As a creative, one of my favorite things in the world is to step into the creative space of another. I love when an artist shares their space, how they use it, a peek into their favorite tools and even what they are currently working on. I hope you will join me in the An Artist Studio series!
I hope it will encourage you to cherish your own creating space. I started on the kitchen table, built our business in an unfinished basement, filmed our first courses in a transformed dining room, my last studio was huge and now much smaller. I know that I will find a creative space no matter where we go next or wherever we travel. The space you have is perfect if you are showing up and creating in it!
Previous studio tours: Sandi Hester, Diane Reeves, Jan McCarthy and Julia Muller.
This month we have been welcomed into the studio of Sheila Atchley.
Sheila Atchley is a pastor’s wife, fine art artist, writer, and teacher whose work has found homes across the world, from California to the Cotswolds, from gallery walls to quiet personal altars.
Rooted in a rich theology of beauty, Sheila’s art invites the viewer into the “Selah” sacred pause. Her collectors are often women in transition. Her tribe consists of midlife muses, empty nesters, full nesters, and creative believers, all who resonate with Sheila’s textured approach to both canvas and calling.
In addition to original art sales, Sheila teaches online art classes and in-person workshops that explore faith, color, and creativity as forms of soul care. Her newest offering, “The Art of Middle Marriage”, includes a published devotional (available on Amazon now) and a forthcoming online class by the same name. This course is designed to shepherd couples in midlife into deeper connection, deeper joy, and most importantly, a deeper gospel fluency.
Because for Sheila, beauty is neither chase nor purchase, it is a believing practice. And all practice, when done with faith, hope, and love, becomes art.Website: www.sheilaatchley.art
https://bit.ly/4n9RzkC
Your studio is wonderful. Thank you for sharing your personal space with fellow artists.
Thank you Joanne!
Thanks Kathleen. Thank you for letting me be one of your family’s artist-makers. The joy of that never gets old to me.
Your studio is wonderful. Thank you for sharing your personal space with fellow artists.
So enjoyed Sheila’s tour of her creative spaces. It made me feel better about my work spreading out of my tiny studio space into the rest of the house.😃😂
I’m glad, Yvonne. While I would love to have a separate, cool studio – like a loft in downtown Knoxville, TN – that will likely never be my reality, and I can’t let that stop me from engaging my art business.
Thank you for sharing your space with us Sheila. I love and have some of your work in my home, and your studio is such a fun and delightful place. Your work always gives me peace in my heart.
You’re always encouraging and inspiring. Thanks for the tour and the encouragement to benevolently share my work!
Patty – I have truly (seriously) come to understand that sharing one’s work is a generous act. Only love, in some form, makes you do it.
Your studio and home have reminded me of an idea God gave me 23 years ago to create. I’m inspired to explore. Many thanks and may God bless and prosper you.
Ps: thanks for being real and authentic!😉
Susan, you’re so welcome. 😉🤓
Please share whatever it is you’re inspired to do with me. One of my favorite stories is this: years ago, after teaching my first in person 2 day workshop, months later I got a DM from someone. She was about 60 years old, and she was standing in a leotard at a ballet barre. She had had four or five children, all grown, and had not danced in decades. Me sharing my painting process somehow brought her back to dance. She still stays in touch, and she has never been happier.
So enjoyed this! How inspiring to see you use your everyday spaces! When we’re in the midst of “making”, inspired by the Holy Spirit, our surroundings recede anyway…(yet!) He enables us to make those spaces beautiful too, which in turn add to the inspiration. I’m going to look at the other areas in my home differently now- Mmmm…. Thank you!
What a delight your studio tour was Sheila! Thank you so much. I loved your transparency. I loved your authenticity. I love so many of the ideas you shared for making a studio space , and the reminder that we can create, and should create from wherever we are and whatever we have been given. I loved what you said about benevolence. What a joy and inspiration your tour was, thank you again 🩷
Ahhhh… I feel like I’ve just come to visit you and we sipped coffee together and I got a personal tour! ☕️☕️
Love you Sheila Atchley—you and your whole beautiful tribe!!!
And the BS corner… that’s the real deal! 🤣
Such a delightful tour. You are so innovative and inspirational. Thank you for sharing so generously with us. I love your spaces.
Your studio tour came at just the right moment today…. a gift of Grace! Thank you for sharing your studio so openly.
Thank you for sharing your spaces. Enjoyed the opportunity to see how others utilized their creative spaces❤️
Thank you for sharing your spaces. Enjoyed the opportunity to see how others utilized their creative spaces❤️