Studio? Studio! (Kind of...)

Hey guys, I've been keeping a horrible art blog.  With the new house, new city, new studio, new studio shutting down, having to create another new studio at home...things have been busy.  I've been "doing" rather than "documenting," which is a good thing sometimes, but I'd like to be a little bit more open with the process, so I think this will be a good tool.

If you haven't seen this yet, here is my current studio:  It's at home, it gets wonderful light, I have a huge desk/work table and plenty of storage, but it is still too small.  If you remember what my studio looked like in Load of Fun, this is definitely a downgrade in size.  The upgrades:  it's warm, dry, and I can roll out of bed and work in my pajamas.  Not good for a social life.  There are some days where I don't see a single person except for Peter...which can be a problem.  I definitely don't want to become a hermit, with hermit-like qualities!

It definitely makes it hard to have studio visits, I struggle at keeping regular studio hours, and so I'm keeping my eyes open for another studio.  There was a potential space, but that just fell through as of a couple days ago.  But I'm confident; something will come up soon.

In the meantime, I'll be posting my newest series.  It is so new that it doesn't have a name yet.  It may even end up being a selection of smaller series, but I'll be taking more process photos, I promise.  This will be a challenge for me (I usually hate taking photos of pieces before they're done!  How embarrassing!), but I think it could be cook for the rest of you guys.  So, I'll do it for you.

If you're interested in the rest of what I've been up to (kind of art-related, but more life-related), you can feel free to check out the blog that I keep about our new home.  It's called the The Remington Rad, and we've done a lot of DIY house projects.  Whew!  A lot.

Anyway, more to come!

And all I needed was a strong man.

Has anyone used Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty?  Believe it or not, I bought it before I realized how absurd the name was.  Rock Hard?  Oh my!  Isn't that a bit --ahem--risque?  Anyway, we'll see how well it does at patching up the seams in my studio space.  Seems to be doing well thus far.  Tomorrow I finish painting the other wall.  Wish me luck.  I almost passed out from heat exhaustion today, and dehydration--it was a hot one!  Move in is just around the corner, I have to finish asap!

Art Exercises: Ok, these are really weird...

Hug, dearest?  Yes, Please!

I love you!  You too!

This is for you, my love!  Thanks, love!

Let's fly away together!

Usually when I'm creating a piece, the first thing I do is cut up a bunch of little pieces based on texture and color.  With these, I decided to challenge myself by making myself cut out figures out of the magazines instead of squares and triangles.  (Oh gosh, the patience!)  But I did it!  And here's what came out of it.  Yes, they're weird, but I kind of like 'em.  

Art exercises: Funny Birds!

I went through an extreme art creation binge before my show in May, and was feeling pretty burnt out after that was done, and had to take some time off (that, and we've been settling into Baltimore!).  But now, I'm getting the artist itch.  I need to make something--and yet--the task of starting one of my large pieces still seems like--well...a task!  One of my collages typically takes days, if not weeks to complete, and it can get tedious and exhausting at times. I obviously need to be easing into it. Anytime I feel like this, I know it's time to do some art exercises.  So, here's what I've been up to: drawing funny birds! And making them quick sketches (only allow myself 5 minutes on the pencil sketch), so that I can be free as a bird and finish quite literally right after I start. The rule is no matter what you have after 5 minutes is what you keep. This time, I allowed myself a few more minutes to apply the watercolor, but next time I'll challenge myself even more by being stringent with a timer!

They're drawn on recycled card-stock (I think it was used as packing materials for something ceramic?) that I've had saved for a long time. Oh gosh, it felt good to spread my wings, make quick brush strokes, feathery pencil marks, and call it a day. These birds were mostly inspired by birds that I saw at the National Aquarium when I went there with my folks in July. I know, it's an aquarium, why were birds the take home inspiration for me? Call me bird brained. Hah. Sorry, ran out of stupid bird sayings. That must mean it's time for me to end this blog. Check back soon. There will be more exercises to come soon!

New studio space

When Peter and I found our house, we were so excited by the great deal we were getting, the area...etc...the only issue was that the studio space would be a tight fit--especially with the direction I've been going lately.  The solution, was that I would get a studio space!  And so last week, I signed a lease on a beautiful art studio space in the Station North Arts and Entertainment district in Baltimore, MD.  

It is housed in the Load of Fun Artists Building.  Check it out, it's been a cool space so far.  I'll keep you posted as I try out this new way of living:  giving myself regular studio hours to follow during the day (so I'm not working there late at night--still not the best area to be after sunset), creating a show space, hosting open studio parties, taking part in the open studio walks that the Load of Fun building hosts in collaboration with a few other arts organizations.  It will indeed be a huge change, and I'm nervous for the extra work that it will be to set up shop and to adapt my routines around it, but I have high hopes that the extra work will pay off in the end.  I'll be having a studio warming part in the not-too-distant future.         

Single Carrot Theatre office is just down the hall!

My studio from the doorway.

It came with a desk and stool! 

Plenty of room to hang my pieces. 

Another nice white wall (after I repaint it) to hang my larger pieces on. 

Ahh...that's better

No, still no new artwork up yet.  I haven't even started a new piece what with not having a real studio space and all.  But, things are coming along, slowly but surely.

Not a novice to moving around, I still do find this process incredibly tiresome.  I am in the "research" part of the process where I'm having to seek out all of the galleries in the city, find out what they're all about, contact them, find out what their submission process is, and take it from there--find out if I'm a good match.  Alongside that research process, I'm' also trying to find out a little bit more about the studio space option.  Being new to the city and all and still with few friends, it may be a good option as we can build a community from there.  Plus, our house is rather small.  I have doubts that the direction that I want to take my pieces will fit through our stairwell.  So, things are still up in the air.  There are many decisions to be made, and research to be done.

In the meantime, feel free to take a look at the photos of the house (below), check out my new website if you haven't yet: http://katiechenreclaimedart.com, and please let me know if you know of anyone in the Baltimore area that would know of the art studio situation.  I still haven't quite made that connection here yet.  Thanks for reading!

The living room, front window and front door.

Hallway to kitchen, view of the back door, stairs to 2nd floor.

Exposed brick wall with view to kitchen and stairs.

Kitchen, back window and door.

Kitchen sink, and the hallway back to the livingroom.

Stairs to the 2nd floor.

First bedroom (facing backyard)

Second bedroom (facing street)

Bathroom, and view of first toilet.

Mini hallway past the tub (on the right).

View of second sink, bathtub directly to the right.

And the second toilet.

View from the other side of the bathroom.  Yes, you've got it.
Two toilets in one bathroom!  Hot commodity here!

ACK?! What happened to my lovely blog?!

Somehow I accidentally upgraded my blog to the new interface that blogger is pushing.  What I thought was a preview was actually a permanent change, so bear with me as I deal with this unexpected change...

Sometimes change is good, right?

Here are some jellies at the National Aquarium, if it helps.  (I know it helps me...)