A revealing space

I think the area where you produce artwork (or any kind of work for that matter) tells much about who you are as a person and creator and how you operate within the space. What a scary thought!

Recently I had a very helpful studio visit from an artist friend who has a knack of moving your thinking along without ever directly referencing any of your work. In the context of the discussion, she made several observations about my space. It was a little frightening for someone (me) who likes to think she is so self aware not to notice the obvious. Boy, do I not have it all figured out.

Yesterday, I documented my studio at this point in time. The last time I did this was five years ago and it is a totally different space now.

Welcome to my studio.

There are two entrances to my studio, this is the one from the outside. The space is roughly 14 x30 and was originally two rooms in our basement. The floors are cement painted a serviceable gray, therefore I don't have to worry about making a mess. This is the clean view. Note the beige vinyl to catch my drops of wax from encaustic.

To the right of the door is my paper storage cabinet and some of my books. I have extra chairs for my critique group. I've found great furniture at second hand stores and yest, I like Sunlight detergent! When it was in boxes they made great magazine or card storage.

My encaustic centre is next to my paper storage. My fan is out for repairs ; I would hate to leave the impression I didn't use one. I've covered part of the window with styrofoam to help the fan draw better. I still need another window open for fresh air. The cabinet to the left provides lots of storage and a place to lay out current work. Could my work get any smaller ? If I want to create a very large encaustic I am in big trouble. I'll face that when the time comes.

This is a newly rearranged space to allows me to work on larger pieces. The chair and the two storage bins can be moved away from the wall. My handy husband set up a system with a pipe at the top and a strip at the bottom with dowels that are movable. I hang the painting at the top over the pipe with two large c hooks that screw into the back of my panel. The dowels hold the board at a bit of an angle for better light. When I'm not working large (which is all the time), I use this space to hang ongoing work until it's completed. This is the brightest section of the room so it is an excellent space for critiquing work.

This is where I usually paint. The work is either on a table easel, on the table, in my hands or lap. I store my paints and other materials in the movable carts to the right. Scraps of papers for collage are in the plastic container to the left of the table. Beyond the table are a series of cabinets used for storage of work and this area is the right height to stand at to make image transfers, varnish, sort materials, and I also fuse my encaustics there. The work I have finished is hung in this area. I need more lights because this corner is very dark and certainly does nothing for viewing the completed work. I keep saying this but nobody is listening.

The long view I see when I come in every day. The other chair on this side is where my three year old granddaughter paints when she comes to visit. I made a little table for her but no go. She wants to paint just like Nana.

My great old chair where I read to my heart's delight. I'm presently reading "Rethinking Acrylics". The door behind the chair is the exit to upstairs and the way I enter the studio. You can also see the corner of my desk area.

My desk area, more books and lots of storage. All the drawer units came from a retrofit of dorms at the local university. My husband knows everyone and is always on the look out for a good deal. I always benefit.

More books, more paper storage and my table I use to roll out monotypes. Did I say more books? You can see my trusty 85 pound steel roller near the wall. My one easel ( portable for painting on location which I never do anymore) is in the corner. My sun hat never gets used much for painting these days. Next to the bookcase is a storage space under the stairs. I keep saying that shelves would really tidy up the space. No one is listening.

And here we are back to where we entered. If you turn right after you leave my studio you will be in my husband's workshop. Sometimes I go downstairs to paint and I find whatever project he's completed smack in the middle of my floor. That's another story.

I hope you enjoyed your visit. You now know a lot more about me, my personality and working style. Do tell.