Cleaning the studio can be a GOOD thing!

"At the Beach"

Every now and then, my studio gets so messy that I'm FORCED to stop painting and start cleaning.  All my students know that I own 2 of everything, so that I don't have to waste time looking for whatever is missing.  But when I can't find either screwdriver, or ruler, or ATG tape, or WHATEVER..... it becomes mandatory that I clean out my studio.  I've been working on this for several days now, asking myself every time where would be the perfect spot to store certain things. I moved tables, and sitting areas, and shelving.  I'm trying to have stations.  For instance, all my card making crafty things would go in one corner, and the acrylics would go in another, the collage papers (wow, do I ever have LOTS of collage papers!!) would go in another!  My biggest fear is that I will lose something, because it won't be in it's normal spot.  Anyway, this painting, "At the Beach" had been missing for several months, and it is a favorite of mine!  And I found it behind lots of mat boards that were in a corner.  I'm so happy!  It's a little like Christmas, when I keep finding things.  This painting is only 6" x 6", but I love the connection of light patterns, and I did it in only 30 minutes, thereby keeping it fresh.  I had wanted to do a huge one of this, but wonder if I'll ever do it.  I had watched the Don Andrews DVD  before doing this.  He works on an easel, letting the paint run together, and the colors are kept very fresh in this approach. I recommend him highly as an instructor.