In the Artist’s Studio – A Photo Essay

Julie Lipa
https://julielipaartist.com/
@julielipaartist

My shop only looks this clean and tidy after I’ve finished a piece and I need a clean slate to start something new. I get real OCD kinda clean. Like putting the stray paperclip that fell on the floor back in its proper holder. When starting something new I need to see all my inventory in front of me or else whatever is tucked away in boxes or stacked gets immediately forgotten. I’ve got about 32 square feet of surface to work on and somehow with a few hours it gets filled up with vintage magazines, TV carcasses, knobs, drill bits and various adhesives. Sometimes I’ll even pull out a TV at the last minute. Does anyone have enough surface in their shop?

Music is a big part of my process. The Foo Fighters gives me the motivation to clean. Once I know where a piece is going Sly and the Family Stone keeps me in the groove. And podcasts like The Living Artist keep me inspired when I’m stuck.


Annie Claval
https://www.annieclavel.com/
@annieclavalartist

I love to work in the daylight. The light in my studio motivates me to paint. Usually I paint about 4 days a week. I would love to paint more, however I stay in touch with my family in France and to take care of the marketing and the accounts of an artistic association.


Connie Rohman
www.connierohman.com
@crohman1

I try to come into the studio 3 or 4 days a week, even if it’s only for an afternoon. I love coming to my own space where I do nothing but make art (and conduct the business side of being an artist). I use my commute to think about what I’ll be doing in the studio that day.

I am a textile artist, and I use fabric as my medium. I keep my fabric folded onto 10″x14″ cards, and have them sorted by color on bookshelves. This allows me to pull the unique fabric that I need, rather than having to rummage through multiple bins of fabric to find the right one. I like having an organized place, but of course it gets messy as I work on something!


Cristi Lyon
cristilyon.com
@cristi_lyon

When I can I’m a daily worker, I get antsy if I’m not painting. Studio wisdom? A very large studio playlist, dance if possible, and joy is the most direct line.


Clarisse Abelarde
https://www.clartista.com/
@clartist.a

I get in the studio everyday after my day job as an accountant. Being contrived with spreadsheets and reports on the computer all day pushes me to be wild and free in the studio after. Energetically, the paintings in the studio emerge out of intuitive processes. After my job, around 5pm is when I start my studio practice where I begin painting right away and continues on until the creative fuel runs out. On the weekends, I get to have longer painting days with the exception of going to openings. Throughout my day in the office, I am typically sketching and listening to artist talks, perpetually feeding the itch to go to the studio which has been a motivating factor for me. On some days when I find it harder to get to the studio, I tend to schedule studio visits with friends to get me in the space and continue to paint after. It’s so incredibly gratifying after a full day’s work to be able to freely express myself in my safe space.


Karen Kitchel
www.karenkitchel.com
@karen_kitchel

I go to my studio to be alone, to be alone with my thoughts. I like to work from 10:30 until 6:00, or when the light starts to fade. Sometimes I’m traveling instead, or caught up with some other kind of urgency. It all adds up: trust yourself. I try hard to listen to myself, to understand why I want something a particular way. When my work connects with someone else, I listen equally hard. What has transpired between the work and the beholder?


Robert Oblon
www.robertoblonstudio.com
@robertoblon7417hotbronze

I’m in my studio 5-7 hours a day, pretty much 7 days a week. My desire to produce my art is the driving force, if I miss more than a day working in the studio, I get a little edgy. My studio is 1800 sq. ft. One half of the studio is used for my paintings and the other half is used for the sculpture I produce. My days the last few months have been focused on the series of paintings but do also jump back onto the sculptures as needed. I’m also an adjunct professor at Santa Fe Community College teaching Contemporary Bronze Sculpture at summer sessions having owned a very prominent art foundry in Los Angeles, Sun Foundry. In my late seventies now and more productive then the last 25 years.

One comment

  1. I love seeing these work spaces!

    Karen gets the award for the most beautiful work space.

    I’m wildly envious of Robert’s square feet. Bravo!😍

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