Welcome to the 321st edition of Inside the Artistic Sanctuaries, where artists give us a glimpse into their creative spaces. This week, we explore how artists transform tree trunks into faces and find colors in nature. Interested in joining the conversation? Review our submission guidelines and share insights about your studio through this form. All types of workspaces, including home studios, are encouraged to participate.
Clara Cohan in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, shares her journey in her studio space since moving there in 2001. After claiming the garage of a 1910 Cape house for her sculpting, she equipped it with workbenches and tool storage. Her mornings are dedicated to concentrated work, with winter and summer starting times slightly differing. She divides her projects based on size, with larger sculptures near the studio’s wide door.
Clara describes her studio as a sacred, interruption-free zone, except for essential reasons. The surrounding environment includes vegetable and flower gardens she has cultivated over 25 years, and she finds solace with her hens during breaks. The Portland arts community also offers her lots of engagement opportunities. Her studio is well-stocked with tools, though she wishes for a caboose wood stove for warmth during the winter months. The Portland Museum of Art and the Museum of Beadwork are among her favorite cultural institutions.
In Bloomington, Indiana, Maria Schechter has been working in her studio since August 2025. Her mornings begin with multiple projects, accompanied by music relevant to her painting’s era. She honors her ancestors using palo santo and organizes her day in silence before turning to podcasts or audiobooks. Her compact studio is perfectly suited for her smaller-scale work.
Maria actively participates in Indiana University’s cultural activities with her family and conducts workshops on sustainable art practices across Indiana. Her studio, funded by the DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award, reflects her gratitude, though a little more space would be welcome. The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at IU is her preferred local museum, and she enjoys working with plant-based materials in her art.
