Friday, April 19, 2013

BJ Lantz Studio on Paint Party Friday

For this Paint Party Friday I will share with you BJ Lantz´s Studio Space. A lot of painting gets done here!

The front part of the studio where BJ sits when she wants to sketch, read, rest while something is drying or just stare at her space and dream.
And now step into where the paint flows!

1) When did you start dreaming about having your own creative space? Did you have one as a child?

I have always been creative and done artsy projects, but I don't recall ever having a creative space as a child. It was wherever I would drag my supplies to.

I was a graphic designer for 18 years before I began my art licensing career. For many of those years, I worked in agencies, then freelanced from my own small rented office space, then moved into a spare bedroom at home. During those times, I never really felt the need for a creative space, per se. My work was on the computer for the most part. But when I started transitioning into licensing and doing more illustration and painting, the need grew. I expanded into yet another bedroom, and after several years there, I really began dreaming of a large, open, airy space where I could make a big mess, walls and floor be damned. I wanted to work on larger canvases, and many at once. My little 10 x 12 space wasn't cutting it, despite the fact that I'd already ruined the carpet. I decided at the end of 2011 that I would begin looking for that space I was dreaming of. A death in the family brought that to a halt for six months. Then, miraculously one day I drove by the perfect spot ~ 650 Sq Ft of office/warehouse space close enough to ride my bike, inexpensive enough to be doable! Oh happy day!!

2) The day you stepped into your space for the first time, did you already know how you wanted your studio to look like or did the design evolve from the actual space?

I actually have three creative spaces now ~ my "tech suite" (all the computers and equipment), the art/craft/sewing room (which once housed my painting work space as well), and the warehouse space.

With the warehouse painting studio I immediately knew what to do with the space the moment I walked in. I saw it all in my head and it is now exactly as I saw it, but still evolving ~ I've only been there for 9 months now.

With both the tech suite and the art room, they have evolved many times over the last 12 years to fit and refit my work needs and they have often been influenced by the space itself because of the space limitations. I've had to be very creative with storage!

Since I moved my painting stuff to the warehouse studio space, I was able to fit a daybed into my art/craft/sewing room. Not only am I happy to again have space for guests, but it is also a great place to have coffee in the morning with my journal.


3) After the work is done, do you clean up after each piece, after each day or whenever you can´t find the table any more?

I most often clean up after working on a particular project or piece, however I often have to clean up during the process because I can't find the table :-))


4) Do you have a system to keep all your materials or do you have your most favourites always at hand?

I don't know that I would call it a system...but I am organized fairly well. You have to be when working with a small space like my craft/sewing room, but I have always been an organizer. My motto is "like with like" ~ in other words, store things with other things that make sense and you'll always be able to find things and know right where to put them when you're through with them.

In my warehouse painting studio I have several organized areas and one thing I do hoard are containers of all sorts (see photo of containers under table). They always come in handy for keeping things together. I swear I use a new one or two weekly.


Where you can find BJ on line:
Website:  BJ Lantz Illustration & Design
Facebook: BJ Lantz Studio
Etsy: BJ Lantz Original Artwork
Pinterest: BJ Lantz

15 comments:

froebelsternchen said...

GORGEOUS!
Happy PPF!

Anonymous said...

Golly, would like to get covered in paint there, looks so much fun xxx

Marji said...

What a great space! That last picture made my heart sing... it looks just like my table - nice and full of creative inspiration!!

Dina Blas said...

I would love to have my own creative space. Going to put it on my to do list. Thank you for inspiring me to action. ~ Dina (UBC)

Unknown said...

How fun to have a space dedicated completely to your passion!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous space! I LOVE the giant table...jealous!

Unknown said...

what a beautiful space! I love anything with party lights!!

Unknown said...

I use the whole house as my creative space, but it's far from as organized as that. Beautiful!

denthe said...

Oh, what a gorgeous studio! Would love to paint there!

Anne Manda said...

Lovely studio! Thank you for sharing and happy PPF!

Giggles said...

Thanks for sharing this awesome space...and beautiful paintings!

Hugs Giggles

Anne Butera said...

Wonderful interview, Paula! So inspiring. What a lovely space she has to work. Convinces me further that I really need to get my studio organized!

Erika said...

It is a wonderful space for art.
Thank you for sharing and hugs
Erika

Delia @ Blog Formatting said...

Wonderful studio, very inspiring!

It's really important to stay in an inviting environment to get the creative juices flowing :)

Annabelle said...

A perfect creative space, simply wonderful!
I really like the string of lights going across the room....magical.

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