Observations from an Artist’s Workspace

**Welcome to the 313th installment of A View From the Easel**

In this edition, we journey into the unique and intimate workspaces where artists find inspiration amidst the everyday hum of life. Whether it’s painting to the rhythm of household chores or engaging with ancestral spirits, each studio offers a glimpse into the personal world of creativity.

**Mieke Marple, Los Angeles, California**

**Studio Space:** Mieke has been creating art in her garage studio for nearly three years, a space she occupied shortly before becoming a mother.

**Daily Routine:** Her artistic process intertwines with domestic duties. In short bursts of creative time—45 minutes here, an hour there—Mieke balances painting with household tasks like laundry. The whirr of the washing machine accompanied by electronic music or NPR sets the background for her sessions.

**Studio Influence:** Mieke finds the privacy of her garage allows her to take risks in her art, free from the self-consciousness she felt in her previous crowded studio setting.

**Community Interaction:** The Silverlake neighborhood is an extension of her studio, providing a social backdrop where she connects with fellow creatives at the playground, a hub of her daily life.

**Studio Love and Aspirations:** While she cherishes the proximity to her family, Mieke dreams of a larger, more dedicated space not cluttered by household storage.

**Favorite Local Spot:** LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art), which continues to inspire her.

**Chosen Medium:** Fluorescent paint captivates her creative expression.

**Akudzwe Elsie Chiwa, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania**

**Studio Space:** For over a year, Akudzwe has transformed a section of her home lounge into a personal studio.

**Daily Routine:** Her artistic endeavors fit around a busy work schedule. Evenings and weekends find her crafting on the couch, her process often accompanied by music, movies, or silence that lets the art speak.

**Studio Influence:** The home becomes a canvas for Akudzwe’s exploration of femininity, Afro-feminism, and memory, rooting her work deeply in personal and cultural narratives.

**Community Interaction:** Though her creative process is inward-focused, communing with ancestors, her art resonates with the greater Pittsburgh Black community, connecting with shared historical narratives.

**Studio Love and Aspirations:** The convenience of her home studio is ideal, but she yearns for more space to realize larger projects and experiment with materials requiring better ventilation.

**Favorite Local Spot:** The August Wilson African American Cultural Center stands out as a source of cultural and artistic enrichment.

**Chosen Medium:** Fibers and beads captivate her, offering a tactile dimension to her storytelling.

Each artist’s workspace is a testament to the perseverance and passion that fuels their craft, illustrating how the essence of creativity can be woven into the fabric of daily life.