Recently we had a standard looking rural back yard…chooks, mown weeds and a fence to keep the kangaroos, wombats, emus and deer out…..nothing too extravagant, but all rather tidy. Now we have a new studio and a bomb site, plus the aforementioned other things. I know, I know…..last year I blogged about my (then) new studio….but I outgrew it and Nicky needed more working space too. So now, at great cost to the establishment, we have a purpose built studio big enough to cater for the large hyperrealism canvases I work on….and Nicky has her corner too. Happy partner, happy life!
It is a joy to just walk downstairs, say hello to the king parrots and enter my sanctuary. But, as with all renovations, there is mess and rubble to sort in the aftermath. Nicky, being a keen renovator and gardener is taking care of that front with minor comments from me. We have had some paving done, planted more garden (of course) and will continue to work on it once the heat of summer has passed. In the meantime I am now all set up and able to accommodate larger works with ease. And, having had to move my gear in, I can now – temporarily - find stuff!
As part of the moving-in process I have had to promise to be more tidy – those who know my work style will smirk at this….I thrive in mess, it’s all part of my creative process (or so I tell people). Nicky is muttering darkly about putting up a curtain if my painting mess invades her clean and tidy workspace, but I will try! I have pointed out that Francis Bacon had a bigger creative mess in his studio – but it does nothing to placate my partner in art. The problems of being a misunderstood artist…….
As an aside to all the studio news, what you may not know is that we also run a ski lodge at the base of Mt Buller in north-eastern Victoria (www.mtbullerhouse.com). A few minutes up the road is the entry to the Mt Buller and Mt Stirling ski fields, so we are booked out during the ski season. During the rest of the year we run the Lodge as a Bed and Breakfast…. So if any artists wish to visit us and stay, we can book you in…..and you can get a free tour of Gang Gang studio - named in honour of the Gang Gang Cockatoos who call our garden home. Indeed many of our guests are fascinated to learn I am an artist and enjoy a tour around my studio as part of their alpine holiday. So if you want to come and stay and check out my current work and studio, you are very welcome!