Going Tiny: Advantages of Limited Studio Space

29/10/2014

Sweeney's Bothy on the Isle of Eigg, created by The Bothy Project in collaboration with artist Alec Finlay

I'm mad about sustainable building projects. But eco-buildings for artists and writers?

It was inevitable I'd fall in love with The Bothy Project. But just the idea of an artist's retreat in a tiny home, gave me lots of pause for thought.

The Bothy Project

The Bothy Project is a network of small-scale, off-grid art residency spaces in diverse locations around Scotland.

Each Bothy is purpose-built in collaboration with visual artists, musicians and writers using sustainable materials and natural building techniques.

“Supported” and self-funded residencies in the Bothies give artists the chance to:

immerse themselves completely in a natural environment;
experience a slice of living sustainably (compost toilet, solar power etc.) and
share the work they make during their residency with the local community.

Magical train journey from Glasgow to Oban (c)Cherry Jeffs 2014

After my quick trip to the magical region of Western Scotland last summer, I can't help day-dreaming of spending time in Walden-style solitude in one of these beautiful cabins.

But reality soon hit home. I'd need to drastically adjust the materials I habitually use. How could I dispose of the water I use to clean my brushes from acrylic paint without polluting the environment?

Short of storing it and taking it away with me at the end, the answer is I couldn’t. I'd have to explore more ecological alternatives:

Get up to speed with my earth pigments
Investigate natural binders and glue

And what about space? Time in a tiny home would force me to spend more time outdoors so I’d be bound to find lots of natural objects of the sort I already include in my work.

But I'd have to pare down my art materials to the absolute essentials. Create a Portable Art Studio in fact.

It got me thinking.

What do we really need to create our work?

How much of our gear is 'essential' versus 'incidental'?
How might reducing the scope and size of our materials sharpen our signature style?
Hone our unique creative voice?

Home Art Retreat Repeat!

If you're not off to a cabin in the woods why not join me on my second Home Art Retreat on the weekend of the 7-9th of November?

In celebration of the event, I have re-designed my Home Art Retreat Weekend eBook. If you're already subscribed to my blog, you'll get an email with your free download link to the prettier, easy-to-navigate version (worth 9€/$11) on Friday 7th November.

UPDATE: Not subscribed? The bad news is you missed out :( I'm no longer giving away the Home Art Retreat Weekend eBook

The good news: You can buy the eBook here and make a small artist very happy :)