Where Art Found Its Corner
We live in a two-bedroom apartment in Leduc. Not because we can’t afford more space, but because our golden girl Stella doesn’t like stairs. Most homes here are duplexes, and Stella, in all her senior dog wisdom, has made it clear that floor-level living is non-negotiable. So, here we are, all four of us (me, my husband, my sister, and Stella), making it work in a cozy space where every inch has a purpose.
In the beginning, I painted at the kitchen counter. One bedroom was ours, the other belonged to my sister, and Stella had free rein over the whole apartment—beds, mattresses, sunny spots near the window. Painting in the kitchen worked for a while. I’d pull out my paints, work for a bit, and then pack everything back up before dinner. But the dance of unpacking and cleaning up eventually wore me down.
I tried renting a studio at the Leduc Arts Foundry next. It felt like a step forward, finally a dedicated space! But there were no windows, no natural light—and I felt like I was painting inside a box. Creativity needs to breathe, and that space just didn’t breathe with me.
Then I tried to set up a corner in my sister’s room. With her study table, bed, and bookshelf already in place, I felt like a guest squatting in a library. It wasn’t sustainable.
Finally, we made a big decision. My husband and I gave up our bedroom. We turned it into my full-fledged studio. Right now, while my sister is traveling, we’re sleeping in her room. But when she returns, our plan is to move our mattress into the living room at night. We don’t use our beds during the day anyway—they’re just for sleeping. So, why not?
And that’s where I paint now.
The Perfect Studio Space
It’s not a Pinterest-perfect studio. It’s full of colorful chaos, drying canvases, plants, a ring light for videos I sometimes forget to film, and one very happy dog sleeping right in the middle of it all. But it’s mine. Ours.
There’s something magical about claiming space for your dreams—even if it means giving up a little comfort to do so. I don’t have it all figured out. But what I do have is a room full of light, paint under my fingernails, and a heart that knows this space is sacred.
If you’ve ever had to get scrappy for your dreams, or if you’re making something beautiful out of whatever corner you have—I see you. And I hope this little story reminds you: it doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be true.
