Living Room Studios and other Inventions
 

Elizabeth Schott brought out a subject that I thought was interesting - that of having a studio in the living room. I'm enclosing shots of mine - which is a combo dining room-living room studio. The majority of the work is done in the former dining room, but when I work from a model, I set up in the living room, as shown. Notice the "wanna be" model in one of the photos.

If you have set up a studio, whether it's in the living room or some other place, why don't you share a picture of it? I love seeing the beautiful studios that have been featured on this site, but would also love to see the creative ways other artists have come up with to provide a working space for themselves.

I too appreciate seeing photos of people's studios and I always learn something. Thanks for posting yours, Julie.

What an interesting idea of turning a coffee table into a model stand. It's just about exactly the right height and would work perfectly if it's strong enough. I was wondering why you hadn't put that lovely wing chair on the model stand, though. It would be great in a portrait.

I like your third image. That particular photo reminds me of a Vermeer painting, looking from one room into another.

And finally, how do you keep paint of that very nice patterned rug?!

Thanks
 

Hi Michelle -

The coffee table is strong, and is fine for one chair and one person. The wing chair will be used in the future, but for the latest portraits I'm working on, I didn't want a high chair back to show.

The rug is a super cheap set from Lowes - it's new, so now paint on it - YET! I'm horrible at getting myself painted along with the work on the easel, and the floor has gotten a few spots too. I'm in awe of folks like John Howard Sanden and others, who can apparently work in three-piece suits and not get a speck on themselves. When I work from life in the living room, the floor gets covered with heavy duty flooring plastic that can be bought in a roll from Lowes or Home Depot. It crinkles underfoot, but it's better than the alternative.

Thanks Julie for sharing these. It is good to see a more open area working right! Please tell me you cleaned it up extra carefully before shooting these! :)

Michelle I have a patterned rug I work on too, I can only think the pattern has been enhanced - by accident of course! Michelle I would love to hear how you work with a model stand in a smaller studio, I feel like I am looking up the nose all the time, maybe it has to do with the way you size your model?

I do all my commissioned portrait photo shoots on location -- which usually means battling with odd lighting situations in parks or in the client's home. So I don't use a model stand at all.

Hah! You caught me! I had to laugh out loud - all the "junk" I had strewn around in my work area is put out of sight just for this photo.

I thought I'd chip in and show my ex-diningroom/studio. Behind the dark cloth is a huge chalk board that was for the family when it was a diningroom. Now it is great for propping huge canvas' on since it has a wide ledge at the bottom. Don't mind the mess! Ahem - the groceries you see in the kitchen had just been brought it - I promise -it's usually spotless. :o

The third photo is my studio that was downtown during one of my open house parties. I closed that about a month ago and I have never been happier. I had loads of space, but made the mistake of opening it to the public and letting other artists show there. Running the business side of that really took up too much time.

Thanks for sharing your space with us!
 

Hi Kim -

I like your "new" studio! What is on the floor on the left? Is it a hard covering to protect the carpet showing on the right? Your place has some elegant touches - the plants and mirror, plus your lovely paintings.

Do you ever hit your head on that chandelier? I kept bumping into mine and finally had to hire an electrician to remove it and install a ceiling light.

That on the left is just another cheapy rug that I purposely splashed paint on. These were both out of the old public studio - I was just trying to cover as much of the rug as possible.

I don't really hit my head on the chandelier, but those stupid grapes (that were part of the decorating when it was a diningroom) - they catch in my hair all the time. Why I haven't removed them yet I don't know. We may be moving soon so I guess I am just waiting to hear.

Been Gone A Looong time...
 

I have had a year from hell- breast cancer, - but all is well now, and I am TRYING......unsuccessfully ...to get back to my painting. My creative desire is still non-existent. I am setting up a studio in my own living room- so this topic is so funny and timely! I thought I was the only one who did such a thing! I'm attaching some pics.....remember....no painting going on just yet, but you can get an idea. It's great because I have 25 foot ceiling and NORTH light! Wish me some creativity, PLEASE!!!
Linda
The first picture is head-on view from base of stairs.
The next is view as you come in door- the right (dining room), and left is studio.) I have divided area with curved interlocking canvas screens, and a pedestal with alabaster sculpture in middle. LOTS of pothos trails down from the loft.
The last picture is from the loft looking down.

My Living Room Studio, Part 2
 

And the pictures just keep on coming. Hard to get good shots. The total area (LR and DR) is about 24 W x 20 D.

The first is looking down from the catwalk.
The next is a view that shows my wonderful living pothos looking from catwalk to dining room area. It loves where it's growing, and has made a canopy that gives the dining room more separation, without being too boxy.
The last picture is my glorious north light!

Glad to hear you're doing better, health-wise.

Whenever I'm in need of a powerful spark of inspiration to get me jazzed up for painting I find that surfing artist and museum websites does the trick. That and putting prints of work that I love on my walls.

Lovely Space
 

Linda -

Glad you're on the mend. Perhaps some of your creative lack is due to the body needing to recover?

Love your space! And you have a loft - what a great place to store paintings - nearby but not in the way. Love all the windows!

I'm just happy to hear you're doing well and even considering painting.

I find that putting fresh paint on my patette forces me to start painting. I hate to waste paint. Try setting up a small simple still life. Painting from something real beats copying photos any day. Be well!

Thanks all
 

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and suggestions. Michelle, you're right- I have found great inspiration in the same, and I'm constantly "surfing". Also looking through art magazines....It's not so much the lack of inspiration, it's the lack of - I'm not sure!! But it's been 10 months now, so I have to get myself going!!
Julie, thank you. The doctor told me that the body healing/creative connection is something that I need to just be kind to myself and patient about. Patience is NOT one of my virtues!! LOL But I was very fortunate, and had a lumpectomy, and am healthy now, so the mental anguish isn't really a factor. It's just that I can't seem to get my act together! My loft isn't really good for storage, as the catwalk goes over the liv rm/dining rm to the loft, which is outside my bedroom. In my loft I have a leather club chair and ottoman, round table w/2 chairs, and even a second computer and desk! So no room to "store" there! But I am fortunate that the area under my stairs is huge, finished, and holds ALL my supplies!
Marvin, Beth has tried to get me going to your workshop for 2 years now, and I'm threatening that I'm-a-comin!
Thanks again for all your suggestions.
Linda ;)

Hi Linda, nice to see you! I'm delighted to hear you are painting again.

I really envy you that ceiling height! You will create wonderful things in this space.

LINDA!

Hooray, you look great! The space looks great! You must live near Linda B. - this reminds me of her space.

If you don't feel like painting, heck just pull up a chair and sit in that lovely area and read a book about art!

I am so glad all is well!

Here is how my living room turned out in the new house. Unfortunately the longer we are here, the less room it has, but the new puppy has somehow found the floor space he needs! :)

I thought it was firmly north light, but it isn't. Since I have the 2 1/2 story windows (contemporary front) to the left of what is shown, I am having a hard time with the early light blinding me.

Linda,
Hi! Thanks for saying hi. How are you doing? I'm going to come visit you one of these days for inspiration, okay?

Beth,
Well.....I just gave up on you, girl!! What the heck happened to you? I tried for months to reach you, then finally had to throw in the towel. YOUR living room (?) is wonderful. Do you have a living room studio too? I'm afraid mine isn't anywhere as neat or roomy as Linda B's, but then I ain't paintin'!!! :-) But I will....(I think I can, I think I can, .....)
Please keep in touch. Let's talk on the phone soon, okay?
Email me!
Linda

As you know, life is short. Remember the famous Nike slogan.

Linda, I am just hoping to find one of us that is not have the years from @#$%. It's amazing how the duties of life just eats your art time right up.

Hey what's on that easel in your picture? It looks mighty interesting from a far?

If you can email me through my site, I think yours are going to my spam account that I never look into, I know I replied one time, but you must have been having one of those days.

Just to give you a smile, here's my new studio buddy. She has consumed every Mahl stick I have made except my workshop metal one. I have actually stooped to wearing a whistle. Which hurts no ones ears but my own! :)

Mercedes (German Shepard) is only 7 weeks, but I swear she seems to have doubled in size in one week.

Linda, congratulations on your recovery! If your looking for inspiration, you could paint a self portrait that's more about how you feel instead of working toward a likeness. I don't know if that's something you would be interested in doing, but I thought I'd make the suggestion since it helped me.

Beth that puppy is SO cute! And looks like she is full of mischief!

I have a 'living room' studio, too, which works out great because I can keep an eye on my boys (11 & 7) and get between them before any major blood loss. Did I mention that they're both in karate? ? I've thought about moving into another room so there wouldn't be as many distractions.... but this is safer. ;)

Renee

Thanks, Renee
 

For the suggestion. Right now I am so exhausted I dare not try to paint at all, or I'll wind up face down in my paints! :-) Daughter recently got engaged and we had (my ex and I) the "meet the inlaws-to-be dinner" on Friday night, and a large cocktail party at the Ritz in Phoenix last night. Sooooo sleepy.....
But I am fully recovered. I seem to have all sorts of creative ideas, just not able to get past the "thinking" part yet.....but getting closer.....
Thanks again for your thoughts.
Your little boys sound like a lot of fun and a handful!!
Linda

My living room studio
 

I was encouraged by reading this thread that these living room studios are fantastic! I am posting my little meager living room corner studio. The window gives very good north light and just to the right of this picture is my computer and monitor. Even though I have my reference photo taped to the wall, I have almost exclusively used my monitor as a reference.

It would be nice to have my own studio room, but this will do nicely for a while. Wouldn't you know, we just gave our kids the only extra room we have for a media type room. Guess I won't be getting that back for a while. :o

Thanks,
Julie
________
Herbal Vaporizer

Julie,
Hey, whatever works!
I wish I had my computer near my studio, but alas, it's upstairs in another room. Everyone wishes for something else, no matter what kind of setup they have, I'm sure.
BTW, your painting looks great!

Linda