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Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts

Thursday, May 8, 2014

BEFORE & AFTER: STUDIO




BEFORE:
February 2011
First view of 3rd floor, future studio space
    The 3rd floor of this Hawthorne house was logically the best space for our bonus rooms (studio spaces and guest room).  Personally I was eager to have my art studio under the same roof as my living space but it was going to require some creative effort to turn this rather dark space into a functional and cheerful spot.  When we purchased the house in March 2011 I knew I would be giving up 50% of the studio space I enjoyed on Warren Road.  Ouch!  I designed and had constructed the studio on Warren Road....windows on the east and west and 4 skylights for northern and southern light. How could I make this space my new home?  (See progress Here and also Here)

    It took a while to accomodate all that I moved from my original location (thank goodness for small closets in the eaves on 2 sides for storage).  The studio here on Hawthorne Avenue, while not as large, is equally functional and comfortable.

This little sink we found in the backyard and had resurfaced.

                                                                                   
An old CD cupboard ......

                                                                       
gets dismantled and....

                                                                             
...becomes 2 storage units for this....
.....and that.


 

A fabric and sewing area
Painting and reference area

A little bit of collaging taking place



One never knows when she might need popsicle sticks, corks, dominoes, dowels or seashells!


My childhood refrigerator is now a stereo center.
Miss Magnolia has already christened the studio with a painting project for her birthday back in February.


A cluttered but creative space

An old science lab table becomes a mobile work table, backed by my 'wall of screams'.

AFTER:
April 2014 -
A comfortable, user friendly, creative space on the third floor here on Hawthorne Ave.




Wednesday, July 11, 2012

THIS LITTLE LIGHT O' MINE

    With the weather being as hot as it has been, we spent a full day in the AC working on rewiring antique light fixtures.

Work surface
                                                                           
Original brass sconces will return to their places over 2 mantles

Even some of the original glass has survived the years

While the fixtures are still dirty and require some spit and polish, they all are rewired with up-to-date wiring instead of the deteriorated cloth-covered wire used with the old knob and tube wiring.

One particular fixture has given me a supreme challenge.  It is the small chandelier I purchased and cleaned up.  It was missing all it's wiring so we (Donnie and I) were working from scratch on this one.



Each of the 5 arms got individual wires

The candle fitting is re-attached

Wire is split and stripped  

Exposed copper is twisted and soldered

One of the arms gave me the devil.  The tail and the covered wire got stuck inside and broke off.  Nothing I did worked to remove the wire.

(Here is where I search for someone to salvage the project.)

The man of the hour (or actually 2 hours) is Kyle out at Reverie . studio.  Kyle is an artist and an electrical magician in my book.  He not only extracted the knotted up mess I created inside the small chandelier arm but also wired it for me.  I cannot sing enough praises!

This is not the first time Kyle has rescued us during this Hawthorne house project.  Several months ago when the drywall guys STOOD ON MY MANTLE and sent it crashing to the floor, Kyle took our damaged mantle, made a mold of the decorative corbel and used it to repair the damaged corbel.

The surrounding area is a mess but the mantle has been repaired to its original condition....Thanks to Kyle!

Go visit Kyle and the rest of the local artists out at Reverie.  There are loads of great works to add to anyone's eclectic collection.

I purchased this painting when I was out at Reverie!