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Horizon Lines (Nine), 2008, Oil on Panel, 3x5There have been a few more changes in my new studio. Most of which revolve around trying to fit more junk into it.
One thing though, set off a whole chain of events. I had done a test shot of photographing a painting in my studio for documentation, but I neglected to actually open it up in photoshop to see what I had. I just assumed it would be ok, because it looked fine in the viewfinder. So I planned to photograph all of my work in the same spot in the new studio. Then I realized that if I did that, it would be a lot more convenient to have my computer in the studio so I wouldn't have to run up and down the stairs a million times to check the title of a painting, see if the color looks right etc. I was on the fence about whether I should have the computer in the studio and this tipped me towards moving it in. So I spent a day or two moving the contents of my whole desk up stairs. Naturally the nifty computer hutch that I have been using for almost 10 years doesn't fit in my sloped ceiling space so I had to downsize the contents to fit into a smaller desk that was just used for junk before. After I got that done and the computer all set up, I photographed all 37 paintings in my studio next to the north windows. Um, two days before I had to hang the show. Then loaded them onto my computer and found that they were way too saturated. They looked like I had taken the shots outside in full sunlight, which does NOT work with my paintings. Even photoshop can't fix what sunlight does to my work. Doug fooled around with the set up a bit and finally said that I would need to set up some white panels on either side of the painting, blah, blah, blah. I had no white panels on hand, no room, and no time for that. I spent that afternoon carrying all of the paintings downstairs, photographing them in the old spot where the light is perfect and carrying everything upstairs again. Luckily these pieces were small and it was just a few arm loads!
Not sure where I will end up taking the photos, and since I am taking a bit of time off from painting, I don't have to worry about it quite yet. Either option seems like a lot of work, but the upshot is now that my computer/office is upstairs (no going back for this girl) and I will have to begin the fight again to not let the computer rule my work day. Oh and I also lost my last empty corner to the desk.
The plus side of it is that I won't spend so much time on my computer when I am downstairs. I can just do regular things down there, like clean, cook, read, hang out with the kids and maybe just sit in our future living room and do nothing. I look forward to all of that.
Next time: My new table and more studio pics!
5 comments:
Dear Problem Lady,
Here's the deal. I love these paintings -- especially the smaller horizon works since they are more likely to fit into my budget. However, the showing gallery just doesn't keep their web site current and I am too many hours away from them to shop in person. Ideas?
Troubled on Shelter Island
Dear Troubled on Shelter Island,
Yes, it's true this gallery doesn't always keep up with their website and I apologize. I have a plan so that you can see all of the paintings (and it does NOT involve flickr which hates me and won't let me post anything) so check back on Monday for more info.
Yours Truly,
Problem Lady
Tracy - could you fit a roll up white blind into your studio that you could drop down behind wherever you want to put your paintings to photograph them? Sort of like a backdrop in a photographer's studio.
I have a giant piece of foamcore which comes out every time I need a white surround for works which are going to be tricky to get the colours right.
Speaking as an Official Professional Photographer -- I second the white foamcore suggestion, and also suggest white sheets, which work great as either reflectors or light diffusers, and fold up nice and small.
Also, some cameras are now shipping with a choice of "natural" or "vivid" color -- and defaulting to vivid, which you probably don't want for documenting art. :)
Hi Katherine and J.E., good suggestions, and thank you. Doug suggested those very things too (former professional photographer, he is) and I will try them. The sheets anyway, which will be easier to find than large enough pieces of foam core around here. I have just been feeling lazy about doing that as well as a little put out about having to find a place for that stuff in my studio when not in use. Whine.....
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