Really enjoyed this Carolyn! I’m an artist who makes most art at the kitchen table, whenever I can fit in a moment, but I also love thinking of the artist’s getaway (also now I want to watch Love Actually again!) I’m building a small “art shed” in our backyard, but wonder how often my kids will be out there asking me for a snack 😁
I had to laugh when I read the first line of your essay— as I’m going on a writing retreat next week! And have been to this same one last year, and it is all those things, a cabin in a rural setting in nature, with everything taken care of. But then I kept reading, and realized that the experience isn’t isolating. I’m not going alone. I’m meeting other writers there, some I know, some I don’t. We’ll take meals together, we’ll go on hikes together, we’ll chat after dinner. But then there will also be plenty of time to ourselves. To retreat into our own spaces and work on whatever we want to work on. I do my writing/art everyday in some capacity— but it is truly nice to get away. Somewhere that doesn’t have the distractions of my normal life. The pile of laundry that all of a sudden becomes paramount when I’m at home, is not there. The desire to loaf around and watch Netflix is magically gone, and I’m left with a desire to really focus on whatever art it is I decided to work on during this time! And when I come back to NYC, I better appreciate getting to live in this city with all its vibrancy and distraction…
Thanks for this essay! I’m going to click on some links you included. I’m particularly interested in the home swap NYC/London. As I went to London in the fall for the first time and loved it! Anyway, the retreat center I’m referring to above is the Highlight’s Foundation in Boyd’s Mill, PA. Highlight’s as in the children’s magazine Highlights. But you don’t have to be a children’s writer, or even a writer to go! They have a variety of offerings with workshops, or just retreating with others, or you can do your own thing! And I also think they are fairly reasonably priced!
Bridgitte, your retreat sounds lovely! Bookmarking Highlights Foundation :) I think that's exactly the kind of residency type of setup that lends itself well to both solitude and community. Getting away from our day to day can be so energizing and inspiring, as you say. Hope you have a magical time away!
If I had a much better throwing arm (ha ha ha) I could almost hit Hedgebrook with a rock. Okay, it's a bit more of a stone's throw away from me, but I can attest that it it is a marvelous, magical place. When I first moved here over 30 years ago, I was a weekend relief chef there. They take excellent care of their writers, and feed them well. The cottages are truly lovely. You will have owls and coyotes as your neighbors. If you can get accepted there, I highly recommend.
Ooh, an insider's look! I have the highest regard for Hedgebrook—what a dream it would be to stay there. Washington has so much natural beauty, I must go sometime!
I'm write and make art in the margins -- no other way. I *do* carry that cozy cabin dream... but with internet and zoom sessions for contact. Lol. Great piece!
I just had a weekend to write at a cabin like this and it took me a week to recover. 😂 It was beautiful, but the drive took up a lot of the time, the cabin was cold (it was February), the bed too squishy which flared up my back pain, and I ate something that made me sick. I do think I had a creative breakthrough - that much time to think about my work is so rare as a full time parent carer - but it was a mixed bag and hardly as romantic as it seemed in my head. 🤷
The realities of a getaway! It's always the bed that seems to get me too—perhaps I am extra picky about mattress firmness haha. Hearing both the good and bad of it brings full color to the fantasy, and I am thrilled to hear that you had a breakthrough amid the struggle!
I often dream of running away to a secluded retreat to concentrate on just creating art. But like you, I have found my best work comes from stolen moments, in fits & bursts, and I'm actually quite happy with this process. I have SO many interests (painting, drawing, reading, fitness, health & wellness activities, my dogs, dates with the hubby, etc.) that creating in fits and bursts has allowed me to remove the guilt and stress of not being someone who uses large swaths of time each day on art. And whether or not I become a professional artist or not no longer matters - I'm actually having fun with it again!
There is a flip side too, where one can feel smothered with guilt over *not* using large swaths of time to make art when they have it! There's never a perfect answer, just constant experiments and moving towards satisfaction and joy in our own process :)
I've been so curious about artist retreats. I know some friends who have gone on them. They never used to feel possible for mw because of the kids (even though some of my friends who have done them have kids) but maybe this is also part of limiting myself because of my whole scarcity mindset. But now that I'm entering into a different phase with the kids soon gone, they have been on my mind again.
There are so many variants of retreats, many of them affordable and short, and of course you can organize one yourself as well! Going on retreats flares up my impostor syndrome, but I receive the magic and vibrancy of communing with other artists many times over. Plus the delightful calm and insight from stilling the mind and turning towards a creative project. I hope you try it out for yourself sometime!
Luisa, I need to hear more! How did you make the move (or have you always lived there?) How far are you from town? I'm sure you've written about this in the past so feel free to link me past posts too :)
Really enjoyed this Carolyn! I’m an artist who makes most art at the kitchen table, whenever I can fit in a moment, but I also love thinking of the artist’s getaway (also now I want to watch Love Actually again!) I’m building a small “art shed” in our backyard, but wonder how often my kids will be out there asking me for a snack 😁
An art shed sounds delightful—can't wait to see its progress! Anything that works, really, is the ethos of this post :)
I have an “art shed” and gave up on it being a retreat - I can use it more if my kid builds LEGO while I make work.
I had to laugh when I read the first line of your essay— as I’m going on a writing retreat next week! And have been to this same one last year, and it is all those things, a cabin in a rural setting in nature, with everything taken care of. But then I kept reading, and realized that the experience isn’t isolating. I’m not going alone. I’m meeting other writers there, some I know, some I don’t. We’ll take meals together, we’ll go on hikes together, we’ll chat after dinner. But then there will also be plenty of time to ourselves. To retreat into our own spaces and work on whatever we want to work on. I do my writing/art everyday in some capacity— but it is truly nice to get away. Somewhere that doesn’t have the distractions of my normal life. The pile of laundry that all of a sudden becomes paramount when I’m at home, is not there. The desire to loaf around and watch Netflix is magically gone, and I’m left with a desire to really focus on whatever art it is I decided to work on during this time! And when I come back to NYC, I better appreciate getting to live in this city with all its vibrancy and distraction…
Thanks for this essay! I’m going to click on some links you included. I’m particularly interested in the home swap NYC/London. As I went to London in the fall for the first time and loved it! Anyway, the retreat center I’m referring to above is the Highlight’s Foundation in Boyd’s Mill, PA. Highlight’s as in the children’s magazine Highlights. But you don’t have to be a children’s writer, or even a writer to go! They have a variety of offerings with workshops, or just retreating with others, or you can do your own thing! And I also think they are fairly reasonably priced!
Bridgitte, your retreat sounds lovely! Bookmarking Highlights Foundation :) I think that's exactly the kind of residency type of setup that lends itself well to both solitude and community. Getting away from our day to day can be so energizing and inspiring, as you say. Hope you have a magical time away!
If I had a much better throwing arm (ha ha ha) I could almost hit Hedgebrook with a rock. Okay, it's a bit more of a stone's throw away from me, but I can attest that it it is a marvelous, magical place. When I first moved here over 30 years ago, I was a weekend relief chef there. They take excellent care of their writers, and feed them well. The cottages are truly lovely. You will have owls and coyotes as your neighbors. If you can get accepted there, I highly recommend.
Ooh, an insider's look! I have the highest regard for Hedgebrook—what a dream it would be to stay there. Washington has so much natural beauty, I must go sometime!
I really hope you get to go! It is lovely and lovely people work there. If you ever get to go there, give me a shout out.
I'm write and make art in the margins -- no other way. I *do* carry that cozy cabin dream... but with internet and zoom sessions for contact. Lol. Great piece!
Absolutely! Need those lifelines to stay connected 🛟
I just had a weekend to write at a cabin like this and it took me a week to recover. 😂 It was beautiful, but the drive took up a lot of the time, the cabin was cold (it was February), the bed too squishy which flared up my back pain, and I ate something that made me sick. I do think I had a creative breakthrough - that much time to think about my work is so rare as a full time parent carer - but it was a mixed bag and hardly as romantic as it seemed in my head. 🤷
The realities of a getaway! It's always the bed that seems to get me too—perhaps I am extra picky about mattress firmness haha. Hearing both the good and bad of it brings full color to the fantasy, and I am thrilled to hear that you had a breakthrough amid the struggle!
I often dream of running away to a secluded retreat to concentrate on just creating art. But like you, I have found my best work comes from stolen moments, in fits & bursts, and I'm actually quite happy with this process. I have SO many interests (painting, drawing, reading, fitness, health & wellness activities, my dogs, dates with the hubby, etc.) that creating in fits and bursts has allowed me to remove the guilt and stress of not being someone who uses large swaths of time each day on art. And whether or not I become a professional artist or not no longer matters - I'm actually having fun with it again!
There is a flip side too, where one can feel smothered with guilt over *not* using large swaths of time to make art when they have it! There's never a perfect answer, just constant experiments and moving towards satisfaction and joy in our own process :)
Agree!!!
Love this so much! Thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you for reading Shannon!
I've been so curious about artist retreats. I know some friends who have gone on them. They never used to feel possible for mw because of the kids (even though some of my friends who have done them have kids) but maybe this is also part of limiting myself because of my whole scarcity mindset. But now that I'm entering into a different phase with the kids soon gone, they have been on my mind again.
There are so many variants of retreats, many of them affordable and short, and of course you can organize one yourself as well! Going on retreats flares up my impostor syndrome, but I receive the magic and vibrancy of communing with other artists many times over. Plus the delightful calm and insight from stilling the mind and turning towards a creative project. I hope you try it out for yourself sometime!
Luisa, I need to hear more! How did you make the move (or have you always lived there?) How far are you from town? I'm sure you've written about this in the past so feel free to link me past posts too :)
It is gorgeous Luisa, I can hear the waves and feel the sea breeze! I would love to read that story :)