Mixed Medium Workplace

Working with mixed mediums adds dimensions to the challenges of being an artist. For me, the work space is the first place to minimize a few of the challenges. Be comfortable where you work. Consider how much time you use it, and what processes you will undertake. Also bear in mind you can't possibly do it all in one life time, so much the less likely to do it all well. Do more with less, is a good motto...borrowed from a friend.

My workspace is broken up. Stone, wood, clay, and plaster in 2 bays of the garage workshop. Painting and clean studio at the Everett Art Annex building. I gave up welding, except for my jeweler's torch. Hot work is also in the garage. Shop surfaces include a large, long table of rough wood, about 7'x 3', and a 15' bench. Tool boxes are stored under and over the bench. Open gorilla shelving holds materials I use often. Two crates of stone occupy one corner, with several large boxes of rattan and gourds on top. A utility sink is near the interior door. A five drawer chest, and two smaller jeweler benches live just a few steps west. Downsizing to this from a 35 x 48 converted foaling barn was painful, but beneficial.

Time is a commodity. I paint more than sculpt, at the moment. I spend 6-8 hours 5 days a week as gallery manager and teacher so I can afford to work as an artist for what I hope is an equal amount of time. But, that means 12-16 hour day.  6-9 daily hours as an artist are divided between study, process, and marketing. Some weeks predominately creating, other times marketing, always learning and pondering. I do other things, of course. There is some cross-over, thankfully, which allows me to gather with friends and acquaintances for a drink or coffee, yammer about grandkids, art and opportunities, or engage in a heated debate about the price of eggs. (One day we will solve all the worlds ills, if we can just agree on how to go about it.)