Who Lives in the Space?

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

I’ve found that as I plan or work on miniature scenes I discover, rather than decide, who lives in the space I am creating. 

When planning the cute pastel colored kitchen I threw around a lot of ideas. 

I knew I wanted pastel colors. I knew I wanted vintage styled appliances. Early on I was set on pink and mint. 

Photo by Visual Stories || Micheile on Unsplash

But which other pastels to include? Should I add some kawaii kitchen items? What kind of cabinets should I make?

And I went back and forth with so many aspects.

That is until I discovered it would be the perfect space for a young cottage witch living out in the forest in an old family home à la “Kiki’s Delivery Service” or “Flying Witch.” A situation where young witches must leave home to train. 

I took some time to imagine who this person was and everything started coming together.

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As I have worked on the free style bedroom it quickly turned into a goth bedroom. (Via a lack of sufficient white gesso.) And I have been creating pieces for it almost on whims. Which is the rules of the project. 

But very recently I discovered the person who lives here will be an artist who does lots of DIY projects. 

It matches with the haphazard nature of the project and will give me a good reason not to stall to perfectionism. It means not everything in the room needs to be finished.

Photo by Fabienne Hübener on Unsplash

I’ve even got an idea for a corner of the room filled with art supplies, as well as finished and unfinished pieces. I want to cut out a piece of wax paper and set it up in that corner to look like drop cloth and I may even set up an easel. I’ll have to figure out how to make one. I may even make some tiny sculptures. That will put some of my very practiced skills to use. 

I’m excited about this. 

So in conclusion, I’ve found that once I realize who lives in a space it is far easier to plan things for it. The things they do and the colors they like all start to lead the project. Which makes sense, but thinking of it consciously is so much more effective.

Are there any similar aspects to your artistic processes?