Ritual glyphs

Sketching out ideas for hand drawn backdrops...

In keeping with the 'Man who fell to earth' / 70's films / occultism theme I was thinking of star glyphs...

The drawing of these will form part of the performance; either sat in the circle or it framing a backdrop...

A solitary candle

Loving the bandaged eye get up in Black Star.

The next series in 'Just Waves on Space' will use sellotape to create masks...great minds think alike!

© 2015 Black Star - David Bowie

Studio build: Expressionist bookshelves?

Studio furnishing begins... a few free moments utilised to install some new KALLAX bookshelves...

OK its a picture of a bookshelf...I know exciting right! but its an achievement to get these in when time is in short supply, this is why I appreciate this blog which has been invaluable during these arty doldrums, validating and documenting the studio build, which is integral to my practise moving forwards.

The interior of these studios have been designed to be spacious and multi-functional. It is literally a white cube dedicated for photography but can double as an office or summerhouse. The entrance being more homely with a sofa and this bookshelf, that now groans with all our art books, a record player and my entire vinyl record collection.

Of course I still continue to sketch book and have a schedule of work planned; but not until these studios are finished and I have my time back...all I can say is it involves sellotape.

Studio build: The black lodge

New rug for the studios...channelling a little bit of Twin Peaks.

Black lodge - Twinpeaks

Studio build: The blinding whiteness of the tundra

I've finally completed the interior construction and white-washing of our new studios / office / summerhouse and I seem to have replicated the white room from THX 1138.

Time restrictions created delay after delay and the winter made drying off of plaster especially difficult.

Admittedly it is a little stark; well actually very stark, walls surprisingly blending in with ceiling and floor... the effect is gloriously disorientating but I've still to install some home comforts, paint one entire wall orange, put in some book shelves, mirrors, rugs, a big red sofa; all of which will eventually provide much needed colour and kill the feeling of an infinite expanse.

Time is as always limited hence the delays and intermittent schedule. However once finished this studio will unfold new horizons. I've been critical of myself during this time for pouring so much of what free time I do have into this build; when I could be making art.

To that I remind myself that my time (for art) is limited; many others do manage it but not without some sacrifice. For myself that's unacceptable which is why I've built these studios as they will allow me more immediacy and flexibility.

Studio build: Mirrors maketh a studio

A weekend break at Birmingham's Rotunda hotel and I find our room reflects my plans for a circular mirror for the studio.

This will look fabulous...

I can't wait to get started on this but there's still lots left to do before I can begin on decor.

Studio build: Night painting

Its been a busy couple of weeks in our new studios as interior construction continues.

As I'm doing all this work myself I have had to take time off work, my leave consumed obtaining materials, putting in insulation, plastering, electrics etc and to be able to complete on time and with all my leave gone; I've had to resort to building at night.

All easy work just deceptively time consuming...

Its at times like this that I wish I had paid out more so that everything would have been built months ago,  however I keep reminding myself that by doing all this work I have saved thousands... but it is taking forever as time is something I don't have a great deal of, thanks to full time work.

Frustrating.

I've now begun white-washing after installing the ceiling, walls and floating floor, backbreaking but satisfyingly affordable. Walking around this white cube at night I'm surprised by how incredible it now looks, there's so much potential here.

It's also surprisingly warm inside and on these starry nights I can see us relaxing in here at some point with a nice bottle of the old splishy-splashy.

It's all bleeding coming together.

Studio build: Jovian walls

Beautiful but dangerous...having a cup of tea whilst admiring the wall, ceiling and floor 'insulation' I've installed into our new studios.

The installation was easy and by doing this myself I've shaved 2/3 thirds of the overall cost of this build. Shame to cover it all up...

This essentially consisted of several inches of heat reflecting foam insulation in the roof and floor and standard loft insulation in the walls, all picked up at my local DIY store. Every inch is also sealed in a weather membrane and I've coated the exterior in more weatherproofing paint. The actual building was also pressure treated.

All of this is really just to reflect as much heat as possible during the summer, otherwise I've got myself a human oven.

Secessionist

A lovely recollection of Egon Schiele: The Radical Nude - The Courtauld Institute of Art exhibition we went to not long ago.

A favourite artist and a great inspiration for my practice.

Book in a box

A nice reminder of an earlier idea for the publication of Just Waves In Space...loose pages inside a box...

B. S. Johnson 'The Unfortunates' 1969

Studio build: Choosing window frame colour...

Outre` Orange!

Studio build: Love is the devil…the building of studios…

© Love is the Devil – Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon - Artificial Eye

Its been such a long time being without studios and as such my arty energy was redirected into parenting or assimilated by the day job, hence my absence from this blog...

That was until a sizeable plot was uncovered in our garden and it seemed only logical to take advantage of and build our own studios. 

The obvious benefits would be I'd save on studio rent, expand the family home but most importantly it would provide an immediate space for creativity whenever time became available. 

For blog continuity construction began some time ago hence my absence, with ground-breaking taking forever to complete, due to various delays but mostly my own insistence on staying within budget; but thankfully the foundations and main build are now completed and we're the happy owner's of a very spacious, buildings regs compliant and rather cheeky modernist looking home studio situated at the end of our garden. So I'm just checking in to acknowledge that I am still alive and active...

But its far from complete.

The studio interior still needs building and as I opted to do this myself to reduce the overall costs considerably (insulation,  electrics, cladding, plastering) so there's no glossy photos just yet...again time is my ever present nemesis, my biggest obsticle, full time work exhausts me mentally, and I have little free time aftwards and I'm not the sort of person to sacrifice family time which for me over-rides my art-practise; hense why these projects take such...time.

But I'm no longer in any rush, I'm a happy new farther with a swell new studio and in no hurry.

I'll post more...I promise...