Creative Space – What does yours look like?

We all need a special place. Not so much to find balance at this time in our lives. But, a sanctuary in which to explore the terrain of our creative landscape…Annabelle Graham

What comes after the balancing act that we, as women, have been performing for years? Once the ‘balance beam’ of a hectic life, has been traversed where do we find ourselves? The pyramid of responsiblities has been diminished and in it’s wake is the gift of time.

I like to think that the artist re-emerges within us.  

I read that as children we are all creative, but as we age, some of us lose touch with our creativity.  Now, as the pace of our lives shifts, we have the opportunity to re-engage with our inner muse and allow her the space in which to expand, and create.  

Creating a space for our muse is a reflection of the inner vision we have of ourselves. If we are so lucky to have an entire space or a tiny spot in which to allow our muse to feel at home we are then opening up to a vast horizon of new possibilities for ourselfs.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Anne Morrow Lindbergh has been a guiding light for me throughout the years. In the 1990s I was working for a leading national women’s magazine and re-read her1955 classic, Gift From The Sea. I was searching for insights from this independent woman, as an aviator, as a writer, a mother, and a public figure. And how she did it all. Her words and courage about being a woman with multiple responsibilities, both within the home along with outside projects, was incredibly timely. Her words described the balancing act that women faced with the increased demands of a career and family. I wove a presentation around AML that became a mainstay of describing women to multiple advertisers.

The personal revelation from her book fortified my belief that we as women, single, married, retired have to have our own space. Anne would take a cottage at the shore every year to be alone. She would write, she would collect seashells. She would indulge her creative muse. Feed her, if you will. The well of confidence, creativity, and love requires replenishing. Those weeks alone replenished her soul.

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Artistic souls and design mavericks

The first artist I knew was a friend of my mothers. Mary. Mary was single, middle-aged, had moved to Hawaii on her own, and became a real estate broker. One afternoon she called my mother, with a surprise. She picked us up and we drove to her newly acquired studio! Mary was also an artist. I was smitten. It was the begining of my love affair with creative talent.

Today, I’m surrounded by artistic souls and design mavericks. Some create in the back room of an abandoned house; others have transformed a home garage into a Paris Atelier. While others move the furniture in the living room to create an open area for their newest canvas. The muse is not fussy about her surroundings. She is happiest when her artist is creating beauty.

Space can be the spare bedroom, now converted into a writer’s studio to breathe life into the daydreams. Or the walk-in closet housing not only the clothes but also the inspiration of creativity.  It can even be a trailer parked on a plot of barren land.

The artist

The following artist and designers have found their space, and their creativity shines through like a beacon to all of us to find our passion.  I am blessed to call all these women friends.

Jaquelynne Mauvais : Watercolor artist : Lahina Maui

I become so immersed in my subject that I am transported to another realm while I am painting.  I am always amazed at the results – always ~ Jaquelynne Mauvais    

What would you do if you found a purple orangutan in your living room? Of course, you would paint a bit of green foliage into the background of the canvas for him to feel comfortable. 

Jaquelynne takes a white canvas and weaves the exotic into the familiar with her unique vision and blend of watercolors. Her gift is the ability to draw you into the painting. Be it rare animals, ethereal flowers, or the vista of a magical landscape.

It is when you gaze into the eyes of her tribal chieftains and queens dressed in the textiles of their lands, that you are in awe of her uncanny ability to reveal the essence of her subjects. She is a master of the watercolor technique and a connoisseur of the soul.

Carol Capek : Designer|Bespoke Apparel : Cuenca Ecuador

Inspiration usually comes without warning and is a demanding taskmaster until heard ~ Carol Capek

This design maverick has pursued her dreams with a style and talent that Ralph Lauren would be envious of on all levels. Her streetwear is captivating with bustle back jackets, wrap pants, and dresses adorned with decorative ties at the waist, that when pulled will raise the hem. Her love affair with jersey has produced numerious collections of easy to wear style. 

If you love the scenes in Downton Abbey when the fox is being pursued by ladies riding side-saddle in flowing skirts, fitted jackets, a lace cravat, and top hats, you would be a fan of Equus Couture. A successful component of the International Horse Show circuit. Carol brought bling and couture styling to the conservtive horse show circuit for over ten years throughout the country. 

One year ago Carol closed her business in the USA and moved Oliver Dog, and a container of talent, furniture and fabric to Cuenca.

If her muse has a name, it is Diane Keaton at the 2014 Golden Globe awards. Her bespoke tuxedo was the hit of the red carpet. For those lucky enough to have a Carol Capek original, it is most likely found hanging in the living room as an art piece.

 Brenda Holzke : Ceramicist|Mixed Media : Los Angeles

A continuous thread throughout my work is the marriage between color, pattern, and texture. Life is beautiful and I covet what I see Brenda Holzke

Where does one create “urban decay?” 

Where else but in an unused, somewhat abandoned guest house. This space is the perfect setting for Brenda’s one of a kind ceramics, jewelry designs, and mixed-media canvases. Her studio is a living catalog of the scope of her creative talent. Her imagination captures the unexpected and transforms it into an art piece. 

Small urban treasures, flea market finds old coins and military medals from the back alleys of Hong Kong. All these unique objects find their way into her art, with the unmistakable mark of one versed in the philosophy of yin and yang.  

The irregular shapes of hand-thrown and glazed-serveware and plates reveal the talent of this artist. Her newest hand-formed bottles bring forth a primitive quality that belies the fact that pieces are new. brendaholzke.com.  

  Cynthia Granado : Architectural Space Design : Los Angeles

There is a confidence and bravery that comes in and lights that inner fire and the creativity begins ~ Cynthia Granado

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How do you coax grapes into wine in a mostly arid region of Mexico? You hire a designer with the vision and talent to create an architecturally perfect environment that encompasses all aspects of the wine-making cycle. Planting, harvesting, bottling, and tasting. Combined, these all live up to the challenges of the environment and continually produce award-winning wine.  

On another project, turning space from a small coffee shop into the sophisticated Los Olivos Café & Wine Merchant. This restaurant is a favorite stop along the “Side Ways” tour of the Santa Ynez Valley, CA, had its challenges. 

The number one challenge? How do you showcase a vast inventory of 5000 bottles of wine?  You design a 50’ long custom library-like cabinet, with a unique twist on stacking the bottles. Team it with the poured concrete bar and custom wrought iron lighting, and voile! Now, you have the perfect setting for the filming of the movie Side Ways. And the perfect spot for exceptional food and an award winning selection of wine.

On a more personal project. Cynthia combined the best of traditional Mexican craftsmanship with modern building components. The finished project is her family home in San Miquel de Allende, Mexico. The effortless blending brings forth the best of the new and the old to create a unique environment for intimate family gatherings or a gourmet dinner for twelve. It is a sanctuary for friends and family.

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Suzan  Mischer : Knit|Textile Designer : Los Angeles

I have always been drawn to anything that allows me to stay inside my head and dream.  It began as a way to calm my anxiety in a bumpy childhood and it evolved into a pleasure palace of colors, textures, fibers, and design ~ Suzan Mischer

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When entering this room you are immediately intrigued by what is behind all the custom cabinetry.  

It is not until your eye is drawn to the window with the built-in desk and surround of cubbies loaded with skeins of colored yarn; do you realize that you are in a creative haven.

It is from this desk that Knit Café and the book by the same title were conceived. It is from this desk that the trend of knitting on a movie set, or in front of the TV was neutered. It was here, in this walk-in closet, that original knit designs found their way out of the cubbies and into fashion, a book, a retail space that became a celeb hangout. It all happened here in this space that held creativity and so much more.   

As a quick update and inspiration: Susan will graduate this coming year from The Rhode Island School of Design, (RISD)with a degree in Textile Design.

Ellen Friday : Custom Ceramic Design : Midland, TX

Every day I am blessed to have the most amazing people come to me and request a special gift for someone they love. I am creatively rejuvenated and inspired with each new design ~ Ellen Friday

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This talent is homegrown. The former family garage became the first studio. The second, a white enclosed tent on the side yard of the second family home. And a trailer parked on a barren lot next door became the third studio. 

Today, the current palatial studio above the 4 car garage, looks to be the final and premiere creative space for this talented designer. She is the go-to creator of personalized ceramic gifts for Midland Texas and beyond.

When you are married to a custom home builder – you never know where your next creative space will be. What is carried from space to space is the consistency of talent. It is the talent to translate a customer’s vision and personality into a custom work of art.  Every piece is a reflection of the artist’s intuitive ability to interpret each new creation with a unique personality and no two being alike.

Friends

I am forever in awe of the caliber of the women in my life. They are all so talented and accomplished in their chosen fields. They are artists, like those featured above. Others are entrepreneurs, educators, corporate executives, mothers, and sisters. All have a spirit that has brought them to a special place in their lives today. And each, in their own way are creative explorers. 

All of these women run the full range of the Platinum Boomer generation and Gen X.  We are all trailblazers. We, as boomers are the generation that marched for civil rights, women’s rights, and social equality. We now need to speak up for a new paradigm in aging. Once again, it is up to us, the Platinum Boomers, to forge a new path to the next outpost of life.   

For years we have celebrated the arrival of the Age of Aquarius, an age of possibilities and enlightenment. Let’s all find our inner muse and allow her the space to expand within ourselves and our amazing friends of all ages. xoxk

 this post was originally published in 2014 and has been updated.