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In the Studio with Katie Glusica

April 3, 2014 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, In the Studio, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Systems & Techniques

Today we take a sneak peek In the Studio with Katie Glusica a textile artist and fellow SCAD Alumni. Katie and I have met at several SCAD Fibers Open Studio events and I’m fascinated by both her weaving and personal artwork and the work she does in rug restoration. Katie lives in Savannah GA and her studio is in her home. Thank you Katie for inviting us into your creative space!

HKPS::What age did you suspect or know you were an artist?

KG::It was my junior/senior year of high school when I decided to study art. Up until then, I was more interested in collecting rocks and science, which has become a big part of what conceptually feeds my practice. Once I was in college and began taking challenging art classes, I knew I was an artist. During my first textiles class I knew I was a weaver, but I always have been.

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HKPS:: What mediums do you work with?

KG::I work in a wide range of mediums and techniques, but I am weaver regardless of the material or technique I am working in.  In my current work I typically combine traditional and experimental materials like silk and nylon monofilament using my eight harness Gilmore loom. In my rug restoration work I use all natural materials, needles and frame looms.  Recently, I am collaborating on a project involving glass and have been working in wood to create framed environments for some of my weavings.  I try to keep up drawing, sketching and writing practices.  I also love to cast things in latex and draw with oil.

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HKPS:: Where do you make your art, how big is your studio and how long have you been in this space?

KG::Currently, my weaving, etc. studio is in my home.  The room is about fifteen by fifteen feet.  And, usually expands into other parts of the home as needed.  I have not yet done any casting in this studio. I have been working in this space, with this particular set up for about two or so years. My rug restoration studio is part of the antique furniture and rug store Savannah Galleries in downtown Savannah.  There, I typically work at a six-foot (preferably eight-foot) table or on the floor, so the space I am using moves locations within the shop from time to time.  I have been working there for six years.

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HKPS:: When you began working in this space did you plan any systems for the overall set up or did you let things evolve organically?  How did past studio spaces or systems influence this space?

KG::From the very beginning, my studio spaces have all had the same basic set up, which is installed based on the space specifics, and evolves naturally from there. This same basic set up consists of an eight harness loom and necessary accessories, at least one shelving unit, plastic storage bins, a six to eight foot long table, a desk and clamp lights.  Currently, I also have a chest of drawers, three shelving units and a chest. Oh, and there is always a stereo of some sort.

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HKPS:: Do you consider yourself to be an organized person?

KG::Yes.

HKPS:: Have you ever worked with another artist or gallery?  If so did you learn any systems for organizing?

KG::Yes, and I have taken note of the many different ways different people do things, kept what has worked for me and left the rest.  One of the most important experiences I had as an art, specifically textiles, student was visiting my weaving professor’s studio.  My basic set up is essentially modeled after hers (Susan Iverson).  An important specific lesson from that first visit to a professional textile studio was to always use clear plastics bins to discourage moths, but keep your fabric away from light and dust wrapped in muslin!

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HKPS:: How or where else have you learn your organizing habits and systems ?

KG::I would say that my organizing habits started very early on, as a child, both my mother and father are very organized in their spaces and lets just say I used to have systems for eating cereal. This tendency towards order is likely what makes me an apt weaver. I do however stop organizing before it gets over-the-top because the studio is a place where I like to allow for a degree of chaos.

HKPS::What types of schedules, systems, tools or processes do you use to help maintain organization in your studio?   Would you like to share any tips?

KG::I am a huge list maker. Lists, lists and more lists. Shelves, shelves and more shelves. Boxes.  I use a lot of folders. I like Post-It notes, too.  If you don’t have close to the same amount of things as you do places to put them, you can’t be well organized.  The level of organization one needs is up to the individual. I keep only as many things on my plate as I can do well.  Yet always keep enough going to make sure I have something to do.   I try to keep cycles of work and applications going, trying for about three at a time…playing the odds.  It is important to keep your computer files, images and C/V or resume names and places organized and backed up. There is always something on my loom and I consistently work through my different projects prioritizing them as needed, usually with Post-It notes.

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HKPS::What kinds of materials/tools do you find challenging to keep organized or locate when you need to use them?

KG::Paperwork, ideas and images are the trickiest to keep in order, mostly because they are hard to assign a place as they are abstract in nature.  So long as I have folders and Post-Its or paper scraps around and place to lay them out on as I work on them, organization is easy.  If I run out of folders and space when I start some new projects I could be in trouble.  I also try to name my image files and create folders and places for folders on the computer…and have a system of prioritizing visually on the computer based on where and when I place folders.

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HKPS::How many projects are you usually working on at once?  Is this due to space constraints, creative process, organizing systems or other influences?

KG::I am a person who is best stimulated by having many projects going at once…at the moment I have around six to eight projects in the air.  This is possible in my space as at the moment it is fairly dynamic.  It is limited in ways, but with a house and studio room I am able to make shift anything I’ve needed.

HKPS::How often do you purge, clean or de-clutter your supply stash and space due to space or other constraints?

KG::I try to clean as I work, say at the end of a session. I’m a rather tidy worker so it’s not much of an issue.  Organization also helps keep the need to purge or clean to a minimum.

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HKPS::Please describe how creative cycles of organization or dis-organization affect your creative process? Are there certain phases of projects that are more or less organized?

KG::I definitely require an organized space to be productive so I try to be consistent with my organization and cleaning.

HKPS::How much thought do you give to your artistic body of work in terms of historic value and the overall  legacy you will leave behind?  How do you store/archive your work or records?

KG::I store my work in a manner to promote its long-term preservation. All of my textiles are stored in clean muslin, always rolled or flat, then put in clean and clear plastic bins.  Almost everything I make is sight specific or changes throughout its existence but if properly cared for could last indefinitely. I have also worked in ways and mediums that yielded work of a more temporal nature. For example, I’ve made castings out of latex that naturally breaks down over time, so at the time of making I document the work thoroughly knowing that it will not last forever. A very important part of any studio practice is consistent photographs of work and process.

My greatest wish is that through seeing how other artist work we can learn from one another.  There is no correct system or way of organizing, just what works for YOU.  There are as many creative systems as their creative makers!  My aim is to highlight these unique makers in each interview.   A HUGE thank you to Katie for inviting us into her studio and sharing her personalized systems and how organizing affects her creative process.  Please check out her work over at her website and if you live Savannah or are visiting be sure to visit her at the    She’s a very talented lady and I’m so glad to have her in our local community!

Katie Glusica Weaving Studio

* Inside the Studio was my brainchild in 2011. There are a lot of popular studio features on the web and in magazines but I’m specifically interested in showing how organizational process influences the artists studio work. These photo’s are not styled and are typical of how the artists working studio looks.  I request that each artist leave their space as it would be on a daily basis (just like I ask my clients).  This series is meant to highlight how artist REALLY work rather than showing STYLED shots (popular in home and organizing magazines and blogs).  I’m sure just like me, you are fascinated by the “behind the scenes” sneak peek into these artists working lives!

In the Studio with SCAD Fibers

March 8, 2014 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, In the Studio, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Photography, Systems & Techniques

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting my Alma-matter for the Fibers Open House.  I am always blown away by the delightful work I see coming from this department and thought it would be a fun opportunity to visit In the Studio with SCAD Fibers students.  I have such fond memories of my time there and the department has grown tremendously over the past 15 years.  They are using the most cutting edge technology mixed with the best foundational teachings.  This is a recipe for success!

Here are (anonymously) some of the studio work-spaces.  Of course for the open house they were tidied up and I’d love to pop in and see how they look from day to day but in a setting like this you begin to see how different styles of organizing emerge.

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Farewell SCAD Fibers…Till later!  

(Re)Discovering Personal Style in Design

January 7, 2014 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Inspiration & Education

I’ve gone back to school in a manner of speaking and am (Re)Discovering Personal Style in Design!  I signed up last year to take the Ultimate Guide to Repeat’s over at Pattern Observer.  I’ve followed Michelle and her blog and business for the past few years.  She began the site in 2010 right around the time that I left the Carpet and Textile design industry full time.  I will always keep an eye on what’s happening in textiles regardless of whether it’s a part of my business or not.  That being the case I’ve gotten a bit rusty here and there with my design skills and I’ve had to switch from a very expensive industry software package to the more commonly used Illustrator and Photoshop…neither of which I am quite the master of…yet!

Pattern Observer to the rescue!  The e-course “The Ultimate Guide to Repeats” shows you how to use and master Illustrator as a textile design tool!  This year she has launched a private membership site that allows you access and interact with a variety of e-courses and the other members taking them.  I’m trying it out and so far I LOVE it!  I decided to investigate my own personal design style as I continue to slowly get back into the world of textiles as a consultant and perhaps as a designer.

In “The Sellable Sketch” course one of the first lessons is all about investigating what and who inspires you and why.  I took the time to really think about the designers I really love and have loved for many years.  They are not trendy although their designs may come and go, they have a certain staying power.  The four designers I chose as my “Hero’s” are textile design icon and legend, Jack Lenor Larsen, Bauhaus artist and textile designer Sonia Delaunay, modern day design legend Amy Butler and European rug designer Jan Kath.

Discovering Personal Style in Design

By investigating these inspiring designers I was able to see common characteristics such as the use of cheerful, funky and playful colors in a sophisticated way.  Geometrics are balanced with bold organic shapes, subtle texture layers used in contrast with clean flat color.  I found the root of what I love in these design styles and most of them have a midcentury feel.  As a weaver at heart I love structure but I also love to break it up so it is not purely geometric.  There are not a lot of details, they are not needed in these styles.  The colors, line work and bold graphics are what appeal to me.

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After investigating these influences I took a look at some of my own art and surroundings.   I was able to see some similarities with some of my influences and by just noticing these elements I hope to be able to better understand and develop my own design style.  Other people may be able to look at my style and easily see a common thread but I’m too close to it and I spend so many years designing for clients specific needs that I feel I sort of “lost” my own personal style.  This year, with the help of Pattern Observer and other artistic PLAY I hope I will find what I thought I’d lost.

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In the Studio with Jeni Rone

August 15, 2013 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Art & Design, Home, In the Studio, Inspiration & Education, Organize, Photography, Systems & Techniques Leave a Comment

Today’s studio sneak peek is in the studio with Jeni Rone of Sea Star Arts.  Jeni is a “sparkling” Charleston photographer that I bumped into first over at Spacecraft Studio’s. We continue to bump into each other again and again round town:)  I’ve been following her on Instagram ever since and love her photo’s that so beautifully capture the sparkle of living in Charleston!

HKPS::Have you always known you were an artist? 

JR::I was born and raised by two artists so I always had opportunities to create. I guess I realized I was an artist when I used my art to make others happy!

HKPS::What mediums do you work with?  

JR::I enjoy all forms of medium, from watercolor to mod podge! However, my current medium that I live off of is digital & film photography.

HKPS::Where do you make Art and how big is your studio?  

JR::Lucky for me I can make art anywhere! And Charleston is an amazing place to capture with a camera. I hold photography classes, take lifestyle & product portraits and record weddings outside surrounded by spanish moss, live oaks and the ocean. A large part of photography also includes the processing/editing of images and that’s when I come inside. My small condo near Sullivan’s Island is where the images come to life on my computers.

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Sometimes I am inside at my desk or out on the porch. Depends on the humidity of the day! Sea Star Arts Office HKPS::Do you consider yourself to be an organized person?   

JR::Is there such a thing as messy-organized-Crazed storage? (HKPS-YES-ABSOLUTELY!!) I have piles everywhere… and I cannot get enough baskets! Baskets under my desk for files and paperwork, baskets on the shelves to hold paints and markers! Baskets in the closet to hold pj’s (preferred clothing when editing!) and socks. There are even baskets in the kitchen to hold my grits! I mix in photographs, books and artwork with my baskets to create organized art! 

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HKPS::How or where did you learn your organizing habits and systems?  

JR::I think I learned organization out of necessity? Living in a small place, it allows for quick storage and easy retrieval to keep your precious items in baskets. If it isn’t readily available or within reach I won’t remember to use it or that I even have it! Baskets are a convenience that looks pretty, too. On top of my bookcase I have my favorite new baskets from the Threshold Collection at Target. In the office I have the awesome IKEA shelves and baskets catching my paints, brushes and papers.

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HKPS::What types of cycles have you noticed in your working process?  

JR::I am the ultimate procrastinator! I will hold out on finishing up the tasks I enjoy the least until its right at the deadline. It’s tough but I have learned to organize my day so that when I am most productive (late morning and early evening) I set out to accomplish those tasks I don’t enjoy, or need top focus for! Early morning I need inspiration reading emails (I’m a blog-aholic) with a walk on the beach with my dog. Then I consult my various lists on sticky notes and go. There is nothing like crossing something off the list…

HKPS::What types of schedules, systems, tools or tips do you use to help ::maintain organization in your studio? (calendars, planners, technology-phone apps etc)

I really enjoy folders! Much like baskets, folders on my computer keep my appointments, class schedules, inspiration ideas and other emails in place for quick reference. There are so many options these days with apps, programs and such that it can be overwhelming. I guess that’s where I am still old school and use Outlook Email with LOTS of folders! 

HKPS:: What kinds of materials/tools do you find challenging to keep organized or locate when you need to use them? 

JR::When creating special packages for my clients, it’s always a challenge to make sure you have all the supplies available and within reach when the inspiration hits you! I love paper and surprise gifts so I craft little boxes with notes, presents and photographs! The challenge is keeping enough goodies in stock but not over done that you cannot walk into the office! (I’ve done that!)

Sea Star Arts Packaging

HKPS::How often do you purge or declutter your supply stash due to space or other constraints?

This is where hired help can be a blessing… purge? De-clutter? That is so hard to do when it’s sentimental, “could use it some day” or just pretty stuff like ribbons and stacks of stationary for snail mail. It’s hard for me to let go but recently I’ve moved several times so I purged a ton! A pro can come in and really make things go smoothly when organizing your memories and supplies.

HKPS::Please describe how creative cycles of organization or dis-organization affect your creative process?

JR::Remember that procrastination thing? Yeah, it’s tough when there is a pile of papers, or a bunch of sand on the floor. I will clean that up before finishing the work I really need to get finished. This is probably why I love baskets so much! Easy!

HKPS::Do you give much thought to your artistic body of work in terms of historic value and the overall artistic legacy you will leave behind?  How do you store/archive your work or records?  If not why?  

JR::I enjoy recording history every single day! I think this is why the camera is my passion…the ability to capture emotion that is frozen for generations to see is amazing. Remember that photo of your first child? Or the picture of your favorite Grandparent that isn’t around anymore? Or how about your very first trip to the ocean with the entire family? I get to record so many special memories for people. I keep the digital files in folders on my computer, backed up to a cloud and on my website. But there is still nothing better than holding the photograph, printed on fabulous paper, in your hand…or framed hanging on the wall so when you see it you smile every time you pass by. The photo I have on canvas is from sunset on Kiawah Island and hangs in my bathroom so I have peaceful thoughts every morning when I brush my teeth! (oh, and that super cute Station 19 towel is from my Fiancé – he proposed to me there!)  

Sea Star Arts Canvas

Thank you so much Jeni for inviting us into your studio, providing us with these sparkling photo’s and explaining the way that organizing affects you as a working artist.   Please check out her website for more information on her services and portfolio of work!  I’ll be back with another artist ‘Inside the Studio‘ feature next month! If you missed any of my previous Inside the Studio posts please go back and take a look!

Jeni Rone Sea Star Arts

* Inside the Studio was my brainchild in 2011. There are a lot of popular studio features on the web and in magazines but I’m specifically interested in showing how organizational process influences the artists studio work. These photo’s are not styled and are typical of how the artists working studio looks.  I request that each artist leave their space as it would be on a daily basis (just like I ask my clients).  This series is meant to highlight how artist REALLY work rather than showing STYLED shots (popular in home and organizing magazines and blogs).  I’m sure just like me, you are fascinated by the “behind the scenes” sneak peek into these artists working lives!

In the Studio with Elizabeth McKeever

July 25, 2013 by Heather Filed Under: Art, Home, In the Studio, Organize, Systems & Techniques

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One of Elizabeth’s abstract paintings hangs in her home-studio

Today’s studio sneek peek is inside Charleston painter Elizabeth McKeever’s spaces.  Elizabeth and I met about a year ago when I first moved to Charleston and reached out to form a local SCAD alumni group.  She works with both abstracts paintings and more representational ‘objects’ such as landscapes and plein aire portraits at weddings!  She works out of her home and a studio garage space as well as work “in the field”.  I love this statement from her website; “I always return to paintings of objects from my life because my most profound realizations are often derived through everyday experience.”  Well, that’s esactly what we are exploring in this series of interviews and I’m so excited to share a little bit of your process of working as an artist and how organizing both challenges you and helps to propel your creativity!

HKPS::Have you always known you were an artist?

EM:: I didn’t consider pursuing it as a serious career until after I was in college.

HKPS::What mediums do you work with?

EM::All, but primarily with oil paints for my fine art work, and latex based for commercial work.

HKPS::Where do you make Art and how big is your studio?

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EM::I work in primarily two locations.  My home office/studio is where I do most of my painting – but storage for supplies and larger projects also takes up half my garage.  

HKPS::Do you consider yourself to be an organized person?  

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EM::Organization is critical to me, but challenging.  I know that some of the problem is not factoring in time to restore ‘order.’  I find it draining when it gets messy.  That’s part of the reason I have housekeepers who come twice a week.  

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HKPS::How or where did you learn your organizing habits and systems?  

EM::I took a seminar from the Franklin Planner company as a high school student.  Since then I’ve always made goal planning a part of my life.  I have learned a lot from Julie Morgenstern and Stephen Covey.

HKPS::What creative cycles of organization/dis-organization affect your process? What are your observations about the process?

EM::My oil painting process is the neatest – probably because I work primarily in one location with it, and when I do paint at events or away from home, I have a very minimal set of items that are easy to transport and return.

I cannot focus unless things are put away but I have to continually remind myself that it is a working space – it’s not going to look perfect.  Sometimes my six year old son will be in the studio with me and will add to the chaos (see the paperclips in the photo below hanging from my pencils? – his work!).   

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HKPS::Do you ever have problems locating specific materials you want to use?  

EM::Tape measures, archived images and anything involving paperwork!

HKPS::Do you purge or declutter your supply stash on a regular basis (due to space or other constraints)?

EM::Earlier in my career I would save all kinds of ‘stuff’ because I knew I could use it to create something.  Now I prefer to have more space and less ‘stuff.’  Plus I have the luxury of being able to buy something when and if I happen to need it.  I purge every few weeks, but will do a major overhaul at least once a year.  The studio is a fluid space.  Storing large paintings also used to be a nightmare because I would have to shuffle items around on the walls of my house!  I’ve managed to resolve that a bit by allocating space within where some large items might go.  (like above my sofa)

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HKPS::Do you have any systems, tools or tips for staying organized you would like to share?     

EM::I use an online database system called Basecamp so that I can share project information with my gallery and my other clients and we can comment on the same project.  For commercial work with Stealth I’ve organized all my paints by color.  I also use Google Calendar.

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HKPS::Do you give much thought to your artistic body of work in terms of historic value and the overall artistic legacy you will leave behind?  How do you store/archive your work or records?  If not why?

EM::Yes, I do give it a lot of thought but I also find it is also important for my own development.  Being able to see old work and organize it categorically has helped me learn more about underlying themes and refine my artist statements.

Thank you so much Elizabeth for inviting us into your studio, providing us with the photo’s and explaining the way that organizing affects you as a working artist.   Please check out her website for more information on her services and portfolio of work!  I’ll be back with another artist ‘Inside the Studio‘ feature next month! If you missed any of my previous Inside the Studio posts please go back and take a look!

* Inside the Studio was my brainchild in 2011. There are a lot of popular studio features on the web and in magazines but I’m specifically interested in showing how organizational process influences the artists studio work. These photo’s are not styled and are typical of how the artists working studio looks.  I request that each artist leave their space as it would be on a daily basis (just like I ask my clients).  This series is meant to highlight how artist REALLY work rather than showing STYLED shots (popular in home and organizing magazines and blogs).  I’m sure just like me, you are fascinated by the “behind the scenes” sneak peek into these artists working lives!

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