Let’s get one thing straight: there are two types of people in the world—those who alphabetize their spice racks and those who have a mysterious “junk drawer” that may or may not contain an ancient scroll. The same applies to artists and their studio spaces.
Some creatives flourish in chaos—paint-splattered floors, brushes everywhere, coffee cups doubling as turpentine holders (we hope not)—while others thrive in pristine environments where everything is labeled, aligned, and, dare we say, sterile (in the best way). Spoiler alert: there is no right way to be an artist. If your masterpiece came to life between pizza boxes and a cat hair tumbleweed, then so be it. Art finds a way.
The Messy Myth
There's a long-standing myth that "true" artists are messy. That if you're not throwing paint like Jackson Pollock while emotionally unraveling to a Fleetwood Mac album, are you even feeling it? But let’s debunk that right now. Some artists genuinely need that energy—layers of sketches, torn inspiration pages, and a general vibe of creative bedlam. It’s not messy, it’s in progress. (At least that’s what they tell themselves.)
The Clean Crew
On the other side, we’ve got the studio neat freaks. These artists work with monk-like calm, their brushes washed and dried within seconds of use, palettes wiped clean, and not a stray paint glob in sight. You could practically perform surgery in their studio. And while it may not scream “bohemian wild child,” it’s equally powerful. For these artists, a clear space equals a clear mind. And honestly, it’s kind of impressive.
Two Studios, One Gallery, Zero Judgment
Here at the gallery, we have two working studios—and we’re proud to report they fall on the “cleaner” end of the spectrum. Resident artists Nathan Durfee and Robert Lange are both remarkably tidy painters. It’s like walking into a well-curated art supply shop—except everything smells like fresh oil paint and ambition. Their studios are inspiring, functional, and just organized enough to make you want to go home and alphabetize your acrylics (or at least think about it for a solid 3 minutes).
Incoming Artist Alert: Michelle Jader
We’re also thrilled to announce that our guest artist residency program, which has hosted hundreds of wildly talented (and wildly differently organized) artists over the years, will welcome Michelle Jader for the month of June! From what we hear, Michelle is a clean studio kind of painter—and we’re here for it. Her thoughtful, layered work and calm approach to creation are sure to bring a lovely energy to the space—and, hopefully, won’t leave us stepping on stray thumbtacks. (Looking at you, last August.)
So whether you’re a chaos goblin with glitter in your socks or a minimalist who labels their paint tubes by hex code, remember: the creative process is beautifully, wonderfully personal. There’s no wrong way to make art... unless you drink the paint water. Don’t do that.
Come by, say hi, and peek into the studios. We promise not to judge your sock glitter.
