We all hang art on the walls of our homes to admire and set a tone for how we want to feel. Often, we don’t know what the space in which that art was created looked or felt like. That part is a mystery. However, in this home edition of Charleston Women Magazine, three local artists invited us to peer behind the curtain and into the space where art is created. Come on in and take a look with us. See what inspired the one who puts the brush to canvas and what inspired us to share.
Rana Jordahl, Daniel Island
Rana Jordahl, award-winning artist and co-owner of Lowcountry Artist Gallery in downtown Charleston, recently overhauled her Daniel Island home studio, welcoming the new year with a more organized, productive space. “The environment is super important, just as it is in the rest of the house. It can either inspire or stifle creativity, so taking the time to create that space can make a huge difference in one’s productivity and happiness,” shared Jordahl. “I still have the very first oil painting that I attempted on the wall, to remind me of my love for the medium — and to remind me of how much I have learned and how far I have come over the years. I personally love my industrial workstation the most. I had a piece of glass custom cut for the top so that I can use it as an extra-large palette on which to mix paints.”
The fresh, warm ambiance of Jordahl’s home studio inspires her to continue to pursue the creative process. “I have surrounded my space with my favorite books, candles, music and paintings that all reflect my personality,” she said.
Visit RanaJordahl.com to learn more about Rana Jordahl’s work, and follow her on social media @ranajordahl_fineart.
Michelle Owenby, Sullivan’s Island
Michelle Owenby’s Sullivan’s Island residence houses a beautiful studio by the sea where she’s enjoyed expressing herself creatively since 2017. What was intended as a mother-in-law suite was transformed into an artist’s haven, a relaxed space with plenty of light and clean lines, that guests quickly recognize as a natural extension of Owenby herself.
“The studio is such an inviting space to create in, and inspiration is just a glance out the doors to the beautiful Lowcountry landscape,” she said. “The space allows me to paint large watercolor pieces lying flat on the table and mixed media works on the walls. Whenever I work on cyanotypes, I can draw the drapes for a makeshift darkroom and quickly steal outside to collect and arrange plant specimens for the imagery.”
For Owenby, creating art is a deeply spiritual endeavor. “As part of my regular art practice and an ongoing series, I sit quietly in my studio praying and meditating and pouring out my ‘Prayers in Color,’” she shared. “These paintings are full of specific wishes, prayers and intentions, and they help keep me centered on what brought me back to my creative pursuit.”
More than anything, Owenby values the connection art fosters with the divine and other people. Her home studio makes it possible to seamlessly transition between her roles as wife and mother to working artist, allowing her to embrace creativity without sacrificing being fully present with her family. “Some of my favorite moments are when my whole family, including our dog, Yeti, joins me in the studio while I’m working.”
Learn more about Michelle Owenby by visiting MichelleOwenby.com and following her on social media @michelleowenbydesign.
Photo credit: Christine Hamrick Photography
Melissa Borland
Melissa Borland’s creativity has never been contained to a canvas. As a child, she played piano and violin, experimented in the kitchen and sewed doll clothing that she designed with her grandmother’s fabric scraps. “What I love most about my work is the growth it’s caused inside of me,” she said. “Creating authentic art requires listening to your heart. As kids, it’s a bit more natural, but as we become adults and are bombarded with messages from every which way, sometimes that voice gets dampened. Art calls the voice inside to speak and to be heard.”
In May 2020, Borland chose the home-office space to be her next creative endeavor as she infused it with an artist’s touch to design a dream home studio. “I suppose it still is an ‘office,’ just a really creative one,” she said.
With nature-inspired colors and textures, Borland designed a space that blurs the lines between indoors and out. “I love color and nature, so it’s painted a bright earthy green which makes me feel happy and safe,” described Borland. “There’s pictures that my kids made, photos of my family and some work from other artists — and natural collected items such as shells and dried flowers that inspire me.”
Drawing creative energy from Charleston’s ecosystem and personal experiences in nature, Borland’s home studio embodies her interests and the fluidity of her work. “It’s extremely messy most of the time, which is definitely a reflection of my ‘stream-of-consciousness’ painting style,” she said. While her home studio is a living work-in-progress, ever adapting to her shifting needs as an artist, there’s one thing she treasures most about the space: “Lighting, lighting and more lighting.”
Go to melissaborlandartwork.com to learn more about Melissa Borland’s work, and follow her on social media @melissaborlandartwork.
By Heather Rose Artushin
