Terry Grant: The Story of a Studio.

I will be the first to tell you that a studio is more a state of mind than an actual place for most artists.

Wherever an artist is able to work—that is their studio. There is a lot of wonderful art being done on kitchen tables, in garages and spare bedrooms, attics and basements, all over the world. When I had small children, and a small house, my studio was a closet in our family room. I opened the door, rolled my chair up to a table-height shelf and while family life carried on behind me, I immersed myself in making art, huddled away in my tiny closet space. From there I graduated to a portion of the laundry room, then as my children left home, I took over an abandoned bedroom. That seemed like pure luxury. And it was. I finally had most of my supplies and tools altogether in one crowded, creative space.

In 2008 we moved from Portland to Washington County and we began to make plans to build a real studio! My son-in-law Carlos, is from Ecuador where he worked as an architect. I enlisted his help in designing a small studio for me to make my fabric art in. We visited other artists studios, studied books and online resources and soon had a plan for the building. It would even include a greenhouse on one side for my husband.

It took nearly two years to complete the plans, secure the necessary inspections and permits and learn all the things we needed to know about building something like this, but by summer, 2011 we had a contractor and were underway.

By that fall I was all moved in and happily working.

It is not a big space, but it holds all my materials, sewing machines, fabrics and threads, and my clever son-in-law worked in a bonus in the form of a second story loft where I can store finished work and less often used supplies. It is big enough for a reading area and a futon sofa provides a bed for visitors. It is more than a work space. It is my retreat and my happy place.

Carlos, my favorite architect and son-in-law!

Has this studio made my artwork better? Probably not, but it has made my working life so much easier and provided me with what we all want—a space of my own.

I hope you will come and visit me when I open my studio for the Washington County Open Studios Tour in October! I love to share my work and my studio. Visit all the studios, from large to small to kitchen tables and re-purposed barns and garages. You will find art and joy happening in our community in these dedicated spaces. You will be amazed. A studio is a magical place!

-Terry Grant

Meet Peg Weber: Book Artist & Founder of Washington County Open Studios.

Five years ago, Peg sat down in a living room with 17 other artists to plan and organize an open studios tour that would bring artists and their neighbors together.  Just three short months later, their enthusiasm and commitment to the dream came true.  

Peg's dream continues to grow.  Last year, on the third weekend in October, 50 artists and 2 local galleries opened their studios to over 2,000 visitors.  Artists did demonstrations in a wide range of media from traditional to contemporary including painting, book arts, ceramics, fiber arts, sculpture, metal work, mosaics, mask making and more.

How did Peg's Open Studios dream start?  

According to Peg, it all started in her childhood, "Both of my parents were creative people,  so my childhood environment was ripe with opportunity for my sisters and I to explore that in ourselves. When I was 6, I said I wanted to be an artist and have horses, so at least I meet half of those goals. My father was a well known photographer, and my mother was a successful potter and fabric artist. Both have been very encouraging in my adult years as well. I went to the Museum Art School, worked for a graphic designer for a while, but it wasn't until my late 40's that I rediscovered bookarts (at another open studio tour, by the way) and knew that it was time to put serious art making back in my life."

Life is challenging for us all at times, and Peg finds her art work is a way to escape the worries and difficulties.  "I feel calm and relaxed when making art, even when it is a struggle. I do not do "nothing" well, and art gives me something to focus on. And, admittedly, it is an excellent escape. I can ignore housework, worries, headaches when I am doing art, and come back to all of those things refreshed. My weekly Calligraphy class is the best therapy ever."

Happy accidents are Peg's favorite way to solve creative problems. "I enjoy taking the germ of an idea and mulling it over until it takes on a life of its own. I often think of solutions in the middle of the night. Planning is not everything, however, as things tend to not follow the plan. I like happy accidents, letting the process sometimes dictate what the possibilities are."

Peg loves shopping for ink and paper, of course, but what she really loves about making art books is the process itself.  And she loves showing that process.  "Books are such an ordinary part of our lives, we don't even think about the construction. In book arts it's all about construction: the content can be whizzy, but if the craftsmanship of the book is not there to support it, the piece visually is weakened, and sometimes quite literally, physically weakened.  When people visit my studio, I like to have books that are being sewn together, since this is a part of the craftsmanship that is usually hidden in the completed book."