Quarantine and social distancing are impacting each of us in different ways. Fortunately, there’s no right or wrong way to be an artist! As a way to connect and check-in with our community, we asked Level Ground Collective Artists: How are you and your creative practices adapting to life during a pandemic?

They responded with short virtual tours of their studio spaces and we’ll be sharing them weekly. This week, Collective artist Kevin Hallagan shares a short virtual tour of his studio space packed full of art materials and don't miss a (spoiler alert!) very special guest appearance 🐢

You can watch Kevin’s video and read more of his reflection below. Whether you’re painting from your patio or dancing on your dinner table, we hope these studio tours leave you feeling inspired and encouraged in your own art making.

“My bedroom has always been my studio and my studio has always been my bedroom, but a bedroom has taken on a greater significance during quarantine. It is a sanctuary, but can also feel like a cage. My bedroom is currently where I sleep, where I exercise, where I create, and my work-from-home office, which makes designating space and time and energy to anything specific very challenging. As a result of my workbench being my office (as well as situationally-specific existential crises and anxieties) my creativity has taken a hit. During Covid I have often felt unmotivated, uninspired, and unfocussed which, when my creativity is a large part of my identity, is significant.

“Luckily I have Level Ground friends to keep me motivated, and keep me feeling a sense of community. Members of the collective have been encouraging me and checking in with me, and working with me when I need help. Thank you.

“I have found that actively journaling ideas, whether they’re things I actually care about or not, can create a flow of inspiration. I have also noticed that creating smaller to-do lists (a daily practice of mine) helps me put one foot in front of the other, so if you’re feeling stifled or have decision-paralysis, try writing a short list of tangible tasks to do each day. For example ‘look into X material for upcoming project’ rather than ‘work on upcoming project’. 

“Welcome to my studio, welcome to my brain, I’m sending you all my love.” –Kevin Hallagan

You can check out Kevin’s work at KevinHallagan.com and follow him on Instagram at @Kevin_Hallagan_Art.