tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post8920454364023950458..comments2023-04-03T04:06:10.733-07:00Comments on Catherine Carter's Art Blog: How I came to love my basement studio at home: a documentaryCatherine Carterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00436800214622635920noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-3194336473082121692010-08-20T06:46:52.882-07:002010-08-20T06:46:52.882-07:00Thank you, Amy, although I was so lucky that the l...Thank you, Amy, although I was so lucky that the landlords had built those terrific shelves, and that they happened to be big enough for paintings. (Your average shelf wouldn't have been.) That was the key, because it enabled me to combine a workspace and a storage space.Catherine Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436800214622635920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-47118323074905733512010-08-19T20:55:35.461-07:002010-08-19T20:55:35.461-07:00This is so helpful and inspiring to see your works...This is so helpful and inspiring to see your workspace! I'm trying to use our lower level as a painting space, and you've given me a lot of good ideas about how to make it more functional. You are clearly a superb organizer!Amy Okayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03680263805070394233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-50952078686481013892010-08-19T06:04:32.224-07:002010-08-19T06:04:32.224-07:00Stephanie, that studio sounds like extremes of goo...Stephanie, that studio sounds like extremes of good and bad, but it did cause you to focus. So glad you enjoyed the post.<br /><br />The social aspect can be great, Lynette, but I figure you can always have a plan to go to openings and shows to make sure you're getting out and meeting with other artists once you're working from home.<br /><br />Adria, I always found that the people I wanted to see at the studio weren't around, and the people I didn't want to see were always "dropping in" and I was too shy to tell them I had to get back to work. Your situation sounds ideal.Catherine Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436800214622635920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-31395178421562264732010-08-19T05:11:22.432-07:002010-08-19T05:11:22.432-07:00I love my basement studio. It has worked wonderful...I love my basement studio. It has worked wonderfully for me for over 20 years. I feel so fortunate not to have to pay rent. I do miss the potential for comraderie in the hallways and easy studio visits, but the benefits easily outweigh the disadvantages.Adria Archhttp://www.adriaarch.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-76191848539817706752010-08-19T04:50:37.813-07:002010-08-19T04:50:37.813-07:00Catherine what a terrific studio! I covet your set...Catherine what a terrific studio! I covet your setup!! Though I currently rent in a very nice space, the downsides for me outweigh the positive ones. My basement is not very conducive to a studio but I'm going to look at it again... Your windows rock, as does your yard!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-6709441554698008872010-08-18T20:07:44.395-07:002010-08-18T20:07:44.395-07:00I also did the rented studio thing for a few month...I also did the rented studio thing for a few months. It was behind a friend's shop, and I was able to sell some work from walk-in collectors. It got me out of the house; a change of scenery helped me to focus on the work only- not the laundry and such. I enjoyed being in a downtown setting. I enjoyed being able to stop work and chat with the shop's customers, and my dear friend in her shop.<br /><br />The downside: I had to carefully plan my studio time instead of being able to paint late at night, or in my PJs. I missed that. Also the building's landlord did not provide running water (this was in the Caribbean, which might explain), so I was always carrying in jugs of water for washing brushes. Because it was behind my friend's business, I had to take care when walking through with larger materials and art, and I couldn't get paint on the floor. I couldn't listen to my own music during business hours.<br /><br />When the landlord decided to kick us out to give the space to a local relative, it was actually a good thing. I missed the space, but it forced me to rethink what I needed in a studio. <br /><br />I now have a converted garage at home, and it is perfect. When people ask where I paint, I offer the same answer as Martha.<br /><br />Great post, Catherine. Many artists dream of such a studio as yours. Well done.Stephanie Claytonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13208066564509737843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-15255487413509395072010-08-18T19:31:48.798-07:002010-08-18T19:31:48.798-07:00It definitely feels right for my peace of mind, Ia...It definitely feels right for my peace of mind, Ian, and that's a good point about less driving being an energy-saver and good for the environment!Catherine Carterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00436800214622635920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-46148650365213505212010-08-18T15:09:17.305-07:002010-08-18T15:09:17.305-07:00It's a good looking well organized space Cathe...It's a good looking well organized space Catherine. Your doing a lot of things right - both for yourself (peace of mind) and the environment (less driving) - and you can work anytime.Ian MacLeodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12156358530437628328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-66661589198202210212010-08-18T05:31:26.154-07:002010-08-18T05:31:26.154-07:00Catherine, I did the rented studio thing for sever...Catherine, I did the rented studio thing for several years. It turned out that I had a very difficult time driving the half hour to the rented warehouse studios, and began to find more and more excuses why I couldn't go right then. And the working conditions were less than ideal to say the least. Though the lighting was awful, I persisted, because I loved the fact that visitors to the building were my growing collector base.<br /><br />Finally I had to rework my garage so that it could be a nice big studio. The bonus was, as you mentioned, that I could wake up and run paint in my pj's, or any other time that inspiration would hit. And now that we've moved to another state, we were able to look for a house that already had a ready-made space, which is lovely.<br /><br />When people ask me where I paint, I say that I have a studio in my home. Period.Martha Marshallhttp://artistsjournal.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582470877898434732.post-83479607486598021872010-08-18T05:23:18.284-07:002010-08-18T05:23:18.284-07:00I also tried the group artist studio for a few yea...I also tried the group artist studio for a few years but much prefer my basement arrangement. My mistake was not incorporating more art space when we divided up and finished the large space. We seldom use the carpeted, livable area and it's become a catchall for stray paintings, etc... not good for living and not really studio storage. Love all your shelves!Karen Jacobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01316270072956883280noreply@blogger.com