My Art Studio
My art studio is in what used to be the old kitchen and dining room of my house. I am lucky that the room already had a skylight and sink. The art studio is situated in the back extension where it is quieter and slightly cut off from the goings-on in the house, and from where I can see my lovely patio garden - now full of sculptures. The floor is covered with lino so any mess can be easily cleared up. Numerous mirrors on the walls bounce the light about - you can never have too much light in an art studio and they also allow me to look at work in a different way - in reverse or as if from further away.
Sculpture turntables are essential, so that I can easily turn a piece round frequently as I'm working on it. The working height can be altered too. Stands come in all sizes. One I bought from a specialist sculpture suppliers, and another large wooden stand was made for me by a local carpenter. I have a larger stand still, that can take half a ton of clay, if a little begrudgingly, for my life-size figures.
It's very useful to have a trolley that can be moved around the art studio carrying all my tools from sculpture to sculpture. This trolley has all my many metal tools, and two bowls for clay scrapings. I collect up these bits of clay, dampen them and squeeze them into sausages to be used in the next sculpture.
Another essential item in my art studio. I take handfuls of clay and give them a bit of a squeeze to elasticate the clay. These pieces then go into a bucket with a tight-fitting lid, ready for use.
When a piece isn't working, I pull it apart and recycle the bits as ready-made body parts - they can be used like building blocks and 'stuck' into new positions with wet clay. It's like going back to the beginning, except the pieces of clay already have a lot of character and history.
Clay sculptures need to be kept damp or they dry out. Plastic bags are best for this job. I tuck them carefully around the base of the sculpture to prevent draughts wicking the moisture away. I tend to collect favourite bags. They must be bigger than an average carrier bag but also a little soft and pliable so that they can be easily tucked under, and they mustn't be so tough that they might scuff the surface of the piece. Another essential is a water-sprayer - an ordinary garden one is fine. Unfinished clay sculptures need a fine misting with water before they are tucked away. Simply dribbling water on them would create puddles and then the clay would slowly collapse down into the water.
Work that is finished and cast is stored on these shelves. I also keep ceramic pieces here, while I decide whether or not to cast them.
Pictures that appeal to me get stuck up on the wall of my art studio. I find unusual or especially beautiful faces fascinating at the moment. I always think I'll refer to them when working, but somehow I never do! There are also images from Picasso, Botticelli, Matisse and pictures of my children - alongside the odd bottom! Go back to top of My art studio
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