That’s a misleading title.
I have no clue what an artist’s workspace says about it’s inhabitant, other than maybe offer hints on where said artist’s interests and priorities are.
I always love checking out other artist’s workspaces. Some are simple, some are chaotic and packed to the gills with everything under the sun. All make sense to the person who has to work there.
Show me a chaotic looking workspace, and I’ll show you an artist who’ll tell you without hesitation, ‘It makes sense to me!’ Having things organized in a way that makes sense to only the inhabitant and is an extension of their workflow is fun to observe.
I got to thinking about this last weekend as I moved into a new studio. It’s the top level of a house, actually, lots of space on the outset, but filled with all my crap could really set off someone else’s OCD.
A few years ago I did a walkthrough of my then workspace. (Don’t get your hopes up to see any updates of this- I shot this during Covid, so I had a lot of time on my hands!)
If any of this is of ANY interest, you need to check out photographer Greg Preston’s books, The Artist Within, vol 1 & 2. These books are awesome- each huge volume is filled with a dizzying number of subjects, each containing an artist’s bio, capped off by a beautiful portrait of the artist in their studio.
It’s really a fascinating read- to see the gamut of studio spaces is really pretty great.
Thanks to all who subscribe for your patience as The Steckley ‘Stack took a little hiatus to relocate. Moving always takes longer than I anticipate, and frankly I’m not too good at leaving some job unfinished (unpacking) to tackle another one (actually making a living).
But, I’m back at it full throttle! Today, in fact, I’m filming a fun caricature job I’m on- that’ll be for the 2nd half of the week’s post- with sketches and hot funny face talk available for your viewing pleasure… and a full process video for paid subscribers!
*cough cough*
Lastly- Over the last week I’d gotten a lot of emails & texts asking if I was a part of the Mad Magazine exhibit currently on display at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Massachusetts.
Sorry to say, I’m not. I was really hoping to be asked, but for reasons unknown to me, that wasn’t in the cards. Makes me truly sad.
Alas, life goes on!
thank you for that great tour of your old studio, and have fun settling in to your new one. Do you feel you have to readjust your physical movements to navigate a new space like that? Silly question, I know, but I felt that when I moved from one house to another ... one kitchen to another. The kitchen was my workspace, even tough I don't cook other than regular meals. When we moved, I felt this weirdness, a physical sensation of strangeness, moving around in that new kitchen. A different shape, layout, etc. Appliances had different knobs in odd places. So, does that happen to you as you reposition all your surfaces, drawers, and tools?
Hi Ed, I love this whole piece. I ask you to consider changing or removing the sentence about the clutter of your studio setting off someone else's OCD. As someone with OCD, I find this kind of reference perpetuates the stereotypes associated with a serious mental illness. You seem like a really nice guy, and I'm sure this was not your intention. I'm just trying to help get greater understanding of and knowledge about OCD in its many forms.out there. I hope you take these comments in the spirit in which they are written, which is not angry or accusatory. As I said, just trying to get the word out there. Best regards, Joe Goldstein 😀 jeez672yt@gmail.com