The Sky’s the Limit
— by Brittany —
“I want it to inspire people to believe in the magic of possibilities. We are all capable of so much more than we allow ourselves to believe. This is what I want my art to remind people of!” – Rhiannon Rings
How does an adult with burdens & responsibilities reclaim a childlike creativity?
How can curating the aesthetic of a space motivate & inspire others to create?
In my second Studio Story, we will explore these questions through an interview with the designer of our Painting Studio & the effect her contribution has had on the artists who create there. Please read to the end & watch our awe-inspiring video revealing a profound glimpse into the artisan soul.
As I was dreaming of what a space could be back in 2021, I already knew I wanted to work with my former housemate Rhiannon. I had witnessed her process many times & admired her knack for depicting elements of nature with a delightful sense of whimsy. She humbly agreed to help me transform the space during a week long visit from Colorado.
Check out our interview below, to learn more about Rhiannon’s inspiration, process & purpose:
Brittany: What was your inspiration for creating the mural?
Rhiannon: I have always been incredibly inspired by skyscapes in paintings; they provide me with a sense of possibility & solitary wonder. And when I found out I would be painting a ceiling, I immediately thought of a ceiling mural in an Indian restaurant that I love. Clouds are difficult to paint, but I figured even cartoony clouds could be fun on a mural with the right color scheme. So my original intent was to create bubbly styled clouds. But then as I was painting, it was like divine inspiration hit, & my mural morphed into a super whimsical cloudscape that ended up fitting the space better than I could have ever anticipated!!
Brittany: What was the experience like?
Rhiannon: It was hard work, ceiling painting is difficult even when you’re just painting your house. I had never done a ceiling mural before. My neck & arms got sore, & it was also difficult to get a full perspective without getting down & walking around the room to look from every angle. I had to do this so many times it felt like I was making no progress. But it was also deeply fulfilling to watch it come together… slowly the blank white walls filled with color & I got wrapped up in the process.
For me, the beginning is always the hardest. Finishing is not a problem because the project gains momentum. Although deciding when it’s finished can be difficult! I decided to add water drips down the walls to leave it in a finished-unfinished state. I love things like that! Aren’t we all in a finished-unfinished state? …it resembles what I love about life… the sense of possibilities & surprise turns.
Brittany: What do you want the mural & space to inspire in those who create in it?
Rhiannon: I want it to inspire people to believe in the magic of possibilities. We are all capable of so much more than we allow ourselves to believe. This is what I want my art to remind people of!
The process of creating & curating space with my friends has shown me the profound impact of an inspiring & magnetic environment. Affectionately called, “The Art Room” by many of our young artists, The Painting Studio is usually buzzing with the most activity during both Afterschool & Open Studios. Elements of Rhiannon’s enveloping mural are commonly incorporated in our students’ art. This immersive space has inspired the creation of many skyscapes, along with other artworks featuring a familiar range of pinks, purples, & blues.
It has been a delight to see this space & its remarkable features activate childlike imagination in youth & adults alike.
As Steve (featured in the video below) says so well, “One of the things I love about making art & this process is: it’s coming from me but somehow I don’t know what it’s gonna be; somehow there’s this story happening inside of me that I’m not even aware of what it is yet… Giving myself enough grace & freedom to let it happen… has been a big part of what has allowed me to return to being creative.”
I hope these thoughts & magnificent video below inspires you to make space to allow your art to take its own shape!
