Work in Progress August 2020
Greetings dear reader! I am sharing work in progress this week. Why? Because the painting adventures continue here at my north and east light studio in Raleigh, NC. In last week’s post, I describe that I see the difference in the shadows of my still life set up. The cast shadow is in one direction in the morning. And, it’s in the opposite direction in the afternoon. This creates a challenging problem for someone (moi) whose goal is create at least one painting a week to share with you.
First things First
Before I get too far ahead of myself, I’ll remind you that this blog offers posts about a series of paintings called “Favorite Things.” I love to draw and paint and, each week, I share a painting with you. So, if you aren’t signed up but think you might enjoy seeing a new painting and blog post periodically, please sign up here. This week I also will share my current (emphasis on current) solution to managing the moving light, progress on paintings so far and an update on other studio issues like tidiness and temperature. Are you ready? OK! Here goes!
Current Solution
To reign in the light in the studio, I draped fabric over the rafters. Initially, I only draped fabric underneath skylights. But, the sneaky light still cascades over the rafters and can be quite blinding in the morning. To manage the morning light, I draped more fabric on the rafters in between the skylights. Did this help the situation? Yes!!! Absolutely!!!
So even though my studio is starting to look like a market in Marrakech (see photo below), I am pleased with the outcome.
Work in progress process change
Now that I have the ability to see in the mornings, I have made a decision to paint one still life set up in the morning and a different set up in the afternoon. So, this week I started two paintings and worked on each every day. If I continue this plan, then I will probably take a bit longer than a week to complete a painting. But, that’s OK! I’m also learning that the studio gets quite dark later in the afternoon. So by 5pm-ish or so, I need to call it quits. This will change as the days grow shorter. In any event, I hope to show you at least one of the paintings I started in the next week or so. What’s next?
Studio Temperature
Not sure about you and your neighborhood, but it has been hot as heck here lately! I am SO grateful for the FREE air conditioning unit we got from a neighbor recently. It has been working away to keep the studio nice and cool. It’s an ancient window unit but, for instance, today it was above 90F outside. Inside? Little window unit kept me cool at 75F all day long. You can see the studio temperature gauge in the photo on the right below. Whew – thank goodness.
Tidy or not Tidy
So I am excited to share that tidiness helps me stay focused. I have minimal visual distractions in my studio. I know I know, I’m supposed to have a gazillion sketches and paintings on the wall. I’m also supposed to have paintings by artists who inspire me too. Wait…isn’t that what refrigerator magnets are for? Seriously?
In truth, I may be keeping things off the walls because Mr Studly installed and painted sheet rock only a few months ago. And the walls are just so smooth and beautiful. Or maybe I need less visual clutter than I used to? Who knows! All I can tell you is that my studio is pretty tidy, extremely functional and basic. I have shelving for supplies, a taboret for paints, a still life set up stand, an easel (ok two easels), one of those nifty red trash cans to safely dispose of used rags, a rubber mat to stand on the concrete floors and that’s it. There are no chairs, no WiFi and, therefore, no excuses to avoid work.
Maybe someday I’ll have paint covered floors like the Pollock-Krasner studio, but for now my eyes are enjoying the simple and tidy environment of our single car garage turned studio.
What About Your Work in Progress
How about you? What changes have you made to your work space or routine to improve your situation? Or have you had to re-arrange something in your workspace to help you be more productive? And, how do you manage clutter? Does it help you feel settled in your workspace to have some friendly clutter? Or do you need a clean and spare work area? Do share your ideas about your workspace or studio in the comments below. Thank you!
6 Comments
Alexandra
August 6, 2020Hey Julie! I’m so happy that your studio is nice and cool (aaaaahhh), and that you solved the lighting problem. Not only do the draped fabrics do the trick but they look really cool! I love a good Middle Eastern market. Makes me hungry for olives…but I digress.
I’m also moved to address what you said about tidiness and clutter, a topic, which, as you know, is near and dear to my heart. Good for you for arranging and maintaining a studio that’s right for you and meets your needs! This area has no room (no pun intended) for “supposed to’s.” Before I can get down to business, I need a clean and decluttered studio. That’s who I am and my art is ultimately who I am, right? I do love looking at art but having it hanging on my studio wall can either depress me (“why can’t I paint like so-and-so and so-and-so?!”) or make me anxious (“why were my paintings so much better last month/year/etc.?”) We all need to decide for ourselves what makes us tick just like Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner did with their paint splattered floor.
So rock on, girlfriend! Let your own aesthetic and vision be the guides that shape your workspace, which looks awesome!
Julie Holmes
August 6, 2020Hi Alexandra, Thank you so much for your encouraging words! And, for celebrating the current situation of a cool studio. I am uncertain if the Middle East Market look is a long term solution – ha! But, it seems to work for now.
As for the tidy and clutter conundrum, I have definitely evolved in this topic. Whereas my sense is that you have always been a neat and tidy character, hmmmm? I just find that my visual self needs space to ‘settle’ and tidiness supports that experience. So, yay, for us for figuring out what helps support the creative process, right?
Thank you again for reading and commenting. It’s wonderful to hear your perspective and experience here!
Beth Dyer Clary
August 6, 2020Hi, Julie,
Learned a new word from your post: taboret. Love it. Wish I was a poet so I could use it some creative and concise way. Ah well.
Love that you’ve got two paintings going at the same time. Just wondering, are they completely different or are you doing the same thing but just one only in the morning light and one only in the afternoon light?
Clutter is my life.
And that’s all I’ve got to say about that!
Julie Holmes
August 6, 2020Hi Beth, Yay – it’s great to hear from you! Isn’t taboret a wonderful word? I feel fortunate that mine is kind of home made? You may remember my neighbor, Kay, from long ago? She gave me a butcher block from her kitchen. David added lockable wheels to it and so it is a wonderful, solid taboret now!
And, thanks so much for asking about the 2 paintings going on at once. This time I decided to paint two different things. But their color palettes are very similar. So, that means I can use the same paints in the afternoon as I did in the morning. How nifty is that?
You know I used to be super cluttered in my studio space! I’m not exactly sure what move me over to the tidier side of things. Maybe moving 5 times in the last 5 years? Or maybe living with a tidier person? Just not sure but I am more of a tidy than clutter person these days. So carry on with that…it’s all in what works, right?
And, thank you for reading and commenting, Beth! I am wicked awesome grateful that you do!
Kathy Michaud
August 7, 2020Hi Julie,
Your studio sounds like it’s becoming more and more a “home” for you.
I love your idea about painting 2 paintings- AM and PM- using the same palette- pretty creative!
I thought of you when I was grocery shopping ( one of the very few times I have been OUT,),
and saw the most beautiful eggplant. So I bought it with the idea of painting it… very challenging!
I have a new appreciation of your “favorite things” paintings- especially the one of the eggplants.
Julie Holmes
August 12, 2020Hi Kathy, You’re right, the studio is starting to feel a bit more like home. Ooohh…aren’t eggplants such a wonderful color? I’m excited to hear that you bought it to paint. Enjoy the challenge! And, thank you for taking the time to read and comment here…it’s always a treat to hear from you!