Being an Aries, I find that I can butt my head into many situations, whether a new studio, a new painting, someone's blog, or comments on others work. This new studio has me a bit intimidated. It is a large space, shared by Joelen, a strong woman and painter, who found the space and asked me to join her to share the rent. Why am I intimidated? That is my question and glad I could find the question so I could work toward the answer. It is a precious space, an antique which needs care and tending....but there are more answers to reveal themselves. I worked there yesterday and this painting got more wax and paint. It felt so good to start working again. The name "Seeking Order from Chaos" seems to apply to more than the painting. 30x15 on linen with collaged fabrics.
My first attempt at making this room mine. I could lay a large silk on the floor and see it from a distance. What a revelation! I cut this piece of silk jacquard noil into a simple jacket design before I left.
Studio from the door with Joelen's space defined with large painting wall, rug, and contemplation chair. My piece of silk which is 44x 90 appears shrunk in the space.
Front entrance, proud, and well conceived, 1903, made with money and promise when the granite industry was booming in this prospering city 100 years ago. Now the building has 2 floors of Body Tech with the smell of bodies working out...but still holds a grandness.
The three windows on the front right mark our space. One window is open and we can't seem to close it. Thankfully the air is not in winter chill and the rain doesn't come in. We have a bird's eye view of the city.
And the neighborhood will be something to watch also. Taken from my car as I was about to drive off.
My first exercise was a drawing taped to the slate, oil pastels, because I hadn't quite got the paint out yet. It is always such a reminder when I put color on a surface that I love to make lines, forms grow, and play with color. It is my therapy, my joy, as I bring order from the chaos.
This is a large silk hanging which has been hanging around, or rather folded away, for a long time. I thought I would cut it for a jacket, but it cried out "NO!" I could hang it from the rail on the slate board and photo it. It has been reborn in my eyes in this new light. I think I ought to put it up for sale before I squirrel it away again....maybe etsy. 44x90, dye on silk jacquard.
15 comments:
What an amazing space Maggie!!!!!! I am so pleased for you and look forward to hearing more about the work you produce in this awesome place.
Thanks Linda, it does give me the chance to spread out, but no silk dying here...no water!
WOW! The idea of stepping back and seeing your work!Will there be winter heat? I had a second floor studio and I would be mesmerized by standing at the window...the power of observation...oh, the sights we see! You are making it your own and the silk piece is so so beautiful! Yes, unfold it for sure.
what a gorgeous amazing space! give it time, it will become yours - color me green with envy :)
Yes, Mary Ann, heat is included in the rent, but I hear our room never gets too warm. I'll have to dance to warm my fingers, but what a great space to dance in.
Jeane, don't be green; come visit and work there, too.
Maggie this is a fabulous space. You should be able to soar here.
Thanks Zappha, Just got back and I felt some of that soaring today. It's about afternoon light on a sunny day which happened for us this afternoon. Hurrah!
Beautiful studio! You and your art deserve this!
Thanks Leslie, it is expanding.
This is a grand space, Maggie, but I can understand your uncertainty after being in a cozy space that you didn't have to worry so much about. But I'm sure as you become accustomed to it, your work there will expand. The large silk hanging is beautiful.
Hi Maggie....I was in awe of your new studio...which is no doubt how you feel.
I think it takes a while to make a space ones own... no matter the size really.I really struggled when I moved interstate 2 years ago and had a much smaller and less suitable studio with traffic going through it and little privacy.
But ironically, even though the work Im doing is often smaller... it has to be at present... the quality of work has not suffered and I am expanding in other ways. 2 years ago I didn't have a computer or many skills and now I have fully integrated the whole process of documenting my work, blogging, producing artist statements ... stuff i could not do...the new studio pushed different things out of me!
And yours will too...
go for it...its very exciting!
best,
Sophie
Thanks Altoon, I appreciate your words. The advantage of the silk work. It can hide away much easier.
Sophie, how nice to share this blog space with you. Yes, each new studio has its own energies to communicate. Each pushes me to realize other pieces of myself as I combine my energies with those accumulated in the space. This schoolroom has a lot of ghosts! Music is good there.
The silk is exquisite.
And I envy your studio space. I work in my daughter's former bedroom, but I'm grateful to have that space at that. I'm grateful to be able to paint. It's a way of disappearing, no?
San, disappearing or finding myself. Painting is definitely therapy for me. Today it was dyes on silks on the back deck in the sunshine. Glorious!
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