Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Studio chaos - situation normal

It has been a bone of contention with me that the studio interiors that most people show you on the net are too neat.  Nobody could possible be making art in these orderly spaces. My blogging friend, and well-known New York artist,  Seth Apter agrees.  He's doing a link-up of working studios where real artists are getting stuck into it.  I could only join in this...I had no choice! His links will be posted on 18th (USA) or 19th (Aust.).

This is the view of my studio/workshop as you walk in the door. A = the tall bench. B = where I sit by the window and work.  The arrow pointing behind my easel leads the way to the sink area.



The tall bench has paint and paper storage below, which can occasionally be tidy...but not right now.

Here I am burning the edges of vintage maps to collage into my 'dossier'....one of Seth's projects from the Art Is You Retreat.




The 'sitting' bench is a comfortable well-lit (from the window) place for stamping, etc.  You can see my 'ant' book (another Seth project), and the back page of my dossier, in progress here.


Beside the low bench is a table full of stencils, and image transfers, for use in the current project, and a table with tools....heat gun, glue gun, and sealing wax gun.






Paintings in progress next to a trolley full of paints, mediums, rags etc.


The trolley is next to shelves with various inspirational books and collage materials.


My sink area is usually quite neat in comparison to the rest. Paintings, in various stages, on the floor at right, above are painted papers hanging from a wire.


I try to keep brushes washed and ready to go again. 



Here are some more pics of Seth's projects in progress..... my Ant book, dossier, and 52 card pick-up. ( I promise I'll finish them Seth )


Of course anyone who collages knows what the floor is for.....bits of paper and drying work.  More dossier pages, and two cards.



The absolute mess of collaging! ....but I LOVE it !!!!!!

Naturally my '52 card pickup  project' had to have 'Chaos' on its cover.

front cover

back cover

a selection of cards
the wrapped pack
Check out Seth's cards HERE



40 comments:

  1. Oh My! You can certainly see the chaos of creativity going on in your space! All those yummy supplies and goodies falling all over themselves! I love the peek into your space - wish I could see it in person some day.....

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  2. I love chaos. It makes you creative. Great cards!

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  3. Looks suitably messy and fun, is it under the House? mine is a spare bed room with totally unsuitable carpet on the floor and I walk miles washing brushes in the laundry.

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  4. What a spacious studio you have Jo! My room is ok but I di wish I had a sink specifically for clean up. I am loving that canvas on your easel. And your cards are fantastic! That sure is a lot of card making:)

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  5. I love your pile of stuff under the table, so makes me feel at home. Wonderful works everywhere from the large green glow to the smaller piece. My table will be quite neat, most everything is packed for the move and my studio is pretty bare about now. xox

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  6. Your studio looks FABULOUS to me Jo.
    Lots of creativity and possibilities and such a great space with plenty of room and a sink nearby too!
    If my art room looked half as good I would be sharing it too!
    Thanks for sharing...great to see all of your works in progress from your Seth classes too!
    oxo

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  7. There you go sums it up Jo - but those of us that have to share our space with family - do have to clean up and put it away - specially for Christmas and Easter - as said I am on a hunt for a messy space - that stays as a studio and doesn't double or masquerade as a family space as well!! Mind you the little grand boys get to see lots of interesting things - so it is a good part of their education!! Go - girl - love the works in progress!!

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  8. Well, dear friend. I fear I'm the neat one on the block. I don't seem to have any projects in the works, working on one at a time, only.

    Your studio is fantastic. I wish I had your floor. That's the problem with taking over a bedroom with carpeting. And I see you are working on your 52 cards, too. Yours look SO much better than mine. I have really, really enjoyed this tour. That's the difference between a true artist and a person who dabbles, like myself.

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  9. digging your studio Jo, would love to come paint there with you! the jumble pile of papers is a great photo and love that you have all those different work stations. AND the best part, is my special piece of birthday art was created there! I put pics up, but am realizing I'm not as messy as I think I am. Some might even call me a "neat-nik", lol. xoxo thanks for sharing!

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  10. Now that's a studio . . . . I would love to sit amongst all this and watch you work. :)

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  11. I am so enjoying looking at everyone's space and getting a sneak peek at work in progress - almost as good as being there!

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  12. Now I am so jealous! You have a workshop! I only have a table. Your painting in progress is beautiful! Your mess is beautiful, too!

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  13. What a fun tour, Jo! Great to see your space. That PIP is gorgeous and I envy you your sink in studio. That's on my wish list for sure.

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  14. Wow - what an inspiring place to be! Thank you so much for the tour! I envy you your studio - I have to work in one of our flat's rooms - so in a way you always have to "hold back" and stay rather "tidy". Not good for creativity and the flow I am afraid ;)

    Greetings from Vienna,
    Claudia x

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  15. Hello - visiting from Seth's blog hop and I have to say that your studio table (and space) are AMAZING!! I love all the juicy color and PiPs - THIS is a truly WORKING studio of an artist at WORK!! and I am definitely gnawing on that 'bone of contention' alongside you - the reality of the working studio needs to be put out there, instead of the promotion of the 'perfect studio'. That concept needs to end! ;)

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  16. Wow, what a beautifully huge studio space!

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  17. Oh my - you have tables plural! You are so lucky!

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  18. Your space is awesome!!!! Multiple tables... Piles of fabulousness to pore through and be inspired by and that canvas on the easel is beyond stunning... You are painting so beautifully at the moment... Xx

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  19. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN SINK?!! Ok, Jo, your studio looks like so much fun! It's great to have all that space to work in and spread to other areas, as needed. Ahhh...what a dream :)

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  20. What a glorious mess. :) Nice to meet you. Ann

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  21. Would love to just spend hours in your space looking at all the fun stuff! Better than Disneyland!

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  22. Thanks for the peek into your work space, Jo. It's wonderful to see all of your works in progress.

    Happy painting;)

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  23. Loved seeing your studio and I think your use of colours on your work is fab!!

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  24. Oh my gosh JO!! I laughed out loud when I saw that stack of treasures under that one bench!! Photo 2!! I showed my hub and said- yup...this here is a real Artist!!! Love love love your space! thanks so much for sharing! xo

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  25. Thanks for sharing your Working Studio with us all! :)

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  26. Jo, an absolute MESS! And I get you know where everything is. If you look at mine, you'll see only a path to navigate each work station!

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  27. wonderful space! thanks for sharing reality~

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  28. Wonderfully in-depth tour of your work space, Jo - thank you so much! I love seeing every bit of it, including your fabulous work in progress!

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  29. I absolutely LOVE this peek in your studio Jo - it's inspiring! And yes - I know what the floor is for ;) Happy creating!

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  30. Glorious studio - and work. Thanks for the grand tour. I love seeing familiar products in "messy studios" in all time zones!

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  31. Jo, thank you - your messy, beautiful, creative studio space makes me feel so much better about the chaos that I call mine!! I'm always slightly intimidated by those perfect, neat, organized, Pinterest board-worthy studios, but like you I have no idea how anyone can create without making a mess!

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  32. And you think my muse is working overtime! You made me laugh when I saw how tidy your sink and brushes are. I do the same thing. Actually, cleaning the brushes after a good day of painting is my coming back to earth time. You know, before I have to cook dinner or attend to the laundry.

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  33. You have a wonderful studio and love the way each area has a purpose, including the floor. I rent now but dream of the day when I can have an entire space to be messy and create. Thanks for the tour and inspiration.

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  34. JM - chaos is good - of course as long as we enjoy it and it enables creativity. B

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  35. This looks like so much more fun and very inspiring compared to a neat studio! My crafting area is pretty tidy, but that's because it's also our eating area. When I'm too busy to tidy we have to balance dinner on out laps :-)

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  36. How lovely to be a guest in your studio! :)

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