A View From the Easel
“This space lifts my spirits every time I enter.”
Welcome to the 248th installment of A View From the Easel, a series in which artists reflect on their workspace. This week, artists collect topographic maps, reminisce on art-school hairdos, and peer into other dimensions.
Want to take part? Check out our submission guidelines and share a bit about your studio with us through this form! All mediums and workspaces are welcome, including your home studio.
Richard Heinsohn, Nashville, Tennessee
How long have you been working in this space?
Nine years.
Describe an average day in your studio.
I usually begin working around 9am or 10am, after some coffee, and once reading the news descend into doomscrolling. I have to stretch, look through the clutter into another dimension, and figure out where I left off. Music is a part of the work, so sometimes I'm listening to a soundscape, working on video, or recording. Most often, I'm making an object or a painting. I do listen to podcasts and music occasionally, but usually I need quiet.
How does the space affect your work?
I've had several studios: one in Manhattan and two in Brooklyn, one in a basement. This space lifts my spirits every time I enter. I usually leave the lights off because the skylights are plenty. The light changes constantly but connects me to time's passing in a positive way, despite the obvious reality that it's always slipping away. Since building this space, my work has become more about time itself. Although those seeds were planted in projects dating back to my time in New York, other projects kept emerging. Now I'm focused on temporality with an energy that I feel has in some way come from this space.
How do you interact with the environment outside your studio?
Our neighborhood, East Nashville, has become a fun, walkable destination with lots of eateries, venues, and shops. The art scene here is vibrant and close-knit. We often walk around, run into friends, attend events and art shows, and see music. The nearest gallery is Red Arrow and we often walk to the openings.
What do you love about your studio?
High ceilings and natural light are big features for me, as well as heat and air conditioning. I also love having concrete floors and front and back doors. Most of all, I'm grateful every day for the space itself. It's not a mega studio, but I have room to work.
What do you wish were different?
It's a hard question! That the mortgage were paid? That I owned this space in Brooklyn? Don't get me wrong. I love East Nashville, but I do still miss Brooklyn.
What is your favorite local museum?
Our only full-scale art museum is the Frist. They have a vibrant programming schedule and many events. We are members and see most of the shows.
What is your favorite art material to work with?
Consciousness!
Meredith Nemirov, Ridgway, Colorado
How long have you been working in this space?
Twenty-five years upstairs, three years downstairs.
Describe an average day in your studio.
I start work around 9am, and after a short break for lunch at 1pm, I am back in the studio until 5:30pm. I start by writing the date, time, and day of the week in my notebook, read some previous writing, maybe write, all the while looking at my paintings. Then I am ready to paint. In the late afternoon, I'll catch up on emails.
How does the space affect your work?
I live in a rural area and I really appreciate the quiet in my studio. I am surrounded by trees and they are a big part of my work. I often draw them from the window, or in the yard, and use the drawings for reference for larger works inside.
What do you love about your studio?
I love my new white walls and much better lighting. I like that it is right downstairs from my living space. I also appreciate being able to walk outside and be in a natural environment.
What do you wish were different?
I really need more storage space. It really keeps me from making larger work. We downsized from a house where we raised our son and lived for 35 years to one room above our studios. I also wish I were closer to a city with museums and galleries.
What is your favorite local museum?
The Ute Indian Museum in Montrose, Colorado.
What is your favorite art material to work with?
I love working on all types of paper. The paper can be vintage, like historic topographic maps of Colorado. I work with watercolor, ink pens, and acryla gouache. I also paint with acrylic on cradled wood panels.
James Gouldthorpe, Richmond, California
How long have you been working in this space?
Twenty-two years.
Describe an average day in your studio.
During the first year of the pandemic, I was in the studio by 10am every day and finished by 6pm, listening to the end-of-day news broadcasts. Now that I’m back at work and time is inconsistent, I only have weekends and evenings. I am working on a graphic novel/painting installation set in the ’80s, so I listen to lots of New Wave and punk while I dig through my photos of art school from that time looking for subject matter and unique hairdos.
How does the space affect your work?
It is tight, so making large work is a challenge. I now make large work from small work; a painting installation can be composed of hundreds of smaller paintings. My studio is also cold and leaks from the ground up, which can set a melancholy mood, which gets reflected in the work.
How do you interact with the environment outside your studio?
Outside the door is our garden, which is inviting. Also, our two cats roam free and they are fine with distracting me and demanding attention. Across the street is an expansive park, Wildcat Canyon. When feeling agitated it is a good space to wander.
What do you love about your studio?
It is chaos, but it is my chaos.
What do you wish were different?
More space. Over the years my studios have slowly shrunk in size. Starting at 4,000 square feet 30 years ago to now a one-car garage. But I am grateful to have a studio, though I could do without the rat infestations.
What is your favorite local museum?
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which is also where I have worked in the conservation studio for the past 29 years.
