Shared studio space - advice

[Sunshinemummy2023]

I share an art studio space with two other artists, its an open plan room, but we have our own dedictaed areas with our own door too each.
One of the artists however insists on using my doorway to get to her area and makes it clear shes then looked through my things, im fairly tidy so my materials are all put away in cupboards when i finish for the day. But she comments 'you have a lot of textile material at the moment' or you have a lot of 'magasines' i facilitate art classes in the community 3 days a week for a company and collecting material is important for that job which pays my mortgage. So it really annoys me that she looks through my things without asking. She also uses the shelving that i have set up, shifted into the space, upcycled etc. For my own stuff. Thats on the boundary of our spaces. She again leaves random stuff on the shelves without asking me. She doesnt work so is in the studio more then myself and always complaining about not having a job. But doesnt do anything to get one, just waiting for one to come along. It feels like she really begrudges me working in the arts shows no encouragment to what i do and just criticises my art work as not being same standard as hers. Shes an immigrant which wouldnt be an issue to me at all, but she regularly comments about how unfair life is for her and difficult to get a job but shes very choosy about what shes prepared to do and how easy its been for me in life. I used to have to pull her up and say 'you know nothing about me, i was living in a bed sit and had nothing when i was 20, just cos im british doesnt mean my life has been easy ive had to work for everything'but she doesnt listen and continues with these crappy comments. Shes just been abroad for a month over summer whilst i was here working through holidays juggling childcare with my partner. As soon as shes been back this week its started again. Its not fun. I try to ignore it most of the time and just get on with her for the sake that the studio buildings are near my sons school and nice people run it and its cheap. I wouldnt mind about giving her materials if she just asked me, we are in a whatspp group with the third artist but she doesnt. Any advice other then ignoring would be great.

I don't think you can do anything about her views on who's had it harder in terms of breaking into the arts; she's entitled to feel the way she does and ultimately, there will be a lot of things that were harder for her than for you, even though you've had times when you were also struggling. So that's just a conversation between two people who see things differently, and she's not actually doing anything wrong per se.

However, you can absolutely tell her that your space is your space and she's not to use it, put stuff on your shelves or go through your stuff. She's taking the piss there. Maybe you could diplomatically suggest to the third artist that the three of you get together and draft an agreement of how your spaces are used and what is/isn't OK? Ultimately, if she doesn't like and can't agree, she can find another studio that's more to her liking, but maybe it's just a case of setting things down more clearly so that she knows what's acceptable and where she's overstepping. YANBU to be annoyed by her encroaching on your space, using your stuff etc.

Yes thats a good shout, i will try to think about the best way to suggest it. I just dont want drama. I work 3 days a week so just want to come in the studio and use my space. But she makes it very clear shes been in my space which makes it clear its not mine. I put a chain across my door when i leave and she takes it off and doesnt pit it back when she goes. Its all little encroachments i guess but its grating when my stuff is there i have to work so cant be there everyday. I did an exhibition before summer locally she didnt visit but when i brought my art work back and left in studio to be put away. When i next came in she was telling me how heavy it all was and difficult for her to move round ?. I mention her views because when i have tired to talk to her about my space in the past that comes up from her to derail the conversation and i feel to try to justify what shes doing she feels entitled because ive had it easy in her view. I dont pretend to think either of our lives are easier or harder then the other. Im fully aware she what shes gone through would be difficult but i pay for my space and i just dont like her going through my things and making it obvious this is justification to her.

She certainly does sound like a pain in the arse; I sympathise!

Is she like this with the other artist in the studio, or just you? It sounds like she's quite a difficult person in general. Does she maybe not even fully understand that she's only renting part of the space for herself, rather than paying a share of the rent of a whole space and all three of you using all of it? It's almost like she seems to see it more like the equivalent of sharing the rent on a house rather than renting a room, if that makes sense. I definitely think it would be worth you having a conversation with the third artist to see if she's got similar issues with the intrusion / overstepping.

No well the other artist is also an immigrant although she has been here for 10 years so not recent like the one ive got issues with. The other is great and we chat and have catch ups when we are there together no drama. She also works like me part time so we have that i guess which means we have that underatanding. Ive seen her just go in her space and take things out, but i dont know if shes asked her beforehand as they have that shared background. The other artist does lots of taxing around for her, when she went abroad for a month recently the other artist took her and picked her up from the airport. I used to give her lifts at first but then it got to be all the time whether or not i was gojng in that direction, whether she knew i was working that day/picking up my son, she still wanted a lift and it was always urgent and some reason why she couldnt get public transport just to go a short distance. so i stopped. So i think the other artist is just going along with it all to be honest for the friendship they have a similar background, whereas i just want the studio for my work i guess. My space is in the middle of them both so as we share like a boundary she just dumps stuff in my space. Anyways i will try what you have suggested and see if that changes anythjng