Cottage in the woods

 

Studio door

Moving in

 

 

Cottage in the woods

To begin a day in the studio I make small combinations of things to focus and switch of  all those random thoughts that distract. It's hard to let go this time, I  push pigment into patterns of ocean swell. It's a subject I am slowly building on. This old cottage in the woods is an odd place for it but it's not as remote as it looks.

Odd things

 

        

Working sketches

 

Starting with the odd collection of small neglected paintings I found. These were all made at different times so it is going to be interesting to work on them all at once. It's a bit unexpected how quickly I can see what to do next on each of them and all at once, considering the differences between them but I think it is just that, that is so inviting.

Sunshine Friday

   A beautiful day today and it makes it hard to stay inside the studio. I sat and relaxed just outside the door and thought about my approach to painting and why I seem to be more motivated by looking at sculpture than most paintings. The subject came up during a chat with Susan yesterday and it has made me think again. I picked up some work on paper that sort of ran out of steam last year and felt a renewed energy to continue with it but in a different way. I think it works but need to spend more time on it yet.

View from the window

http://yfrog.com/h42dcdhj
Moving studio I  found an old 'Art in America' magazine, reading that painter James Bishop described his life in Paris 'as one in exile'. Now looking out through my studio window I get that feeling as I am sitting here, hidden round at the back of the park, behind the trees and it's very quiet. Cosy too but a little bit scary with the strange sound the wind is making. I like this bit, it says on the indifference of artists working in Paris they.... 'ripen more slowly there' Ashbery - gaining intelligence and benefiting from introspection.

The Art Institute of Chicago: Exhibitions:

Starting work

I discovered too many half started and abandoned paintings during the move and now I have quite a lot to think about. Do I prepare a surface for new work or recycle? Obviously it's not possible to continue where I left off as I am in a different place both literally and mentally.
I am very happy in the space and feel a fresh motivation to reinvent and so think working on some of the unfinshed paintings is a good idea.

Everything is in.

I have spent a very long day trying to take stuff out again to make more space and things still need to be moved around but it's ready for me to start painting now. Unfortunately it's going to be impossible to hang anything up as the walls are rock hard. It took two of us several attempts with a hammer drill to make a hole 1cm deep. A bit of a problem for a painter, I'll have to look for some inventive system or just work on paper and use sticky tape.
 I can't wait to get started next time I'm in.

Getting there

Sorting required

 All the cobwebs and spiders have been swept out and the walls painted but the studio looks a lot smaller now everything is in it. Looks like it will take some time to find everything a place. Alex the Park Keeper lent me a wheelbarrow which speeded things up after a shaky start. As a novice I very nearly tipped the lot out on first trip when it hit a pot hole.