(Outside entrance to my glass studio in the warm summer weather.)
Last Saturday, I hosted Studio Saturday on Art Bead Scene. It was a quick post since the winter weather freezes me out of my unheated studio every year. So rather than gear up when everyone else is, I'm not able to reliably sustain a production level for the holidays. Lead time is moved out 2-3 weeks because the temperature has to be above 35 degrees to be able to work. In the Northeast, we can go 2-8 weeks without moving above 35 degrees. So my busiest time of the year is March-October. Winter forces me to take a long stretches of time from glass. I've begun taking that time to explore other media for beadmaking.
Here's a visual glimpse into my office/studio. Right now I'm working in polymer clay. It was 38 degrees this weekend so I grabbed the opportunity to work in glass.
10 comments:
Cindy,I am so happy that you linked to the BOC post by MarshaNealStudio. I just hopped over here to see what you are up to. And yes, you do not have to be a clay bead artist to participate. Everyone is welcome. Your summer studio looks so inviting. I would indeed be frozen out of mine without heat. We use a wood stove and some electric to keep part of that big barn warm in winter. My husband has to have heat to do the picture frames he does so that helps defray the cost. Butdespite the heat, usually my feet get cold anyway. This year I have some really cold weather boots and so far so good. I look forward to your next studio post to see what's happening inside.
Yes, I hear you about not being able to work in the studio because it is cold. We converted half of mom's garage for torching, metalwork, and enameling. Even though the garage is insulated it gets kinda cold out there. Last year we had to make beads and I don't think we got the garage up to 30 degrees. I have a pic of mom working on the torch and the only thing you could see of her face was the glasses. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Thanks for sharing your work space and at least we aren't the only ones who freeze in our studio!
I've moved all of my production inside and just the kilns and slab roller are out in the converted garage studio. It's a little messy with clay in the house but winter is too cold and summer too hot. It must be hard for you to take so much time away from glass. On the other hand, it is always good, I think, to explore other things. Often times, those ideas can feed right back into your other work.
I work in my basement, but in the winter, it gets pretty cold there, too. I'm always anxious for spring@
My studio is on fire with the hot mess of CLUTTER. Well, I have 18 days free to clean and create. Hang in there.
Cindy, it may be cold out, but here's something to warm your heart: you won!!! See my blog! :-)
Thanks, Mary - I'm glad I joined in too! I like seeing other artists' studios and really wish I had someone nearby who I could have artplay dates like you do. It would make the cold much easier to manage!
Despite the cold you turn out lovely work from your garage EB! :-)
Working in my un-heated 3 season (really 2 season) room is like the garage. I wrap up tight but afterawhile it's just not worth it - wayyyy tooo cold! I switch to fusing sometimes and set up my glass in a warm room then take it out to the kiln and let it fuse away!
I love exploring other media and this gives me a good excuse although sometimes you want what you can't have - that's warmth to melt glass! oh well spring eventually comes doesn't it? ;-)
My "studio" and I use that term very loosely is in the middle of my living room. I had been using the spare room in our house as a work area, but when our son was born I had to give up that room so he could have somewhere to call his own. Now, I don't get much work done because of both lack of space to work and lack of time. Hopefully, as he gets older I will find the time. Until then I just grab a minute or two whenever I get the chance.
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