Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Working Space


Deep Tracks, 2009, Oil on Birch Panel, 16x20

I am making some progress on the paintings for my upcoming show in April. However, it looks like my husband has to do some traveling at the end of March, plus I seem to have an incredible number of meetings and appointments during the week of the 16th. So I am going to try and finish up the remainder of the work that I need to do in the next two weeks. Huh. That should be fun. I am planning to do one huge piece, a few sorta big ones-24x36-ish and maybe a few more 8x10 pieces. Those along with the ones I have finished and the eight or so that are in progress will give me plenty for the show.

But because I really have to hustle for the nest few weeks I have decided to make this a more visual blog during that time. I like writing my posts and prattling on and on and I seem to have an audience for all that silliness, but putting everything together sure can take a chunk out of my day and I can't lose that time right now. What I am planning to do is to put up finished work each day, as well as photos that will illustrate the gradual deterioration of my usually tidy studio while I am preparing for a show. I have always wanted to document that and now seems like a good time.

So this is what it looks like today:

The project tables are where I prep my panels and also paint the edges of the panels, and put on the hanging wire after the paintings are finished. It's also where I stack the stuff that I don't know where else to put.

I used to have all of my paint tubes on the top of the flat file, but I put them in a drawer so that I could have more room to stack the rest of the stuff that I don't know where else to put. Heh. Right now it is loaded with finished paintings for my sales blog and also piles of reference photos for the People You Know series. I also keep the small scale paintings that are drying in between glazes on the tabletop easels here.

I do most of my painting at this easel.

I use this easel for the in progress paintings. Right now two portraits are there, but I will need to move them as soon as I begin the large landscape panels.

They both need more work but here are some close-ups of the portraits. They look a little washed out in these photos, but you get the idea. I am very happy with the redhead in the bottom photo and Doug really, really likes the seated woman.

8 comments:

Janelle Goodwin said...

Hi Tracy, I LOVE seeing other artist's studios. Looks like you have such a cozy, inviting space with lots of natural light. Lucky girl! Thanks for sharing.

kim denise said...

Having only seen your work in a gallery--where I gazed in wonder--it is really cool to see it in progress, in the studio. I'm looking forward to seeing chaos take over, as really, this studio is far too tidy!

Anonymous said...

Tracy, Thanks for sharing photos from your studio. I always enjoy scenes about process.

Good luck with your busy agenda!

Melody said...

I like the twins (the piece that is beside the woman sitting).

Tracy Helgeson said...

Thanks, Janelle, I know, I love seeing other artist's studios too. Actually I think most of us do:)

Hi Kim. Tidy, but cluttered. It will soon be chaos though, I am sure.

Kim, same with me, I like seeing how others work too.

Thanks Melody, but that one is not a keeper, alas. One of the arms looks gimpy (bad drawing on my part) and I don't like the background. But I like the figures and will try again at some point. I was totally thinking of Dianne Arbus when I did this one, btw.

Anonymous said...

Hi Tracy,
I LOOOOVE your figure paintings. I see them sell very well maybe in NYC galleries.

Deborah Paris said...

Love the vertical landscape on the easel with the telephone pole...and the controlled chaos :)

Tracy Helgeson said...

Thanks Fotogirl. I was thinking that too, will try to get in one of these days.

Thanks Deborah, I am looking forward to doing that one too. Hopefully it will be today!