Stationary stationery

Last week, a write up on pencils - this week… desks. Stationary stationery1.

I think there is always a certain energy or buzz around where creativity happens and when it comes to desks, there’s an air of nesting. I mean you are planning to spend a lot of time there. And similar to MTV Cribs, open houses and estate sales….people LOVE to get a peak at other’s workspaces. Just this week (Sept ‘24) comic artists published by the New Yorker collectively shared their studios under #newyorkerstudio.

I mean this type of interest was a thing before social media, but I’ve been thinking about it and I feel like over the past 10 years with instagram and reels being pushed + the speed of TikTok there has been a considerable increase in the interest and visibility of PROCESS as content rather than finished works. Understandable since we’re all just working away, being distracted by phones and then working again - the glamour of a messy desk becomes as appealing a view to share as beachside toes.

I’ve done it. We have all done it. Heck, my business Busy Hands Studio is nothing but pictures of desk tops - the chic phrase is “flat lay,” for product photography … different article, this is about my interest in desks.

You see, I was raised under an office desk. Both of my parents worked in a graphic design studio and some of my best naps happened nesting in my Mom’s coat as bedding. Believe it or not … the dial up tone is very soothing for me2.

Then at home, much of the decor was the same. Both my Mom and Dad had home desks. So, it was only natural that for my 5th Christmas I asked for and Santa brought a Little Tikes Desk3. I now had my own workspace at home too!

This little desk worked well for a couple of years and then I grew into a new arrangement. When other kids played house, I played office. Setting up new workstations whenever, wherever. DVD’s with behind the scenes became the place I learned about creative jobs and work spaces. I discovered desk buddies and desks built for specific tasks4.

At some point I learned about Traditional 2D Animation Desks and I’ve been fascinated ever since. The functionality of drafting desk made specifically for designing characters. I built my first version in 6th grade. Later at CalArts where I was a frequent dumpster diver, the animation department was throwing away several of the insert animation discs. A pretty great score! I have my diploma framed in one.

Then I lucked into a CalArts peer selling a full on desk from Dreamworks. It was originally made for and used during Sprit: Stallion of the Cimmeron. This tickled my horse-boy heart. I love using this desk. It’s fairly modular and I have played around with several layouts. This is my current set up right now.

I have also replicated this in miniature via Busy Hands Studio making pins that glow in the dark (in reference to the built in light board) and a desk holder. This mini desk is in a similar scale to Playmobile toys/props. Voilà!

I have gotten great feedback on these desk buddies and they are in the homes of some pretty cool artists. I also made Facebook group5 that connects other 2D animation desk caretakers and fans. When desks go up for sale or auction, this is where I share them. I collect pictures and also recommend Dave Bossart’s book about Kem Weber.

If you’re like me - then I recommend these two art books by Greg Preston. The Artist Within vol 1 & 2 are gorgeous portraits of comic artists, painters and illustrators at their drawing boards. I love these books and always have a magnifying glass nearby to look in the backgrounds.

More fun still is the Manben documentary series by Naoki Urasawa. Peeking inside the studios of manga artists with commentary by Urasawa. It’s fascinating AND calming. I have been watching this series recently just before bed and I’m quickly lulled to sleep. Lots to think and dream about from this show. I’m glad it exists

Share Chase Creativity