My Home Studio: The Research Lab for My Artistic Experiments

Have you ever thought of an artist’s studio as a research lab? I heard that term recently, and it immediately clicked. My home studio isn’t just where I paint, it’s where I experiment, test ideas, and uncover new ways to bring color and energy to life on canvas.

 “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
— Pablo Picasso

Instead of beakers and microscopes, my tools are brushes, pigments, paper, and canvases. Each painting is an experiment in light, color, and emotion. Some “tests” are messy and unpredictable, but that’s part of the joy, I’m constantly learning what works, what surprises me, and what opens the door to new creative directions.

In this “creative lab”, the space is small so I wish I could tell you that keep my walls lined with works in progress, color swatches, and inspiration boards, (aaahhh wouldn’t that be dreamy?), the truth is a bit more chaotic. Layers of paintings on paper, stacks of canvas propped against the walls, I shuffle them around endlessly, always chasing that elusive “perfect” studio setup. If I had a dime for every time I rearranged it… :)

Back to the “research”…

Some of my experiments could be layering glazes to see how a cityscape shifts with different light, or splashing bold abstract shapes to discover unexpected harmonies. Sometimes my experiments fail spectacularly, and other times they lead to my favorite pieces. Sometimes I completely paint over a piece I’m frustrated with, and those transformations often become my favorites.

Like any good lab, the results are always evolving, and there’s always more to explore. Yes, my home studio might be small, but it’s the heart of my creative life, a space where experimentation turns into art.