An Art Space of My Own

After more than 2 years of using the dining room table for painting, I finally set up a workspace in the spare bedroom. It’s neither fancy nor permanent, since I want to be able to easily deconstruct the space for house guests.

But what a treat to have even a semipermanent spot to set up and enjoy some of the pretty accoutrements that I’ve acquired. I liken some of the attractive implements of this hobby to those used by people who enjoy making and eating sushi, or to tobacco pipe smokers: half the joy seems to me to be in the fiddling around with the various tools and tricks of the hobby or “vice.” (For lack of a better word; no judgement!)

For pipe smokers, there’s the selection of various tobaccos for their flavors and scents, interestingly shaped pipes, special lighters, tamping down the tobacco. For sushi makers and eaters, there’s certainly a creative aspect to the dip bowls and serving dishes, the bamboo roll-up mat, the fresh colors and scents of wasabi, sesame, soy, fish, and rice.

As for my Chinese watercolor hobby, each brush is beautiful and unique.

Most are handmade from natural hair and fur, and the brush rack is both ornamental and useful. The ink stick I have is adorned with a pretty painting. My grinding stone is its own work of art, something I admire each time I use it.

The individual palettes filled with paint are colorful creations in their own right. The chop and mood seals are lovely, plus each comes with its own pretty brocade storage box. Add a window view, and voila!