Ready to Begin
Although there’s a lot to still unpack and sort, I’m happy to report that the new studio is now in a functional state. But, of course, each and every part of the process involved in painting will now require further planning or building of the space’s details. To begin, I’ll need to make a panel, …
A Chapel in the Clutter
Although many boxes are yet to unpack here in the studio, the chapel has come far enough along that it can be used for daily prayer. As an artist, the clutter of things yet unplaced doesn’t bother me. More importantly, the presence afforded by the unpacked icons, which have been hung on the wall, is …
Ready to Make Colour
Creating pigment colours from the earth, either from local rocks and clay or semi-precious minerals from afar, is a part of the painting process that is a meditative joy to me. Having my grinding table set up (along with all the beautiful glass mullers I’ve collected over the years) gives me a sense of something …
Beginning to Fill the Space
While everything still feels either lost or simply part of a big mess, it is a joy to begin to bring the studio’s working desks and pigments into the new studio space.
First Door
One of the exciting architectural bits I found in the local Restore was a set of 8-foot doors made of solid wood. Hanging such beasts took a lot of effort (and ordering special ball-bearing hinges to hold them!), but I like having them for this new space as they give me a sense of having …
Beginning the Chapel
Amid the crazy task of cleaning out the studio’s old barn in Conestoga, I had to deal with many beautiful architectural bits I’d collected over the decades. I found it an arduous task to perform, and by the end, I was feeling pretty confused about the significance of many of the pieces. Some were gifted, …
Laying Down the Flooring
Finding flooring that would stand up to the unforgiving environment of the new studio was a really big challenge. After visiting many shops, it seemed clear that the only good option was industrial laminate flooring because it is stable during temperature fluctuations and durable. While I already miss walking on wooden floors, for now, this …
Painting the Walls
Before laying the final flooring, it seemed like a good idea to paint the walls of the new space. I’m excited to see how this brightens and completes the area.
Installing the Subfloor
The garage where the studio is being created is built on a solid concrete pad. One of my significant concerns about working out here is that it could get icy on my feet once winter comes. After weighing many options, I decided to try an installed subfloor made to be placed down on the concrete. …
Reimagining the Ceiling
The original drywall in the old garage was probably hung about 30 years ago and never finished. Most of it has weathered fairly well, but the sheets on the ceiling were sagging badly and needed a creative solution. What you see here was my son Michael’s idea. Using some 1×4 spruce, he screwed each length …
Building Walls in Studio
It turned out that there was more work to be done in our new home than I had thought, so working on the new studio space had to be put on hold for the month of July. But, as of this week, creating a new studio has begun in earnest. As you can see, my …
New Studio Space (coming soon …)
We’ve arrived in Penhold, a little town just outside Red Deer in the province of Alberta. For the time being, I’ll be continuing my work by transforming the garage behind our new home into a studio. While I’ll be the first to admit that I miss the size and beauty of the old barn in …