Dream Studio

Timothy C. Tyler · 05-01-2002, 08:59 PM

I would welcome some input from you all on this. I'm thinking about building a studio with a focus on painting figures and portraits. My present studio is not bad but works better for making small landscapes large and it's great for still lifes. My skylights are too low.

I'd really enjoy hearing what you know about the studios of artists of 100 years ago like Gerome, Bouguereau and Waterhouse. Clearly these guys enjoyed constant light that was adjustable. I have a wall of north light right now but that doesn't provide overhead "Rembrant" lighting that I see in their work.

True and constant light that one can adjust is my hope. A 20 ft. sq. skylight and 20' ceilings sounds like a good idea. What happens when the natural light changes? I hope you'll have lots of great ideas for me. Thanks Tim

Chris Saper · 05-05-2002, 03:24 PM

Hi Tim,

There's quite a bit of discussion under the Studio & Equipment topic, perhaps less about old studios, and more about building a studio today...20 ft ceilings! Wow!

Chris

Lon Haverly · 05-06-2002, 12:01 AM

Sheesh - dream studio! ONLY in my dreams! My mall studio is really pretty decent - as it has 35 foot ceilings and huge skylights! And every kind of indoor light. But I submit that I only have 100 square feet of space to work in!!!! Ha ha! Enough for two chairs, a drawing table, and maybe an occasional oil easel. I think the ideal studio would have skylights as well as picture windows that can be closed with blinds if the sun was too bright, and opened when it need to be lighter.

Lon

Debra Norton · 05-06-2002, 12:31 AM

Tim,

Check out the Cowdisley forum - Virgil Elliot, they've had some studio discussion over there.

Debi

William Whitaker · 08-09-2002, 10:56 PM

Tim,

Your dream studio should be about 30 feet along the north side and about 24 feet deep. Ceilings should be about 20 feet high. Floor should be wood. Your north window should be centered and start about five feet off the floor and go to the ceiling. It should be 10 or 12 feet wide. It should be equipped with blackout blinds so you can adjust the light.

You want a location where nothing outside your window casts reflected light back in. No nearby buildings with white walls or metal roofs! Big trees with lots of sky above make the best studio window neighbors, just as long as the trees are not too close.

A window is better than a skylight. I've had both. Actually, skylights are fine. I'm just being picky.

While you're at it, add a fireplace and a grand piano.

Presto! Studio heaven.

Bill

Cynthia Daniel · 08-10-2002, 02:17 AM

Bill,

In your post about a model's stand, I became curious about your studio. I saw wooden floors and walls painted what appeared to be a dark gray. Is it a dream studio? Do you think it might be worthwhile to post some photos of it for the benefit of others?

Peggy Baumgaertner · 08-10-2002, 09:55 AM

Two more things I would add, sink and counter space, and a separate storage and office space. All that clutter kills the ambiance, which brings us to how to create ambiance.

Look at the Victorian studios to see how to make your studio comfortable.

1) Oriental carpets, (cheap imitations at K-mart, warm up the room, give it class and you're not afraid to drop paint on them).

2) Trees and house plants - plastic is fine, but have one real one - cleans the air.

3) Casts and sculptures - Now we're talking!

4) Paintings and drawings on the wall to the ceiling!

5) Books!

6) Easels! I have four, including the massive Hughes easel and the Richeson easel.

7) Comfy chairs, Russian scarves, oriental screen (to hide a variety of un-cool stuff)

8) Real antiques, I have Rembrandt and Whistler etchings.

9) Climate control and a great music system.

Do I have a "dream studio"? No, but I have a working studio. Your studio must be the most comfortable room in your life. It has to be the place you want to go to, not the place you have to go to.

Peggy

Mari DeRuntz · 08-10-2002, 08:25 PM

Peggy's list has everything I would love (except she forgot to mention the dogs laying here and there, as they are in this photo from Artist Magazine, of Marshall Bouldin's studio.)

I'd be very interested in pictures of the working studios of painters listed on this site. Anyone have anything they don't mind posting?