Patrice Lighter: A Few Of My Favourite Things

How to stay inspired and motivated? The million-dollar question.

I’ve given this question a lot of intentional thought over the years, and creating a space conducive to my style of creativity has always been top of the list.

I finally redid my home studio last year, and it was one of my most productive accomplishments to date.

I’ve lived in a converted firehouse in Brooklyn for over a decade, so I’m no stranger to endless home improvement projects, but this project was different.

I had an incredibly clear vision of what I wanted and needed, and I approached the project with a full briefing deck that I sent to a friend and fabricator who helped bring my vision to life - big love to Tito!

We ran the project like a set build. Every element had a purpose. I needed a place for all of my things - my inspirations, my gear, my beverage cravings, my workout equipment and my Pokémon card collection.

Every morning when I turn on the lights, I feel inspired because I’m surrounded by a delightful arrangement of all of my favourite things, and motivated by the fact that, girl, I did that. I made this.

And on those days when I feel like my creative well has dried up, or like I couldn’t possibly write another script walkthrough, I’m reminded how much I love bringing my imagination to life - and I get to work.

The Rolling Coffee Table

This rolling particle board coffee table is where I do most of my work.

My writing journal and whatever book I’m currently reading are always close at hand.

I’m the type of person who physically writes out all of my treatments or pitches before typing them up, in pencil no less.

I’ve been keeping a journal since 2014, and daily writing is a pillar of both my creativity and my mental health.

The Emotional Support Creatures

This is Justin, my emotional support creature - and the little guy is Sven, Justin’s emotional support creature.

They sit with me on the couch, reminding me to stay silly.

The Pentax 645N

I love to shoot a few rolls of medium format film when I’m in between projects.

I started shooting 120 film on a Mamiya 645, but I recently upgraded to a Pentax 645N for the focus assist and a more automatic workflow.

Shooting film keeps me both humble and inspired.

It’s not a terribly forgiving medium and forces me to slow down.

I still get nervous every time I submit a roll to be developed, and my heart rate spikes when the WeTransfer link of the scans hits my inbox.

Did I expose correctly? Is it in focus?!

With each roll, I build a tiny increment of confidence.

Practices that build confidence slowly are incredibly important for me.

The Pegboard Wall

This custom-built pegboard wall with a collapsing desk is the centrepiece of the space.

A functional shrine of sorts to all the things I love.

I mostly tend to my Pokémon cards or physical craft projects at this desk.

The real work mostly takes place on the couch.

The Climbing Wall

Speaking of practices that build confidence, sometimes the best way to stay inspired and motivated is to get out of the studio.

I picked up climbing about a year ago, and it’s been as much a mental practice as a physical one.

I’ve found that often my creative anxieties are just excess energy I need to expel.

Climbing clears my mind when it’s scrambled or overwhelmed, because I can’t help but be present when I’m dangling 10 feet in the air from my fingertips.

For me, clarity is a freeway to creativity, so sometimes taking a break is the key to a breakthrough.