Words from the Shore - Day Four Devon Open Studios with Charlotte Ellis Devon Artist

Stillness of Water

Day four… A quiet start to the day gave me time to make sure everything was just how I wanted it. A friend popped in to buy a card and that was the start of a steady stream of visitors. I live in Lympstone right on the Exe Estuary cycle path and when the weather is dry many cyclists and walkers pass my front door. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been great this week so the trail has been a little quiet, but in between the rain showers  the sky has been bright leading people to my door.

A lovely moment was when my studio was called ‘wondrous’ by a visitor today. I love that word ...  For me it is wondrous but of course not everyone sees things in the same way. Some people’s eyes just glaze over when they see my studio and I can read the words in their mind - that’s not a studio it’s a shed. How can you work in that messy space?  It needs a good sort out… all those jars, all those pebbles, all that seaglass, all those piles of paper, sticks … My studio with its whimsical ways either works for you or it doesn’t.

I’ve had my garden studio for a few years now. It’s a block built out-house which is just over a metre wide- so yes super tiny. It has a high roof though and lots of light as the original door is half-glazed and there are now  French doors which let the light flood  in from the side. It is shelved up to the rafters and has a higgledy piggledy of cupboards, drawers and a table from the local pub from when they were changing all their beer garden furniture. It works as it is but the down-side is that it isn’t really useable in the winter, because of the cold.

This year will see some changes to it as it is  going to be insulated better, have the lighting sorted and hopefully a radiator and sink installed. If I get the bones of it right I can then think through storage and workspace. Sometimes it takes a while for a place to evolve but it is this slow process that often means the end result really works. Maybe I’ll then be able to use it all year and maybe you’ll see a real difference if I open my studio again next year.

On a fine day, I have the doors open and then my studio becomes the whole garden. I drag my easel out and paint amongst the greenery. The garden has received a lot of love. It is a South-facing  courtyard and so  although not huge it is light, sheltered and the plants thrive. We have walls of green and amongst the plants, if you look carefully, you’ll see pots of all sizes, iron sculptures and light hitting glass hangings which at times make it just sparkle. It’s a special place and inspiring place to create.

Silver Light

Back to the art, because of course Open Studios is all about the art, I had another day of steady footfall and people leaving happily  with their purchases. One lovely visitor bought a print for her bathroom gallery wall and later emailed a photo of where it will hang. This is one of the gems of Open Studios, you sometimes  end up having the most delightful conversations with lovely people that you might not otherwise have met. I learn how my art  finds its way into different people’s lives and the reasons they are drawn to it, which is always interesting and often humbling.

A Whisper of Silence

Three things I have  learnt today about Open Studios:

• Always have art work in reserve to fill the wall space when things sell- or have a very loose display so paintings can be moved around easily.

• Have a few little phrases up your sleeve so that you can gently remove yourself from one conversation and join another. This is important because I need to make sure that every visitor gets a chance to ask  me about my art, should they want to.

• Have a good stock of pens and paper to write down email contacts and notes about things people tell you and don't lose your glasses!

As I walked through my home at the end of the day trying to see it through the eyes of my visitors, I felt calm and relaxed as that is how I am told my paintings make you feel. You can come and see for yourself as my studio will be open today from 10-4 and then at the same time next Thursday to Sunday. It will be so lovely to see you. My paintings can also be viewed in Seaglass Gallery, lympstone, Devon.

Charlotte Ellis Devon Artist