A View From the Easel
“I feed pistachios to neighborhood crows and jays.”
Welcome to the 338th installment of A View From the Easel, a series in which artists reflect on their workspace. This week, Kevin Callahan marks three years in his studio after losing his partner of 39 years and moving to a new home. He still finds reasons to smile as he paints and draws under the California sun.
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.
Kevin Callahan, Oakland, California
How long have you been working in this space?
Three years.
Describe an average day in your studio.
I’m an early riser and usually am out working around 9am. My morning starts with NPR programming and I eventually shift to music. I use a speaker and listen to music I have on a personal playlist (it’s huge).
How does the space affect your work?
I lived in San Jose with my partner in the same house for 33 years. He died suddenly just before the pandemic in November 2019. I had rented studio spaces in San Jose over the years and usually had somewhere around 400 square feet in former canneries. In trying to work out how my life would go forward, I made home upgrades. To speed up the process, I elected to move out. I had been interested in the East Bay and decided to rent an Airbnb, and by luck, it was in the Temescal area of Oakland.
Long story short, I fell in love with this area, sold the San Jose property, and bought a home in Temescal. I wanted a home with an on-site studio. With less space available to me, I have reduced the size of the work I produce by quite a lot. I like to think that my paintings and drawings are little jewels. It has been an adjustment, but I find that it is working for me.
How do you interact with the environment outside your studio?
I feed pistachios to neighborhood crows and jays. They are relaxing around me some now. It’s great. I’ve engaged with NIAD in Richmond and Kala Art Institute in Berkeley.
What do you love about your studio?
It’s mine. I don’t have to deal with a building manager anymore. I can work outside most days.
What do you wish were different?
I don’t think I have an answer for this question. It has taken quite a while to accept my life without my partner of 39 years, but I find many reasons to smile these days.
What is your favorite local museum?
The Oakland Museum is a fine institution. Then, of course, there is San Francisco.
What is your favorite art material to work with?
I bounce back and forth between oil paints and various inks. I can’t say enough about Sennelier’s shellac-based inks!
