When we started this journal I didn't realize that there was so little time. We expected to have the studio completed last week but seems like everything takes much longer than we anticipated. I know they say that time speeds up as you get older and I tend to think that there is something to it.

I guess it was last week, or maybe the week before, I cant seem to keep track of time these days, one day just bleeds into the next. We attended the gallery opening of a new gallery in Laurel called Caron Gallery South, it was a lot of fun and something we really need here in laurel. There are a lot of creative types here and so many new people have been moving in, probably mostly due to Home Town. I think it is a positive thing and as far as I can see so do the locals who are so gracious and welcoming, we truly have never met nicer people than you will find here in Laurel. Then last Friday we were invited to a big party at Danny Rasberry's home, such fine people. It was a party for Home Town and fans of Home Town, we felt privileged to be invited. It's a funny thing being on Home Town we get treated like local celebrities, but really we are just like anybody else. It was a festive occasion with a live band, delicious food fresh off the grill, and an open bar. Danny's house was featured in season 5.

At Caron gallery, with Lily and Adam Trest and Caron.

Party at Danny Rasberry’s with friends Yahama and Yadira.

I know I said it had been seven months without a studio space in our last post but I realized today that we are actually going on our 11th month! Yes, time flies. I really thought the day would never arrive, its been a lot of hard work but I couldn't be happier with the final product. We worked with Chris Handcock construction who did a fine job. As it was a two-car garage I thought it would be great to remove one door and install a set of French doors on one side, I pair that was removed from the house, they used to separate the living room from the dining room and who doesn't love a French door, it seemed like it would be a shame not to re-use them. On the other side, I wanted to install a new garage door to make it easier for the removal of bigger canvases or sculptures. On the south wall I envisioned a long narrow window at the top along the ceiling to let more natural light in but in the end we decided against this as it would mean cutting into the structure and perhaps, weakening the integrity of the structure.

In the end, we decided on doing away with the garage door and adding a big plate glass window to let more natural light it. The interior has big vaulted ceilings, we originally were going to add some beams to add some architectural detail but in the end, we did away with them, I wanted the space to be as clean and open as possible.

late nite trying to scrape old paint off of the French doors. Never paint latex over enamel, never!

There are always so many decisions to be made when designing a space and an art studio has particular needs. Once sheetrock went up we constructed a ceiling beam which had to be wide enough to accommodate a ceiling fan. If you live in the south you will understand the need for a ceiling fan, it's not just a decoration but provides needed airflow and cooling during the hot humid summer months. With lots of sweat and determination, we managed to build and install the beam ourselves, which I thought was a massive achievement, being that it was big and heavy and only the two of us. I knew that I wanted the studio to be white but there are a million shades of white to choose from. I was looking for something neutral, not too warm and not too cool, same goes for the lights I won't bore you with technical details, but there are many great modern options to choose from. If I'm being honest I got a lot of great ideas from our dear friend Rhonda, she just built a new studio next to her home, it's an amazing space, probably twice the size of my studio. I needed function more than anything, after years of makeshift studios and trying to find things, organization was top of the list. I painted the floor with patio paint and added Dried paint flakes in shades of black white and gray, its a technique called terrazzo, actually my brother Austin recommended it. It's great in covering imperfections and hides a multitude of sins.

Painted floor in progress with terrazzo paint flakes.

Outside view with french doors and new windows.

Well its getting late and there is still much more to say. Next week we will talk about creating storage and finishing things up in addition to our open studio party!

One Mississippi

Two Mississippi

A Place of My Own