What is Art and how do you make Art? These questions have been asked for many, many years! Alice Neel, an American Expressionist artist (1900-1984) identified as an ARTIST but her strong independent streak persuaded her to be an individualist. Alice Neel became a “feminist icon” in her 70s! As a female artist during the early and formative years of modernism, Neel was busy living the avant-garde life in Greenwich/Bohemia and making ART.
Alice Neel had many views about being a female painter at a time in America when women were “groomed” to be married, giving birth to babies, and being exclusively a ‘homemaker’. That 20th-century mold did not fit! And in fact, that mold would never fit Alice Neel! For this American feminist artist, Art comprised the following: “a search for a road and a search for freedom.”
Neel embraced the following theory about being an artist/painter/feminist voice: “Nobody knows what makes good art. As an artist, when it happens, you’re grateful, and then you get on with it.” Time was of the essence and Neel, like so many of her fellow artists—both male and female—she wanted to be busy in her studio! Neel advised aspiring artists with comments such as these: “You should keep on painting no matter how difficult it is, because this is all part of experience, and the more experience you have, the better it is…”
An like so many of her fellow avant-garde artists living in NYC/Greenwich Village, Neel recognized early on that she was happiest in her studio. Neel was very protective of her studio time and fought to maximize her creative time above all else. “The place where I had freedom most was when I painted. I was completely and utterly myself….When I was in my studio I didn’t give a damn what sex I was…I thought Art is Art!”
For those of you who have a studio or dream of having a studio, what does the studio mean to you at this stage of your studio practice?
I don’t really have the dream of having an art studio, but I wouldn’t mind having a studio in general. For any career, being stuck at home or in someone else’s office. I’d rather have my own space to do the artwork I want. Having a separate space in order to gather my thoughts is important in the development of my work, and I don’t respond well to being at home or having to come up with ideas in a space I am familiar with.
I think one day it would be awesome to have an art studio because to me that means my work is valid enough to be need its own space. If I have a studio, that means that I am dedicating a huge portion of my life to my art and work and need a dedicated room or building to my creations. Even in my next adventures with living, I would like to dedicate a space to creating, even if this means it’s just a corner in my new place or a shelf. Having a space to encourage creativity and work is such a privilege.
As of now, I don’t have a true studio, but if I had to come up with a dream studio it would be one that overlooked the beach. I think a studio means that it becomes my second home essentially because that is where I am making my art, and that is what I love to do. I also believe having a studio be filled with things I love, whether that is my other hobbies or other art can definitely put me in a zone for motivation 24/7.
I wouldn’t really consider myself a practicing artist as my focus is more on the history aspect of things. But as someone who has made art before, I think that having my own studio would mean a lot. Personally, I like having my own dedicated space. I’m always in need of my own space where I can be unbothered and allows me to be productive. A studio would allow me to do such things and I think it would make me excited and motivated to make art. As Haley said above, it would be an extreme privilege to have such a space as not everyone is afforded such a place.
As of right now, I am currently working from home. My “studio” is my room. Even prior to the pandemic, my “studio” was either working at the studio space provided by UNLV and my room. That being said, I feel like I have grown as an artist these past few years. Not just technically, but conceptually. Working from home at this point in time makes me feel restricted. There are all these distractions. My room is where I do homework, it’s where I sleep, it’s my safe space. So, adding art studio to that list feels like too much. Hearing how Neel felt this freedom when she was in her studio painting is something I’d like to feel because currently I feel like I don’t have that. When making my art, I’m constantly stopping, my train of thought gets lost, and art blocks are frequent. I’d like to have a space separate from my home where I can create and focus on art and not be distracted by other aspects of my life.
Like many people, I consider my studio to be my room. To me, a studio can be anywhere where you are able to create and produce things. My dream career is to be a game designer, so I think I may have to get a real studio eventually. I say may because these times show that people are able to work effectively from home and there are a lot of modes and programs for collaboration and communication. At this point, my work area in my room gets the job done, but I’m not sure if I will need a dedicated space. If I go the solo dev route, I probably won’t.
I do not have a dream of owning a studio or currently having one as an Art History student focusing on more of the appreciation of the arts and their effects on society. My thoughts on a studio are similar to Neel’s. The artist should free comfortable in their space enough to produce works of art that express their individualistic ideas, styles, and culture. I am pursuing intellectual property law, and I hope to help make the dream of owning a studio come true for artists. It should not be a space of only happiness as art comes from all emotions. However, the artists should feel relaxed enough to create art that, just as Neel said, they won’t know if it is “good art” or art that will be famous one day, but they should still have access to the space and technology that allows them to compose such works.
I’ve always dreamed of having a studio and I still hope to have one in the future. I think it’s important to have a safe place to work and create your art. It would beneficial for me to have a studio because it would help me get in the zone and completely focus on my art without other distractions. While I used to paint in the studio at the university, it was easy to get caught up in your work and stay there for hours. I noticed that’s not the case when I’m creating my work from home. It’s much easier to get distracted at home and I also don’t feel as motivated or inspired as I would in a studio.
For me currently my studio is in my bedroom, but I am actively house hunting in search of a place that will make a more welcome space for my future studio. For me this means that I respect my own practice enough that I hope to have a home specifically for this non-living sector of my life. Non-artists will never have a need for a studio, because typically other jobs have a workplace and a clear work-life separation. For artists and a studio this separation is often necessary for mental health because right now I have to see the things I am working on all the way up until I close my eyes for bed. Now this statement may make it seem like I have an aversion to my craft, but really I intend to show my commitment and that I wish to make this separation so that I can successfully continue on my path with my job as an artist.
At this stage in my studio practice, I recollect on all of the printmaking supplies, the paints and canvases, and drawing pads I had hauled from the lockers of UNLV into my bedroom one year ago. However, in the last year, I did add a desk to this mix, and it has immensely improved my productivity. I now have a double monitor set-up that is equally easy to take down and open the desk for my ability to draw and paint traditionally. For me, the studio is my sanctuary. It is my getaway. It is my escape. I do not have to worry about the dirty dishes or the dusty floor or the laundry. Although I will admit creating artwork at home has certainly proved to be difficult, especially when others do not take it seriously, They assume, instead, that the time is spent lounging around and all the hours the computer is on is for nothing. Not that I am tediously trying to create digital art and plans for future artworks. Although this has certainly proved to be one of the more difficult aspects of my studio practice, I find time-managing my working space extremely beneficial. I do not allow myself to begin or continue working after certain times, and I force myself to have leisure moments throughout the day. Likewise, I do tell myself if my energy and the circumstance allow for it, I try to dedicate some extra time to projects I know will take me quite a long time to complete. I do not make art in my bed, and I try not to watch my television from my desk. I believe having a studio being your bedroom is all a principle of mind over matter. Yes, it is very difficult when your academic and personal life are forced to merge into the same space, but it is essentially all about scheduling time to be creative in that space, and time to enjoy this space.
It would be amazing to have a studio in the future as my current studio is essentially my home, or more specifically my room, at the moment. I think having a dedicated space to work on my art and design can help me to better focus on my craft. Working from home has a lot of distractions that I have to deal with at times which can hurt my workflow. This can make it difficult to truly focus on what I’m doing because something might come up in five minutes or five hours. I might get distracted and play some games or take a nap even if I might not be that tired which is problematic in keeping me focused. Even if I get a studio I’d most likely have to deal with some of these issues, but it would still help in my mentality similarly as if I was doing work on campus or in an office. If I ever do get one, hopefully I’ll keep in mind that having a space where I’m able to fully focus on what I’m working on without distractions is a privilege and something I plan to use effectively while I have the opportunity.
My current studio is a room. I use it as a home office as well, and room to chill. In this room, I write about art, I do art, and I relax. I have a desk with a laptop and chair and an easel with an exercise ball, yoga mat, dumbbells. It is more of a fun room or a passion room, but hopefully one day I will have a nice studio. My dream studio is a big apartment or house, but it will happen someday. I dream to be a Gallery owner as well and curating exhibitions, so ideally I can have a Studio and Gallery.
I do dream of having a big studio with lots of natural light and made entirely in my own image, but over the years of kinda just using whatever space was given to me, I’ve realized just how inspiring a studio in motion can truly be. I get very antsy when I’m left to my devices in one space for too long and to be honest, a single environment is just not very inspiring to me. I feel like I truly thrive when my scenery and the things around me are changing. Which is why in the long run I thing my studio would be better fashioned on wheels maybe in a bus or van that way I could take it with me whenever I want!
I actually dream of having my own studio one day! Whether it be big or small, depending what I plan on doing for my main body of work in projects of course. A studio at this stage in my practice means all the freedom and space I have to work on my projects! Definitely having quality time to myself and surround myself with art and mediums I work with to spread around or post on my wall to look at. I want to be able to have a large enough desk to handle my pc and space for any traditional art I do. I’m still learning and working with ne mediums but I definitely wouldn’t mind having a corner for an easel and continue working with oil paints. I’d love to have a cabinet set up with materials I buy along the way and have it at my disposal than having to make many trips to stores for it. It’s something exciting I look forward to and hope that I can have one day! Then go bigger if need be if all is successful.
I feel very blessed to have a studio space in my house that is fully customized to my needs as an acrylic painter. I have improved this studio slowly for the past 8+ years, and at this point I have everything I could need during my process. The space itself is made to paint, I think it carries this vibe of calm and creativity. I have friends who often come art sesh, and they say they feel ready to create and focus in the space. I definitely feel this connection with the space, its almost like a mental trigger when I walk in that I’m ready to work. For me the studio is a place for ideation, problem solving, and execution. In the studio my ideas have no bounds, and then it is just about problem solving how to execute those ideas with all the materials within my space.
I’ve always considered my “studio” to be my tiny desk in my room, which I’ve always loved. Of course I would also love to have a bigger and much more open space, but I feel like I’ve come to just love whatever space I am given so long as I can freely create. Studios are important to artists because, in my view, of the creative freedom they feel being in a space that is all their own. People can and do make great things when they feel they have the space and capacity to do so because they are not limited. Personally, I would love to someday have a studio in my own home that I could turn to when I am feeling extra creative and just want an escape, because that’s what I consider studios to be: an escape.
A studio for me means a place where I can be creative without the pressure of judgement and looking eyes. It is a place where I can truly transcend my own soul and experiences and visions into a place of work that is honestly only for me. The work I produce is for others but the studio and the atmosphere I can create in a moment of that artwork is for me. My ideal studio is a place where I can have music, and a dozen coffee mugs with a coffee maker and open lighting and all different mediums that can be chosen form and creativity can storm through. A studio is important to any artist and means acceptance whether we as artists accept ourselves or not we eventually have to have an escape in our art and that is what makes it so truly relatable but also beautiful.
I have never dreamed of having a studio while creating artworks. However, I do consider both my home and work environment, such as school, as my studio. This is because both environments provide me both the opportunity and resources to create artworks. I have worked on paintings in actual art studios from my previous art classes. Also, I have worked on art projects from home during the pandemic. To me, a studio is a work environment where you can create artworks both comfortably and properly. Also, a studio is a place filled with opportunities to express yourself. In a studio, you can create paintings, graphic design illustrations, sculptures, and other types of art projects in both a safe and resourceful environment. In Art 201, I was able to create oil paints in a safe environment designed to provide both resources to enhance by painting techniques, and safety precautions to prevent both hazards and accidents. A studio is place where artists can develop any type of artwork both peacefully and properly.
As an Art History student, my interests are more towards the historical context of art and how this affects current and future art movements. That being said, an art studio is not my dream but it would be a privilege to have one. Having a personal space dedicated to creativity and art would be wonderful in the future. I can see myself spending a large portion of my free time in a studio, using it as a space to unwind from my day and to express myself freely. It would provide me with a place that I can focus my efforts on creating without outside distractions, as well as being motivating.
I do not have an art studio, but where I keep my art supplies and work on projects is a spare room in the house. It is more of an office room with a desk and TV anyone can use in my parent’s house. When I move out, I hope to get a room in the house where I can finally store all my art supplies in an organized manner since I like to do traditional art which requires a lot of materials. This room of art supplies will be my studio so I don’t have to pay extra rent. It will be where I will exist the most since I know when I do not have any extra work to do for school, I feel the need to create something. This space will be mine and mine alone. I am very protective of my art supplies, so I can imagine that I will be protective of my studio too. I know that I am the boss where I can create what I wish. I have realized that creating work in a bedroom (because of the pandemic) will be tremendously different than creating work in a studio.
A major part about being an architecture student is working in your design studio. The studio space – at least for architecture students – is where our work is done and where our ideas flourish. And more than often, it’s within the design studio that we form friendships with our cohorts and grow as designers together. When we were having in person studio hours – and not these make-shift at home studio spaces – the studio gave us more than enough space to test our ideas and concepts with our peers who were close enough to give us their feedback and interpretations of our progress. The studio really is a second home where we’re able to really find and establish our own personal design identities, with only some criticism here and there.
Studio spaces, as an architecture student are crucial to growth and learning. Echoing what Diane has said studio is a space where you are able to meet peers and like minded individuals, a space to bounce ideas off, a space to laugh, a space to cry, a space to dream big and most importantly a space to create. No matter what medium is being used the studio truly is the home of most things that are created (and like a second home). The culture within the studio is also a really interesting topic; as we share these spaces and there are a lot differing processes from person to person. The at-home studio space that I’ve created is definitely far from ideal but is a treasured space.
I strongly believe when we love to create art, it is important to create specific and distinct boundaries that separate our work from our lives. As an interior architecture student, being in studio is essential to be more creative and effective. Having a separate space for your art and business forces you to move your body from one place to the other and helps reinforce the idea of switching from one gear to the other; so you can create some distance between the two. If you make a habit out of going to a separate space to work, you can train your brain into habitually thinking when I’m in this space, I need to focus on my work. “A place that the ideas flourish”.
Architecture itself is a collaborative field. In school, we spent most of our time in our collective studio, brainstorming, eating, and sleeping there alongside our peers. I think this experience has brought out this sense of camaraderie that I want my future endeavors to have. It’s set up where people can leave you along but also someone could randomly say an idea out loud and five other people will respond and help or critique said idea. I always work best when I get to bounce off my ideas with other people and receive feedback. Thinking of the future, while I’d like a space of my own with plenty of storage to store things, I want it to be open enough to just have that human interaction that makes and helps the art. Buildings are often static but designing one is designing for people so it’s definitely an important component.
Lizbeth Ramirez | Art 474
The studio to me would be my sacred place where all the magic happens. A couple of seconds ago before reading this post, I was thinking about converting my old room at my parent’s house into my little studio space. Currently, I am living with my sister and my studio space is also my room. I have easy access to my bed, so it’s very easy for me to just knock out the second I feel any sort of tiredness. I think that If I was to have my studio space separate from my room, I’d be a bit more productive. It would give me more of a reason to get out of my home and do something other than sleep. So currently my plan, as of today and after reading this post is to do just that. I am a photographer, so I would love to install some different lighting and maybe even a backdrop so I could shoot most of my work in my studio. I would also have space so I could print and develop film and whatnot.
As of now my studio is just my bedroom unless I’m doing a project that needs me to use tools or make something 3D, then most of the time I’m in my room. No matter how I may look at it I do consider my room as a studio of some sorts. I do all my thinking, planning, and executions in there so It has some level of importance to me. However I would very much prefer that I an entirely separate room to do all my artistic work in. Your bedroom should be a place of relaxation and comfort. While I do like drawing and take great joy in doing it, having a room dedicating to the subject would increase my work flow and help organize my supplies a whole lot more.
Currently, I do not have a studio, but I do have my own room where I can work on my projects and such at home comfortably. I’m currently majoring in Graphic Design, so I have no real need for an actual art studio like the ones that many painters have, but the closest thing I think I would prefer to have is an office/studio room that is quiet and is full of natural light. Much like when I am doing homework, I prefer a space where I can focus on what is solely in front of me. Having it be too loud and disruptive is obviously going to throw me off my concentration. I want my studio to be a place that I can feel like a second home. I do not want it to be something I dread, but a place that I can run off to so I can let my own creative inspirations roam free. I want to be able to someday be excited enough to go to work and to come up with new things on my own in a way in what could possibly be “my own world.”
I don’t currently dream of having an art studio, but if I did I would recognize that studio as a place where I can be free to create whatever I want. When you’re alone in a place that’s meant for you to create, you’re free from the opinions of people until the piece is finished. I think having a place like a studio for me would just make me feel as though I have a place I can escape to and create whatever is on my mind; it’s a personal place.
My current studio space is my desk area in my bedroom but I do wish that one day that I’ll have a room where I can solely call it my own studio. Even though I can create on my desk, it is very difficult for me to separate my personal rest time and “creative” time since it is in my bedroom. So having a room where I can sleep in and having a separate room where I can create would be very beneficial to me and help me being more creative in the long run.
I dream constantly of having my own studio. I have a corner in a den shared with my roommates which nice; however, as an aspiring artist I yearn for my own room separate from everyone else. There’s something about creating in a space that’s all your own. It’s like how you dance when no one is watching, or singing in your shower. There’s a tranquility and openness when the space and energy is solely yours . I find myself feeling nervous trying to create when people are watching. My roommate is an accountant, and there is definitely two complete different energies trying to work in the same space. As an artist, there is a “flow” of organized chaos, placing things on the floor or wall, pacing back and forth, even a little bit of crying. There is openness and a sense of self in having a studio.
In comparison; however, I find sharing a space with someone else also creates a sense a confidence, a knowing of your ability to still create while others are present. For me, it makes me nervous, but that is an obstacle I seek to make me stronger and make me a more vulnerable artist. One day I will have my own studio, but I feel that it is something I must earn.
I love Neel’s take on art and gender – my own studio practice has somewhat also been involved with the stereotype of motherhood and how time is “best” used… it’s a fine balance between working in the studio and feeling like the home duties aren’t being neglected. I do have a studio practice, and it is a sacred space. I am making big changes in my life to address the above point – it will be best for me to separate my spaces, and have a studio area that doesn’t affect the quality of my home and my kid’s life (eg with messes galore), so I recently made a big move to facilitate that.
I don’t have a studio but I do have a place where all of my work is created, and it’s just my simple computer desk with enough room for my sketchbook and my digital tablet, but I think the idea is the same. Having a space that is solely commited to being an area of art/creation is pretty much vital to any professional artist. The difference between an average desk space like mine and an art studio is that while I do create works on my desk it is also the are where I do other things such as browse the internet, do homework, play games, etc. There’s a certain “switch” in an artists mind that goes from play to work when one has a specific space that is only meant for one thing to be done, and it’s why the artist’s studio is such an important place.
I’ve managed to make my spare room into a small studio for myself, however, I find that I don’t use it as much as I thought I would. I think it’s because I’ve been making the transition to digital art. Now it just kind of serves the purpose of being in a room that’s not my bedroom in the middle of a pandemic.
I do consider having a studio to be vital to artistry. A dedicated base away from distractions.
Being one of the BFA’s of the year, I had the option of having my own studio at UNLV, but opted against it due to COVID giving me no desire to leave my home. So I guess if I had a dream studio, it would be somewhere where I can opt in or out of interaction with other artists, but I would still enjoy having the option of community, as it is really beneficial for artists. It would be somewhere wholly customizable, so over time as I figured out what I liked I could change it as I pleased.
For me, I would wish to have a personal studio. Nothing fancy just a room for me to store all my thoughts and ideas. I actually am considering trying to get some of my art in the gallery at the Meadows Mall because they work with small artists. Most of physical art pieces I do on my own free time. That is only because I am in graphic design and I am trying to get into digital art.
Having a studio would be something pleasant, but at least for myself it is no requirement. I am a digital artist primarily, so I really just need a cozy place and a laptop. I think if I did have a studio it could be cool though. I could produce more robust physical art and perhaps work more on clay and print out big spreads. I am someone who is pleased with having very little.