it a visually inspiring place.
A space cultivated by you will inevitably feel comfortable. That type of comfort will set you at ease when inspiration strikes and will coax you into prolificness even when writer’s block is looming just around the corner. Take the time. Build your space. Reap the rewards of a room you love.
