IN MY STUDIO

 

 

 Over the years (I dare not say decades out loud!), my studio space went through many changes. 

While I was studying art in Croatia, at the Academy of Fine Arts University of Zagreb, I had a shared studio with a few other students in my class. I was able to work on large oil canvases, but also - made etchings in the printmaking studio, worked with clay in the sculpture space, drew with charcoal in the drawing class....it was great to have a specialized space for each of these mediums, separated from my home. 

Soon after I graduated and moved to the US, no longer having a studio space, I continued my art practice, but now in my small bedroom. I no longer used oil paints and decided to switch to acrylics, as they involved less toxic fumes than oil, and as watercolor was continuously my huge passion, at this time it became more obvious I should pursue it even more. 

Slowly, watercolor as a medium became the main focus of my practice. Especially a few years later, as our family expanded, I very much appreciated watercolor's zero toxicity and focused on using only the non-toxic pigments. And then - when our son Albert was born - becoming a parent, (a mom!) took over EVERYTHING. Most of you parents and especially moms out there will know exactly what I mean... 

Suddenly, my studio practice had vanished completely. After a while, feeling as if I was abstaining from making art, without a choice, I realized - that was not going to work out for me.
I needed to find space and time specifically designated for my work, with no distractions, away from home. That was the start of a several year period when I rented a space in an artist community center. It was not cheap to rent a separate space, as I was not earning much of an income from my art yet, but it was definitely a move in the right direction. 

I remember my husband and I calculating if we could afford it financially at all, and I will never forget my mom (whose sister was a professional painter as well, so she knew!), saying it was imperative to protect my practice and have a professional space for making my work. She was so right!

A few years later, once we settled into the area, knowing we were staying; not moving to a different state, nor returning to Croatia, my husband and I started looking for a house, keeping in mind it needed to have a good studio space for me. I have been making my work in my home studio for the past ten years, and I cherish every moment I spend in it. Not guaranteed there are no distractions, but less than there would be outside my home, for sure.

WELCOME 2025!

 

Happy 2025! It is hard to believe we have almost chipped away a quarter of a century!
Does anyone remember the dramatic entrance to the new millennium, the countdown to 2000? Wow. I just realized that the year 2000 is my half-way marker - half of my life happened before and the next half after it.
Coincidentally, I also celebrated that countdown into 2000 in Austin, TX, which was the first time I visited the United States.
There are, naturally, always some new “firsts” throughout our lives - some great, some wonderful, others strange or sad or really difficult. That’s life.

Here’s my favorite 2025 image related to my art.
It is from the opening reception at ​Gallery 1871 in Chicago, with one of my large scale “Origin Aqueous” watercolors. It is one of the works I really wanted to see framed and on the wall, and thanks to the amazing support of the gallery director Jackie Pernot, that vision came to fruition.

Year after year I am astonished by the gift of being able to create art as my 100% calling, passion, and profession.
Without any sentimentality or sugarcoating - this path is both one of freedom and of daily hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

Being one’s own boss is a very interesting situation. It’s not as easy as one might think. Also, not considering other avenues, other jobs, other opportunities…not getting distracted along the way can be a real challenge.

I am grateful I get to do what I do, every single day. It’s a gift, I know it and I don’t take it lightly.

Now - on to face what lies ahead!