Audience of One

Creative doing in a very different sphere for me this week. I helped my brother-in-law set up studio space for his creative life. Newly retired (still transitioning really), he’s bringing personal parts of himself to the forefront. Writing and photography specifically. Writing he’s done on and off over his life — making sense of real things and weaving them together in stories. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent!) His photography has been a constant, going back decades. And his pictures — wow.

In just a couple of days, we set out two tables, arranged a select collection of books on shelves (some in his line of sight, others not). File cabinets — one with papers, the other with photographs. A big folding table, the center piece — with only a lamp, his mac and a few pencils. We updated the iPad and synched with phone. A round table with two chairs, over by the window — an instant change of view. Some favorite art on the walls.

And clear space — plenty of clear space — on the table tops, the book shelves, even on the floor. Space to spread out his writing, mark it up, rearrange, think. And pull it into the iPad — anew. And a computer monitor is on its way — big enough to do the same with his photos.. Collect thumbnails together, or edit specific ones.

Space for creative chaos and control. A studio of one’s own.

For me, it was exciting to understand another person’s creative focus — his interests, how he captures his thoughts, explores them, plays and works. The tools of this photographer’s trade. And glimpses of a body of work with its oh-so-his point of view.

Then, to watch him come into his newly set-up studio space for the first time. More connections and ideas bubbled forth/over. He opened the computer, looked through some photos and touched again the moments of their making. His thoughts when composing the picture — the considered elements to bring the eye around here and back into the picture there to rest at the focal point. He made these pictures for himself. Following the interest and delight of the moments in his life. He has his body of work from over a lifetime in front of him.

We lost him to the photos for a time. Then, looking around his studio space, he said quietly, “this is me.”

Up close: I promised that each week, the post would have to include a drawing. That’s the point of writing here for me — clearing space for more drawing. On the ferry from Bainbridge Island (as I headed out to the airport to arrive eventually at my sister’s), I noticed the texture of the deck below my feet. Anti slip. How wonderful — collected texture with charcoal in sketchbook. And thought of hands.