I had to set up a workspace at home a few days after showing art with Upstream Gallery (Hastings on Hudson, NY) at Art on Paper in NYC (March 5-9, 2020). I knew the virus was brewing, and was very careful around the huge crowds at the international exhibition. On March 11, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared a COVID-19 global pandemic. I decided to self-quarantine, and set up a temporary studio to work at home. I work in a spare bedroom in my apartment. I brought home papers, canvas, glue, brushes, acrylic medium and paints.
All the images here and below show a view of my works in progress and the 40-inch diameter table that I work on. In the image (above) you see I placed a 30×40 inch wood panel on top of the round table. I also put a 24 x 16 inch painting in progress on top of the panel. I like that there’s a window in front of the table, and a bookcase nearby with art books. There’s even space on the shelf to put acrylic media, brushes and collage tools. What you don’t see is a long, skinny daybed that’s adjacent to the table where I’ve placed papers, pads and acrylic paints in a bin on top. I move things around when I need to find them. It works if I tidy up each day or two.
The image (above) shows 2 collages sitting on top of my bookcase. Each one is 24 x 16 inches. The view (below) shows one collage alone. I plan to cover some of the blue papers with black papers.
My temporary studio allows me to work any time day or night, and that’s all that matters right now. Having a temporary studio makes me happy now, but I can’t wait to return to my regular home away from home at Media Loft.
The image above shows I added collage to the 30×40 inch panel. Notice the blue papers in the middle of this work not yet glued down. The front edge of the table shows where I have my tools – a container with glue, a tiny cup for glue, a glue brush and a container with blue paint in case I want to paint more papers blue. Everything has to be organized in a compact space at home.
The image above is a small section of B&W papers that are glued at the top edge of the 30 x 40 inch panel. If you look at the previous image, you can see I added similar papers in a design with stripes and curvy shapes along the left edge. The B&W papers are reproductions from my Curvy Geometric catalogs. See an open page spread from the catalog below. The catalog pages are only 6×6 inches, but, I have a lot of catalogs and that means I have a great resource for collage.
I do all my work at home now. That includes writing about art and making art. I can work on the computer or talk on the phone, and at the same time, look at a collage nearby and plan how I will continue. If I want to take a break from working on a collage, I just have to return to the desk a few feet away, and resume work on the computer.
The two images above are collages on paper I brought home to remind me to do small works on paper. One is 7×7 inches. One is 9×5 inches. I have Bristol paper pads in 2 sizes, ready and waiting.
Setting up a temporary studio is the way I dealt with the shutdown everyone has to deal with. I wrote this post to encourage you to make art in whatever space you can set up. Making art is good for your spirits and good for your health. I hope you can find the time and the space.
Let me know if you want to make art.