New Art Studio!

Holy cow, it's been a long while since I posted. I went though a period of no computer, when I had to do everything on my phone. I don't know how all these young'uns do it all on their phone, but I have no patience for that tiny screen! So I lost my blogging mojo. But I have still been working on my art and at the shop, and cool things have been happening!

For one thing I was juried in to the Pontiac Community Art Center. I can be a bit of a hermit..well, a lot of a hermit, and this has me stepping out and meeting a wonderful community of artists here in our town. I even have a studio space upstairs, where I have been spending quite a bit of time over the last month or so. As you can see I have a window, and it's north facing....lovely light. John Fitzgerald is the artist in charge of the studio spaces and that is his beautiful large painting on the wall and his painting spot on the left.  If you live in Pontiac, or get a chance to visit, you should definitely stop by the Pontiac Community Art Center and check out all the wonderful artwork by local artists!

The art center was a 1960s insurance office, and it looked it when they bought the building, but the members worked, and are working so hard to transform the building. This winter they added heat and a restroom to the space upstairs, which makes it soo much nicer to work up there! They also repurposed much of the old woodwork from when it was the Busy Bee Cafe many, many years ago...keeping the history of the building on site, and used in a new way!

While I've been organizing and moving supplies from home to the studio, I have found things like this drawing of the cowboy motel which I made a few years ago, and it got lost in the shuffle. There are lots of benefits to getting things in order....or at least better order.

Wow...I have an art studio!

 I have a cute little 9.5x9.5 room off of my living room. When I moved here, anytime we couldn't figure out where something went, it ended up there.....so it was a heap, and I've never had it set up to use. Last night I sorted though things, and made myself a little art room.

I bought this large easel at an estate auction a few years ago. It was in a big old house that had a lot of great arty things. It's oak and extremely sturdy and on of my best ever finds! I didn't think I'd win it at the auction, but I ended up getting it for just 65 dollars. For a while I had it in the shop displaying paintings, and I've had several artists come in and make me very good offers, but I want to see if I like working large before I sell it. It would cost a lot to replace it, and I have a feeling that I just might love making large paintings.

 This is a little railroad hat/coat rack. Very cute, and it makes for good storage with the bags hanging there.

 Last summer I found the 7up box with my name on it (literally!) and it stores scraps of papers that I use in mixed media pieces. The lunch boxes hold stamp carving supplies, and stamps.

 I love this little table I bought from another dealer at Old City Hall Shoppes in Pontiac. The enamel top cleans up real well after painting.

 The top piece is by an Brandi Evans of Dowagiac, Michigan. The bottom one is by me :D

 More little drawers and cubbies picked up at flea markets.

 Canvases...some are painted up with backgrounds and ready to be transformed.

 Here's the top of my little table. Love the red! Another organizer made from part of an old tool box.

 This is a big old cupboard...taller than me, that I found on the curb. When we got it home, we realized it must be pretty old, as it's all put together with square nails. The doors were missing when we found it, so we added more shelves and I painted the inside with chalkboard paint.

I am so used to working at the dining room table, that it might take some getting used to to start working in here.  After this busy weekend, I'll be trying it out!

Studio/Office

This is my little studio/office/dressing room. I just finished the curtains for this room tonight. I'm loving this little room now that I'm getting it into usable shape. It's very cozy.

Right through that door is the downstairs bathroom....great for cleaning out paint brushes! Behind where I stood to take this picture is a couple of big bookshelves full of art supplies and office supplies...and books! Maybe I'll get a pic of that tomorrow.