Friday, January 1, 2016

Happy New Year!

 I gotta say, 2015 was not my favorite and I am glad to see it go. It was not all bad, though. My mini resin Moxie was a huge success and allowed us to take some time off to remodel part of our house into a proper studio space for me. For the last 15 years I have worked in a very small and very uninspiring spare bedroom that connected to an even smaller and even less inspiring second spare bedroom. In between was the most ugly avocado green 70's bathroom you could imagine. Visitors would says things ranging from "ugh" to "it's not so bad". This was where all my time was spent, I felt like an old time photographer peeping through the lens trying to make something beautiful while blocking everything else out with a black out cloth.

 A kind relative remarked that my bathroom was "retro and fashionable". She was just trying to be nice I think. 

It felt SO GOOD to rip all this out and haul it to the dump! Not the kitties though, we kept the kitties.

Demolition complete! At this point I am not ashamed to admit that in my nativity that I thought it would be done in a few weeks. You'd think I'd know better after an entire adult life of remodeling projects. You'd think.

Window holes! Window holes! Window holes! And a 16.2 palomino. And Todd.

About 6 weeks later, taping and mudding. I am starting to understand the look my husband gives me when I say things like "we could do that, right? It would only take a few weeks....right?" Thankfully this is The Last Big Project......right?
As of today, January 1, it looks like I can move back in in about a week, but then again I am horrible at guessing how lo things take in reality, obviously. Todd is applying the last few coats of polyurethane on the floor today, then it needs to cure for a day, then we can install the baseboard, heaters, caulk, and touch up paint. I am so excited and looking forward to getting back to my art! The first project will be Mini Khemo. That is right, you heard it here, Mini Khemo, possibly by the end of January. Big Khemo is off being scanned as I type. After that will be a new sculpt mini, maybe by late spring. There is also an exciting ceramic project with Joan Berkwitz in the works.
 




5 comments:

timaru star ii said...

I never thought, when I visited, those rooms would be historic. It must be so wonderful to have space. Looking forward to whatever happens next!

Celeste said...

Happy New Year! Your new studio looks incredible and will be such a beautiful space to work in for you. I love the photo collage, but the kitty helpers have to be some of my favorites, Thank you for sharing this project with us.

Unknown said...

So do we get to see new pics? since mini Khemo is out it must be done and your moved in? Lets see! And i am so Jealous I have always wanted a real studio or even a room just for my art which I don't have right now, its more like my whole house which is tiny is my studio. I just live in my studio lol.. but that room looks really nice and the light is beautiful there! I so want to see it all done and you moved into it. Maybe well see some peaks of things your working on too? lol

Xebeche said...

I only wish I had it all set up and was actually creating new art in it :) So far what I did was put my ugly old banquet tables back in so I can clean castings and get mini Khemo ready. I am still weeks away from having the time to really think about how I want it set up, and what type of work surfaces/storage will be best for me. Maybe months.....I think I am going to be cleaning castings until summer :) Ha! I am just chomping at the bit to make new stuff.....must clean castings...must make molds. I need an employee :)

Unknown said...

Oh! lol you know I did think of that. will she put those old tables back or get new cool ones! So yea darn it..I bet your chomping I would be too! But I guess you need to do the castings cleaning if you want the money to buy new tables and storage with. I was looking thru some neat work tables on the pointers boards that show peoples art studios. man there are some nice ones out there and some of the work stations are so nice! I wish I could win a lottery! lol Id have the coolest studio ever! with a room for ceramics and one for casting and one just to sculpt in with room to do something large if I wanted! lol. Oh and I sw you have a new sm out and one of my very favorite cults of yours too! I will be ordering one eventually when I have some money. Im so broke right now I cant see straight lol.. got some things almost ray to sell though Just finished a piece today now I have to paint it and it will be all profit! I could sell it unpainted but man I really wanted to paint it. I also need to get the big Andre done too. I have him half done. He is moving a little differently and has a winter coat! I wanted to paint it and sell him painted but I may end up doing it unpainted. I guess it depends on how broke I am when I get him done. But he is next on the table to get done. I will post him on my Facebook when he is done and flag you so you can see. Well I hope you will share pics of your strip when you do get it all put together! and ck out some of the pinterest art studio boards to get ideas. Most are for painters but I saw a few sculpting ones too.