Photos by Rima Sater

 
 
It goes without saying that creative juices are being squeezed fresher than ever. Artistic expression is second to breathing for so many of us, no matter our practice. It is vital to our lifestyles, our income, and our health. It’s almost always guaranteed that entering a café means drowning in a sea of laptops or journals. The likelihood of seeing someone snapping pictures of well, anything, while on your morning commute is high. Of course these are only a few examples of the spaces being used as “pseudo-studios” for those who don’t have one to call their own.
 
I am one of those people. 

I’ve been flirting with the idea of getting my own studio for a while now; often fantasizing more about the aesthetic I’d create in the space, rather than the art itself. Perhaps I attribute this to the fact that finding the perfect space isn’t so easy due to affordability, location, size, etc. Procrastinating allows my studio fantasies to amplify, feeling as though I’m already in the space of my dreams. All the while I am still creating work, improving my skills, and connecting more to the tangible environments around me; a permanent space to create is a luxury of sorts.
 

A personal place of solace where you never have to stress about how much time you spend contemplating ideas, or putting them into fruition.

 
But this can become costly, especially with several other expenses breaking your bank. That is why I believe in mobility. Not just physically, but mentally, too. Mobilizing yourself can reflect heavily upon your artistic endeavours. Mobility promotes expression, adaptability, and openness to your surroundings, nurturing the endless amount of inspiration we can access in our daily lives. It allows us to identify with others of similar creative backgrounds, and relate to those who differ. We all have an end goal in mind, so it’s important to motivate each other.
 
However, it’s obvious that creating extends beyond a final product. It is intrinsic to the process. That process can include supporting your local coffee shop and using their WiFi to send emails. Or meeting by the lake to paint the horizon. There is a sense of limitlessness in not having your own studio and utilizing other spaces in ways that are creative in their own respects. It’s having the mentality of “making the best with what you’ve got” that permits communicating your love for your practice above all else. Call it a serendipitous attitude that has you leaving your process to chance. As a film photographer, I credit these moments.
 


The images below are part of a greater series called “Citified”: more or less an homage to the public spaces we exist within, but often overlook. It is in these places that I find the majority of my subject matter and have been able to produce so much of my work. This has made it all the more enjoyable for me and has allowed me to understand how I’m able to adapt, yet maintain the focus of my art. 

 
 

 

 

 

Rima is a film photographer physically based in London, Ontario, mentally based in the tropics sippin’ a ginger beer. You can see more of Rima’s work on her website and Instagram!