What is an art studio

Art Studios in Australia

Gold Coast, Queensland: Ilia Chidzey

Hybrid working place

The Vortex has allowed me to accumulated bandsaws, sanding machines, polishing equipment and a host of assorted power tool goodies. Believe it or not, I still find myself working out the side of the house when I’m wet grinding/polishing concrete or acid etching aluminium, so clearly I can never have enough space! One of the many benefits of the Vortex is that I could then turn my office/studio into a mini gallery so that visitors could view my works rather than cram them under tables and behind beds.

Neighbours and visitors

The Vortex is located in the middle of the suburbs on the Gold Coast at the bottom of a residential laneway and while I love it dearly, I realise that my bandsaw and concrete polishing activities are not ideal for my very, very patient neighbours. I imagine it will only be a matter of time before I am given my marching orders, but for the time being, I enjoy being able to live and work on the same premises. Any visitors are by invitation only as I value my privacy and need to get prepared. I prefer one to two visitors at a time where I can thoroughly explain what and how I work.

Costs

Fortunately, using my home as a studio keeps costs down. I spend an extraordinary amount of money on equipment and materials – in fact, I’d say that art is worse than a drug for me. I am a graphic designer during the week purely so I can afford to create during the weekends.

Studio Equipment and materials

As you might have guessed from the equipment I have accumulated, I love to work with my hands. I use an ever-growing assortment of materials ranging from acrylic ink and signwriter’s enamel through to copper, acid-etched aluminium, mirror, glass, concrete and timber. I find woodwork a bit of a problem. However, as the sawdust takes over the entire Vortex rapidly. Ideally, concrete work should be in one area, wood another and any painting in dust-free isolation. At the moment I am struggling at juggling these zones. I try to keep any woodwork to an absolute minimum for this reason. Concrete dust can be hazardous, so I also keep a full complement of safety equipment. Face and gas mask unit, fire extinguisher, vinyl apron, gumboots, and plenty of gloves. Lighting is important, and each project has different requirements, so I use a series of LED floodlights that I can move around to suit.

Private or collective

My advice to a young artist starting out on a low budget is to keep costs down, build on the basics and work out which environment that makes you most comfortable. The type of art you are creating and your personality will impact on how you approach this. If you are private like me, converting a space where you live is perfect – you can eat, sleep and breath creativity 24 hours a day. If, on the other hand, you find your living space is not suitable and you find bouncing ideas off others stimulating and refreshing, working in a collective studio is a great way to go.

Toronto: Nancy Bennett’s studio

Her Website

Toronto’s realities

Every artist I know has moved or is considering moving out of Toronto for financial reasons including difficulty finding an affordable studio and living space. The developer of the building my studio is in has offered space to artists for a very low rent with the agreement that at any time with 30 days notice, they can ask us to leave. I’ve been there for two years and have the constant worry that today’s the day I’ll receive a notice and the knowledge that there are no other affordable spaces in Toronto.

Second largest expense

My studio costs are my second largest expense after-show fees. I do three major shows in Toronto which cost in total about $5,000. This takes the biggest bite out of my sales income.

An artist community

My future is quite uncertain. I know from past experience that I don’t enjoy painting in isolation so moving back to the corner of my living room would not be a good move for me. It’s unlikely I’ll find another studio as affordable in Toronto. If finances force me to relocate, finding a studio and an artistic community will be a big factor.

A dedicated place

My advice to a young artist would be to find a studio outside your home. Having a dedicated place of work will elevate your status and your sense of professionalism. Share space to make it more affordable. Use the support of your community.

Vaasa: Svetlana Bogatcheva

Natural environment

I would definitely like my studio to be more tidy, at the moment there are artworks, bits of textile, cans and ashes all over the floor. It is hard to find the balance between free flow creativity and experimentation and cleaning up and tidying up all the time.

Recycled materials

As I work with a lot of recycled materials I find, it is easy to forget what you have if I neatly store everything away and I am also working on very different kind of works and with different materials and techniques simultaneously. A bigger and tidier space with clear areas for different types of work would be great, also working less on the floor and getting large tables would be great.

Out of the box

I use a lot of unconventional materials, natural materials like ash or stone and recycled plastic and rubber as well as materials from a hardware store, like bitumen. I think it is very interesting to me and it allows me to think out of the box.

Berlin-Marzahn: Sandor Barics

Investment for a studio

As for the cost, if you can find a place for 15-16 EUR per square meter including heating and electricity and water, its a good price in Berlin. My cost is 350 EUR / 22 sqm including heating, electricity, water usage, cleaning and waste collection. I do spend more money on artists materials and marketing expenses. A good way is to look at craigslist Berlin.

Studio’s life

It is approx 45 min away from my home. I do host regular open studio events and I invite people to my studio. I never had a walk-in visitor ever. The people I invite to my studio are usually artist friends, friends, curators, photographers or Collectors. I like this part of Berlin. Berlin-Marzahn is an upcoming artist borough in Berlin. It’s quite industrial but charming at the same time.

Privacy for creativity

I do have a small garden right outside the studio. I like to hang out there and talk to other studio artists.
An artist studio is a place where art is born. So it is the most private and intimate place what an artist can have. A studio should be inspiring and comfortable. Equipped with heating, running water and a dry storage place. An artist should be always connected to his studio and feel home in the place.

Media and series

I am using Acrylic paint and other media. I often work with foam, rubber and plastic. Many of these objects are found objects. My main series is my “Mars” Series. These artworks have accompanied me for the last 20 years. And the topic ist more relevant than ever. So I keep creating pieces for that series.

Hope and plans

I would like to show my artworks international galleries and small museums. I have also started to work with digital media and would like to create site-specific installations for exhibition spaces.

Heppenheim Germany: Claudia Kaak

Her Realism on this website

Heppenheim

I live and work in Heppenheim (Bergstraße), Germany. It is a small town between Frankfurt and Heidelberg. I have not much space. Sometimes it’s a little bit difficult to handle it but the advantage at it is that I can work there at any time. Fortunately, my paintings are not so big that I get into difficulties.

Artist worshops

From time to time I give workshops at home. At this point, I would wish I had a bit more space. But I don’t think it has an impact on my art business so far.

Art process

Most of the time I paint wet-on-wet with Schmincke Norma or Mussini and Old Holland oil colours. I love to work without any medium but sometimes I use Linseed oil or Megilp. I often work with a special brush from ‘Da Vinci’, Vario Tip and Vario Top. But I could also paint with any other brushes. Sometimes I buy some very cheap brushes.

Small art space

My future plan is to have a studio, but I would prefer a room at home, or at least to have more space to be more flexible. Basically, it doesn’t matter how much space you have, you can create art in a very small room.

Lima, Peru: TiTo Bobbio Velarde

Miraflores District

My studio is in the Miraflores district in the city of Lima in Peru. It is 15 minutes by bike from where I live. I have not invited many people in yet, however, I opened it recently for the first time to share a moment of gratitude closing the year. Thus, I was able to exhibit what I have been working on and selling what is available.

Close to the beach

I am happy with the location because apart from this it is close to the beach and one of the things that I also do is surfing then it is ideal. About my costs, I rent the place for $75 per month, it’s a small place but it’s enough for me to create.

The place as a priority

I think that to organize a study in the first place, a good space is needed. Once this is achieved, what I need is to feel the place, in relation to the materials and work elements. The good thing is that everything can be modified and you have to be open to those changes. Thus, start working, producing and using current tools such as social platforms to communicate and disseminate what is done. I think that if you have an external job that you can contribute with an income of money if you still cannot live from your art, it is very valid option to maintain the development until little by little you can grow more.

The artist residency in Pucallpa

Last year I won a scholarship to participate in the ‘Centro Selva Arte y Ciencia’ artist in residence program in Pucallpa – Peru. Pucallpa is a city located in the jungle part of Peru. So this residency was, even more, deeper than Pucallpa city where there was a very short signal for internet connection. Let’s say that the 99% of connection there was nature, so the whole environment was part of my space, my studio by those 20 blessed days I was there.

Tools and paintings

I really like oil, pastel chalks, Chinese ink, watercolors, pencils, stylus. All the tools I use are essential. My future plans are to be able to travel abroad and be able to live outside for a while, get inspired by the culture and continue creating the ideas that I have now. To be able to make my first individual show is another plan. And to make a comic that I have been designing for some time … One with such imagination always has plans.

Ask around

My advice for a young artist who wants to find a studio over here will be that first start to ask the closest people around, familiars, friends if they have some little space, room or place that they are not using. I started doing so and it helped me a lot, even you could find it for free, and use it every time you can, until you can start selling your work and so pay for a better place.

Çanakkale, Turkey: Mark M. Mellon

See his sculptures, paintings and drawings

Nickname and sales

My studios have always had nicknames based on the streets or areas I’ve lived. The last studio was known as “The Republic”. I hardly ever have walk-ins as that is my preference. My sales mostly happen online, although for good collectors I do have studio visits.

Most essential part

Arrangement of a studio is a personal thing. It can’t be taught. You can pick up ideas here and there from many people and places but ultimately you must learn yourself and how you work and learn the fee of the space your inhabiting. The studio, my studio is the most essential part of my art business, I’m without a good space to work in I have no product. Or the mental space to conduct it.

Dedicated spaces

My main work is now oil-on-canvas for the last two years. However, I have worked in Acrylics and Charcoal predominantly prior. Sculpting in ceramic and plaster has been a huge part of my studio in the past and I am working towards having a space where I can have that again, as for the last four years it was simply impractical.

Sound sculptures

In the last four years with the absence of sculpting, I returned to a previous passion of mine: sound recording. Or as I like to call it, sound sculptures. Audio field recordings, looped and experimented with, sounds and frequencies of synthesizers overlaid to create an atmosphere that I feel really connect both my sculpture work and painting into a world uniquely their own. Currently, I’m working on a side project for sound and I am hoping to implement new tools and area in my new studio in America to take this ambition to the next level.

Individuality

Listen to yourself. What’s inside…. the silence within. Absorb what you can from other artists from the past or present but allow your own individuality and thought to prevail. Studio practice is sacred. Your space should be treated as such. It is your temple. And it can only be yours.

Çanakkale for an artist

it’s definitely a great place if you’d want a chance to chill, learn Turkish culture and history and have some great alone time along with beautiful summer. You can live very easily and comfortably for about $500 a month. The advantages are definitely the cost of living, especially for an artist. The other advantage is the history of the city, its people, was very inspirational. Some bad things were sourcing supplies. It is a fairly small city, so the only art store there was a small mom and pop shop that mostly had supplies for the school.

Boulder, Colorado – Khiri Lee

Discover her Art

The artist intention

I am fortunate to have an extra bedroom in my home that serves as my studio. It is my sole domain and filled to the brim with papers, paints, stamps, found objects, and inspirations. I frequently collaborate with other artists and organizations around Boulder, CO where I live.

Beginning of a journey

In 2013 I moved to Chicago with the determination to manifest an art career. Even though I was still developing my artistic voice I was committed to my goals and found an apartment where I could establish a permanent studio. Thankfully my Husband was patient enough for me to convert the large bedroom, which had best windows, into my studio space and we moved our bedroom into the “den” which was a glorified closet. Since we were renting I covered the floors in rugs, made my own large standing desk to work at, and began to create.

The Studio in Colorado

Even though I have moved several times since then I have always prioritized having a dedicated space in my home for making art. When I returned to Colorado in 2016 my Husband and I were fortunate enough to purchase our first home. We were extremely lucky in the timing and had a fabulous realtor who listened to our dreams, finding us our dream home in the first tour of houses. We were only looking for our home for a month or so in what is traditionally a competitive market. For now, my studio is in my house, but I hope to someday transform the shed in the yard to be a more functional studio.

Colorado’s setting

I live and work in Boulder, CO, which is a growing college town north of Denver. Many artists live here to take advantage of the natural beauty. As I mentioned my studio is in my home and I do feel there are pros and cons to living and working so close together. For one, I sometimes feel isolated as an artist. There are several collectives around town and the few times I’ve visited them I’ve left envious of the easy exchange of ideas and critique. In the vacuum of my home studio I crave more feedback at times. On the other hand, I have carte blanche to do whatever I feel like in my studio, and plenty of space to spread out, into my yard or dining table, if the scope of my project requires more space.

Process streaming on Twitch

I have also begun live streaming from my studio on Twitch and that has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me in terms of sharing my process and my space with outsiders. Viewers ask the most interesting questions about the supplies I’m choosing, the way my studio is laid out, and the inspirations for various projects. It has been so exciting to see how many people want to have an insider view of my art-making.

Open studios event in Boulder

Boulder has a vibrant open studios event in October that I hope to participate in this year. It has taken a few years for me to re-establish my studio practice in my new home and I finally feel confident enough to invite strangers from the community to my studio.

Environment dictates

What you surround yourself in visually informs your values. Have a huge TV and media will dictate your attention. Fill a room in your home with beautiful art supplies, and creativity will reign supreme. This is how my studio space impacts my career. It gives me a sanctuary for my materials and my thoughts and my in-progress work.

Mixed media

Unlike a painter or a potter, I work with a myriad of materials for mixed media. For the start of the new year and new decade, I took on the monumental task of completely reorganizing my materials. I can be prone to hoarding magazines and fabric scraps and strange but interesting objects in hopes that they will inspire some creation in the future, so going back through and culling the collection to only the finest of pieces was extremely valuable to me.

Reaching

Every artist has their own flow around the studio, and I tend to think that making it as easy as possible to get to the materials you use is the best advice I ever learned. Storing paints in the back of an easel where it’s hard to reach, or a drawer that won’t open isn’t conducive to the flow. Mine are in an open cart, sorted by type with the colors I use more frequently on the top. It takes but a moment to find the right tube of paint and continue to follow the muse for that piece.

Renting in Boulder

Here in Boulder I have seen opportunities to trade for studio space in exchange of yard maintenance, shared studios in warehouses, memberships at maker spaces, art studio residencies with local art organizations, and rentable spaces from anywhere from $150 a month to $2000 with varying amenities. It may be more difficult in a large metropolitan area, but in a town like Boulder, an innovative artist can find a studio opportunity that’s right for them with a little invention, elbow grease, networking, and a pinch of luck.

Higland Park Los Angeles: Terri Lloyd

Breathtaking landscape

I have killer views which cause me a moment to pause and appreciate that which is right at my feet. In the front, I see the foothills of Altadena backed up by the San Gabriel mountains. Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, there was a massive snowstorm which coated the mountains in a beautiful white blanket. Against the grey November skies, this view was breathtaking.

The Old Los Angeles

In the Backyard Emirates, my patio is lower than the actual yard, so my view there is eye level with the cats. I can also see into my neighbor’s yards and them into mine. It’s quite the Old Los Angeles experience. I would tend to think all of this informs my work or my thinking to some extent. In fact, in recent months I worked on concepts of anarchist philosophy from the perspective of my cats and their lives in the Backyard Emirates.

Process

I work in several forms of media; digital illustration, video, performance (as Pink Buddha), collage, and am currently revisiting painting through a process of unlearning. Basically, I’m painting with my other hand and only allowing the dominant hand to give an assist.

Digital to traditional

On the digital end of things: my computer and Adobe Creative Cloud apps, Wacom tablet and stylus, printer/scanner, phone camera, the company I use for fine art printing of the digital works. For the more traditional work, it’s fairly straight forward, two easels, pencils, brushes and paint or whatever else I can get my hands on.

Artist common sense

A studio does not make you an artist. What makes you an artist is a commitment to a daily practice of art-making. As your art practice and art business grow, you will most likely outgrow where you are now and then a studio might make sense.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Anna Karena

Exposure

I have been creative all my life and got back into painting in the last seven years. I was painting in my small studio condo and I was literally outgrowing my home. I had run out of room to store my work and supplies etc. I needed to make the move to be able to keep creating as one issue, and the other thing I wanted was community. I needed the opportunities that studio life gives me such as art crawls and exposure to gallerists and other professionals who might see my work. I can’t get this kind of exposure at home.

Minneapolis Art District

My studio is in NE Minneapolis, MN (USA), which is about six miles from my home. The studio is in the art district so there are other artists around the area and it’s a vibrant community. My building is called the Carriage House Studios which is part of the Casket Arts building complex. It’s a bit slower building but I am an emerging artist with a full-time job so I don’t mind it being a little quiet as I don’t have the time to devote to being there a lot. I use the studio as workspace and storage, and a place to bring friends and clients as needed.

Art studio advantage

Being in the studio has allowed me to spread my wings a bit and I’m beginning to work larger. I recently bought the largest canvas that would fit in my vehicle (the abstract painting that’s about my height) and that has been exciting for me.

The artist studio cost

There are five of us on the lease and we each pay $220/month which I feel is reasonable for space I’m in. It has a small kitchen where we each have a small frig and there is a sink with running water. Not all Studios have running water so I feel fortunate. This is my biggest expense as I don’t do art fairs etc due to working full time and not liking to be out in the elements.

Building a body of work

I am an acrylic painter and mixed media artist and my long-range goal for the studio is to build a body of work and gain exposure as well as showing opportunities over the next ten years or so with the ultimate goal of retiring from my job and then moving into a full-time artist. I hope to better established by then so I’m not doing all that legwork at that time.

Time and dedication

Advice to a young artist thinking about studio space is to weigh your options. I work a full-time job to be able to afford the space. My art is not self-sustaining at this time but I needed to make a move to continue working. It definitely changed the flow of how I work and the transition was a little tricky. I could no longer just roll out of bed and walk to canvas and paint. Now it takes effort to get dressed and drive to a different location. However, I have more concentrated, dedicated time to work so I’m actually more productive. I don’t necessarily go every day when I’m there I work hard and my home can be a place for living instead of trying to cram too much into one space.

Oakland, California: Sherry Karver

Her website

Work habits

That is something I would warn artists about. Even if you are friends with the artists you are sharing a space with, it’s important to be on the same page in terms of your work habits, time spent in the studio, even what kind of music you are playing loudly, and issues about subletting to others, etc. One other issue to consider is what I call ‘conflict of materials’, meaning a clay artist or wood sculptor for example, whose process creates a lot of dust, probably shouldn’t share with an oil painter or photographer who really doesn’t want dust settling on their work. I did run into this problem.

Artist politics

The coop is made up of 3 buildings with 60 live/work spaces that are owned by the artists. You had to be low income to qualify for a space, and can only sell it for the same amount plus about 10% increase, and some improvement costs. There are wonderful aspects to being part of a coop, but also ‘politics’ come up when you have that many artists trying to work together cooperatively

Artist cooperative

Eventually, my husband and I were able to buy into the Emeryville Artist Cooperative in Emeryville, CA, located between Oakland and Berkeley. We were on a waiting list and it was quite competitive to get in, but I have a strong exhibition record and had a teaching position at Laney College in Oakland. My husband is Jerry Ratch who is a poet and novelist, so getting a large live/work space was perfect for us. No more driving across town to get to my studio, and no conflict of materials. I could just roll out of bed and go to work!

The actual workspace

While many artists have a studio at their home, I joke that we have a home at my studio, because the studio is by far the main part of the building. The big meeting hall that the club had is my workspace, with a 25 ft. high ceiling, and huge windows. It’s about 1400sq. ft., and also has a loft and outdoor work area, plus 12 parking spaces! We converted what had been the caretaker’s apartment upstairs to our live space, which is an additional 700 sq.ft. What’s even better is that we are in the lovely Rockridge neighborhood, and around the corner from numerous cafes, restaurants, groceries, and 2 blocks to the Bart train for easy access to San Francisco.

Studio and galleries

I am not open to the public and never sell out of my studio since galleries represent my work. I rarely have clients over but I do have tour groups from various museums and arts organizations come through for a studio visit, and close friends visit to exchange ideas, but I work alone. I don’t have an assistant, but my husband does help me when I do a resin pour and when I’m packing pieces up for a show.

Art business

My studio definitely helps my art business because it gives me the space to work in any scale and produce a lot of work. I have large walls to hang my work so I can see what I’ve done, and it looks like a gallery. We do have mortgage payments, but the studio is virtually free since we live here too. It’s taken me many years to get to this point!

From ceramics to oil paintings

Our studio was a large 1200 sq.ft. space with a loft and the rent at that time was $1,000 a month plus utilities. It was an interior space with no outside windows, but it had 10 skylights. This was fine when I was doing ceramics, but my work started to evolve into oil painting, and I couldn’t get enough ventilation without windows. After eleven years, we moved to our current location. We were looking for the right kind of property to buy for quite a while and even considered building from scratch, but it was too expensive and impractical.

Space hog artist

Then we had the opportunity to buy the Rockridge Women’s Club in Oakland, eighteen years ago, and converted it to a live/work space, where we are now. Although I still love ceramics, my own work has switched totally to mixed media photo-based oil painting with narrative text, as well as experimental photography. This space is perfect for my kind of work – it’s like it was built just for me. I only share the space with my husband since I have realized I really need to work alone on my art, and I’m a space hog!

My advice on arranging a studio

Put everything on wheels, like tables, shelving, easels, etc. This gives flexibility and makes it easy to move things around and rearrange the space as needed.

Advice to young artists

Don’t let your age or lack of experience hinder you. Get a studio somewhere, somehow, as soon as you can, whether it’s in your apartment, house, or warehouse with other people. Get to know yourself and your own needs, such as do you prefer to be alone, or in a group situation. Take bold steps. Things don’t always work out perfectly so stay open to making changes. I had numerous studios and situations before arriving where I am today.

Future plans

My future plans include getting a live/work studio space in New York City. Jerry and I visit NY often since much of my work is based on photos I take at Grand Central Station, the Metropolitan Museum, and on city streets. I have seen some of the spaces artists have in NY, and most are tiny – one artist was even working in a space the size of a closet, so that might be a bit of a problem for me since I’m used to a large studio. But, I love the energy that NYC has and we hope to live there part-time, so somehow I will make it work!

Vancouver, Washington: Mary Chant

Mr Rocky, Miss Zoe & Master Tucker and her paintings here

The way it evolves

The studio has grown and changed gradually over time. I started with a 30-year-old drafting table, an even older easel which my father-in-law built for me, and a swing arm lamp. My minimum. Gradually I added leftover and thrift store furniture including:

• a 50s cedar dresser that was my father’s;
• a ten-dollar bookcase from Goodwill turned on its side to use as storage for small paintings ((great idea courtesy of Pauline Gough);
• an old oak table used for attaching hanging hardware and for wrapping and packing art for mailing and/or exhibition transport. My husband installed two (then three more) Ikea shelves for display and storage.

A lonely business

Because making art can be a lonely business, I have a few gifts and mementoes from friends and family in the studio to keep me company. And because I am a messy painter, I bought a cheap patterned rug, so the many paint stains would blend in. (I should have bought the rug before I ruined the carpet – lesson learned.)

Storage and access

It is a comfortable workspace but will never have enough storage. Starting last year, I stow overflow (paintings and fresh canvases) in the guest room closet. Taking off the doors means easy access.

Water-soluble oils

I paint with professional-grade acrylics and water-soluble oils on cotton, linen or wood. I would rather paint with oils, but I worry about solvent fumes and flammable rags – especially since my studio is in my living room. I sometimes use mediums that retard drying time but find they can cause my colors to shift and dry darker than expected, so I prefer to use water-soluble oils to extend blending time (Open by Golden or Duo by Holbein) and mix them with acrylics and very little water.

Never enough storage!

I’ve lived in many places and had many small home studios over the years. For me, a flat surface, good light, and quiet are the minimum requirements – and that has sometimes simply meant the kitchen table at 2 a.m. As far as advice to young artists – they will find their own requirements and they will adjust; they are on a mission. Also, they will never have enough storage!

Queens, NYC: Sharif Makhale

His Website

No excuse not to create

I primarily paint in oils although I’ve been known to mix it up with spray paint and another medium such as oil stick and charcoal powder. As far as any advice I’d give to a young artist, especially regarding studio space… It would definitely be to not let lack deter you from working. There are times that I’d lay canvas down in the park to paint because my apartment at the time was too small to paint in. There was never any excuse for me not to create.

Art in Queens

About Queens, I would say it’s wonderfully diverse with lots of talented artists. Because we’re so close to Brooklyn and Manhattan we don’t feel separate from the NYC art scene.

New York Art tips

For artists arriving in NYC, my advice is to not get discouraged because the art scene is very fickle. Remember why you started creating in the first place and don’t get caught up in the “I want to be famous” mindset. JUST WORK! Studios are another story but the best thing is to find a shared space if you’re not into working at home or find it’s too small. There are tons of shared space options, you just need to find one.

Saratoga, NYC: David Keenan

His work on Pixels

Location is crucial

As far as advice for young artists in this area. Studios’ can be found on the cheaper end outside of Saratoga.
NYC is a few hours drive from here (around 3). Someday I would not mind having a Gallery/studio that people could walk in anytime. Location is crucial. Small studio space can be found around the Saratoga area (not in town, too expensive). I’ve heard of spaces available as low as $300. Old warehouse spaces for example.

Larger pieces

I believe sales are getting better because my work is getting more interesting. I am adding great texture and involving large typography to my art. I think the larger pieces are appealing to art buyers. I’ve slowly gone up in size from approximately 24×36 paintings to 36 x48 paintings. That also drives up that asking price.

Living with your artworks

Advantage of living with your works gives me time to study them even when I’m not working on them (or as my girlfriend says, staring at them. she is not an artist even though the art flows throughout the house she is very supportive). I’m lucky I don’t have any push back what so ever. Also, I can blast music really loud when I paint. It’s all mine so I can be really messy!

Passaic, New Jersey: Gilosan

Finding the studio

In order to find a studio, I just looked on Craigslist for studio space, got really lucky. Found npartiststudios.com run by Suzanne Russo (she’s awesome!) – a shared studio space that has separated individual studios inside. Getting a studio, well it had been on my mind for quite some time prior to that… roughly about a year as I began painting and branching out to a working canvas size I felt more comfortable then and realized… “We’re gonna need a bigger boat!” – Police Chief Martin Brody

Necessary struggle

This was a big step but like most things in my life – I let my instinct guide my decision to get to the studio. I trust my instinct completely – If I needed a bigger space, I was going to get it – I knew it was not going to be free, but I couldn’t keep my pace of exploration and growth working in a cramped environment. When I did – it was the best thing I could have done. Yeah, it was a struggle but what kept me going was seeing the amount of progress I had gotten to when I found a space that I could really work.

Passaic area

The location is Passaic New Jersey, it’s not a glamorous location like Williamsburg or even Jersey City, but it has its charms. You get to know the neighborhood a bit and I like the surrounding areas a lot – Montclair is very close, so exposure to that art scene as well as the fantastic artists in the shared studio. That is definitely a boon.

Distance from home

It’s 30 min from my home. That’s the best part – I work a 9-5 during the week in NYC so my only real studio time is on the weekends. This is where you will find me most weekends – unless I have to travel for work.

Studio visits

My studio visits are collectors of nerd art, video game and movie art collectors. I like bringing them in especially when I get a movie scene commission -we watch the movie they want the scene from.

Joe Fig about the artist studio. He is known for a series of artworks portraiting artists by making a diorama of their studio. He wrote two books about this art project: “Inside the Painter’s Studio” (2009) and “Inside the Artist’s Studio” (2015)