Looking at Art:

Perhaps you have seen photos of famous artists in their studios when there is a retrospective show in a museum of their art. The work space is a reflection of the artist in that it is designed with the artist’s needs, in terms of equipment and space in mind. These photos show the artists surrounded by their creations and each of the studios vary according to the needs and personality of the individual. The space is essential, but also a luxury, because maintaining a designated work area is an expensive, professional commitment and a demonstration of the priority placed on the art and the process required to create it. Do you think it is likely that these established, great artists started with more modest studios, rather than the impressive space we see in these photos? Do you think they could had made their art without any studio at all?

 Work in the Studio:

My first studio was in the basement of my home. I filled the room with lights and had drywall installed on the walls to provide a white space to display art. I gradually added all the equipment I needed to create my sculpture. Eventually we had a very large studio added as a wing to our home with lots of natural light, big work surfaces, storage room and a sink with a clay trap. This work space was a dream come true that I thought I would never leave. When my husband and I moved to Florida, the studio space in our new home became work areas created from the living spaces available, so that my painting space and clay studio are separate, although they allow me to create all of the art my imagination can conjure. The loss of my big studio has been a compromise which made me realize that the dream is still alive and my art can grow as long as space for it in my life remains a priority.

The Dream Studio