New studio. (Photos: dial-up warning)

[Heidi]

Good morning, friends. My new studio is nearly complete. The construction crew returns next week to install the west window and the north-facing sliding glass door, and to seal the edges of the larch floor with silicone. Here are a few photos that I shot this morning, after spending all day Saturday painting the walls and ceiling. (I'm feelin' my 43 years in every bone in my body today. :cry: )


I'm in love with the floor: natural larch wood, treated with some kind of waxy oil.
Yes, I've already tried sliding around on them in sock-feet. :thumbsup:



Here is a scintillating view of my vacuum cleaner and oscillating fan.
The plastic will be replaced with windows on Tuesday.




Two of the walls are granite stone native to our part of Switzerland;
one is glass; and the fourth is half-granite, half-glass.




The first thing I'll do after the glass is installed is paint on this
100 x 160 cm Talens canvas. :)




The north-facing sliding glass doors will lead out to our koi pond and garden.

[CanuckAmok]

1. Life is harsh and tough in Swizterland!

Nice pad.

I always thought you acted koi.

[Heidi]

3. Smarty-pants.

Life _is_ harsh and tough here. I'm probably going to have to wax that larch floor once a month or more. :cry:

:hi:

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. I am in LOVE with those stone walls!

And all that window area...

*swoon*




And we know how I feel about the Larch. :thumbsup:

[Heidi]

5. Larch humor is completely lost on me. OR.

This is a CMW/Oedi thing, isn't it? ;)

One of the coolest things about my new studio is that it will have a sleeper-sofa or futon, to accommodate overnight guests. I can't think of anything more wonderful than waking up surrounded by art supplies and The Wiley and Excellent Boy Cat Named Ginger. :rofl:

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. I keep forgetting

you don't share our obsession passion.

It's from Episode 3:

Voice Over (and CAPTION)
'EPISODE 12B'
'HOW TO RECOGNISE DIFFERENT TREES FROM QUITE A LONG WAY AWAY'
'NO. 1'
'THE LARCH'
(Slide projector clicks to image of a larch tree.)
Voice Over: The larch. The... larch.

<later in the show>

Voice Over (and CAPTION)
'NO. 1'
'THE LARCH'
(Slide projector clicks to image of a larch tree.)
Voice Over: "The larch. The... larch."
Voice Over (and CAPTION)
'AND NOW...NO. 1...THE LARCH...AND NOW...'

<still later in the show>

Voice Over (and CAPTIONS)
'AND NOW'
'NO. 1'
'THE LARCH'
(Slide projector clicks to image of a larch tree.)
Voice Over: "The larch."
Voice Over (and CAPTIONS)
'AND NOW'
'NO. 3'
'THE LARCH'
'AND NOW...'
(Slide projector clicks to image of a chestnut tree.}
Voice Over: "The horse chestnut."
(Film clip of cheering crowd.)

<at the end of the show>

ROLLER CAPTION: "'HOW TO RECOGNIZE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES FROM QUITE A LONG WAY AWAY' WAS CONCIEVED, WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY...(CREDITS)"
Voice Over: "The larch."

[Heidi]

15. You'll hate me for this, but I was a fan of

The Goodies.



:hide:

[Oeditpus Rex]

16. I don't recall the Goodies

I remember watching it a couple times, but I used to drink a lot in those days. :blush:

I have similarly vague memories of The Two Ronnies and... crap, what was his name? Sat in a chair and did monologues between filmed bits.

[u4ic]

41. Dave Allen?

Gawd, he was funny.

Thanks, now I've got the image of Ronnie Barker in drag...:scared:

[riona]

33. Don't make it sound too good

half of DU will want to reserve that sleeper-sofa!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Heidi!

How lucky that I'm still up.....so I can get in your thread before the rest of the Lounge is awake!

It looks wonderful, my dear gf......

And of course it will be truly magnificent once it's done.....

Biggo congrats!

:loveya: :hug: :bounce: :bounce:

[Heidi]

6. Peggy!!!!!

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

It's just a little studio, but it's exactly the way I want it. I am blessed. :)

[deadparrot]

7. Gorgeous....

I love the hardwood floors and big windows.

Lovely. :hi:

[Heidi]

8. Hi, deadparrot!

I'm gonna paint the door and frame redredred on the outside, and cream on the inside. (Can't have the door be red on the inside of the studio, because the red would reflect around like crazy. :scared: )

:hi:

[SeattleGirl]

9. It's going to be so gorgeous, Heidi!

And, very inspirational, I bet! :loveya: :hug: :loveya:

[Heidi]

10. SeattleGirl!!!!!!!!!

Howdy, honey!!!! It's going to be _QUIET!_ :thumbsup:

I've missed you, gf! :hug: :loveya:

[SeattleGirl]

11. Missed you too, honey!

Hey, here are some pictures I took today and shared with my Lounge family.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=5093219&mesg_id=5093219

Hope you really enjoy the studio! And I look forward to seeing the work you produce!

[u4ic]

13. Where are you going to have your secret trysts?

You can't be a serious artist without some of those? :shrug:

[Heidi]

14. In lieu of secret trysts, I've decided to

wear a black beret and sunglasses 24/7, smoke Gauloise cigarettes, and act all existential. :rofl: :spray:

[billyskank]

19. I volunteer

if you decide for some secret trysts after all. :evilgrin:

[Heidi]

20. Oh, my.

:blush: :blush: :blush:

[billyskank]

22. For the moment I will settle for

:hi: my friend!

[u4ic]

43. And here I thought you were going to reveal

there was a secret room behind those stone walls.

Good idea to keep it secret, in case Interpol comes calling...

<<we need a 'touches nose' smilie>>

[Whoa_Nelly]

17. What a beautiful space!

Am sure you will completely enjoy it! :thumbsup: :loveya:

[laheina]

18. That is Gorgeous!

The stone and the view are to die for, but with those windows, the light is going to be beautiful. :D

(But painting ceilings--yuck.;))

[LaurenG]

21. Beautiful Heidi!

I love the fact that you can look outside at the garden. How are the cats with the construction, btw?

What HAPPY news!:thumbsup: :hi: :loveya:


edit: my keyboard doesn't like me to type lightly, I miss letters!:(

[billyskank]

29. Hey OhioBlues!

You are up early :hug:

[LaurenG]

31. Good morning Billyskank

Yes, I have a hard time sleeping in on the weekends since I get up early during the week so I just go with it! lol

:hug:

[ghostsofgiants]

23. Damn, that looks like it's going to be nice.

I'm jealous. :)

[Heidi]

25. You are always welcome

to come work in my new studio, fellow artist. :hug:

Much to my surprise, I have just about every kind of painting supply known to human beans, ranging from watercolors (half-pans, pencils and crayons) to oils, alkyds and acrlyics, watercolors, gouache, fingerpaints, colored pencils, Conte pencils, oil and regular pastels, a jillion kinds of graphite pencils, graphics pens, drawing and painting inks, gold leaf, silver leaf, copper leaf, sand from Switzerland and Italy, gessoed canvas and board, paper in about a jillion different weights, and more brushes and art books than I can count. See why I needed more space? :blush:

[wovenpaint]

44. Ooooh! What a great space

What a wonderful job!
Your art supply collection sounds like mine- just add a 6'x6'cedar closet full of yarns, 3 looms, sewing equipment, fiber, fabric, trims, books, etc., etc. lol.
Best of luck in your new studio!
:hi: :toast:

[texanwitch]

24. Hello Heidi, nice room.

Now all of us have a place to stay when we come to visit.

[Heidi]

26. There you are!

:hug: :pals: :loveya:

:hi: gf!

[texanwitch]

28. I had WiFi trouble but I fixed it myself, feeling very proud,

I did something to the connection but fixed it, I am feeling very techy.

[AirmensMom]

27. That's some studio, Heidi!

:bounce::applause: :thumbsup:

I love it!

[billyskank]

30. Morning AirmensMom!

:hi: :hug:

[AirmensMom]

32. Good morning, billy!

:hi: :loveya:

[bridgit]

34. well i did have to nod off for a while, but i came back in and dug...

around for your pics = very nice. did CMW design the studio & swing the hammer so as to say...either way it looks like the space is plenty fine, and i'll bet you can hardly wait to get in there and spread out.

very nice :hug: :loveya:

[Heidi]

46. bridgit!!!!!!!!

I designed it, and a construction crew was swingin' hammers. (Actually, they used very cool nail guns, and I _must_ have my own nailgun now that I've seen how handy they are. :rofl:

:*SMOOCH!:*

[YellowRubberDuckie]

35. That is lovely...

How is Switzerland? My office mom is visiting your fine country second week of May. She and her husband are so excited. Enjoy your studio!!
Duckie

[Heidi]

47. Hello, my Oklahoma gf!

I don't know where you live in OK, but I grew up there and I bet you and I have similar accents! ;)

Where in Switzerland will your mom be visiting? We live in the southern part, five minutes from the border shared with northern Italy. It's really beautiful here right now: magnolias, camelia and azaleas in full bloom; warm daytime temperatures, chilly at night. Safe travels to your mom and her husband! :hug:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

71. They're going to Zurich and other touristy places....

She's so funny. She was pronouncing it Zur-RICH the other day...with the ch pronounced like in Chick rather than the CK it's supposed to be pronounced with. It was hilarious. She's great. I wish she were really my mom. She's an incredible person and has adopted me as her own.
Where did you grow up?
Duckie

[auntAgonist]

36. a beautiful studio

for a beatiful artist. I know you will enjoy many hours of inspiration in your new studio. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.
:loveya: :hug: :loveya:


aA
kesha

[Heidi]

48. Thank you, dear!

I'm sending good vibes to your son's SO, and for the protection of your whole family. :hug: :loveya:

[auntAgonist]

65. thanks Heidi

:loveya: I'm going to travel there on saturday morning to lend my support. I can't get off work at all as it's not an 'emergency'
I'm thankful to ALL the Du'er friends I have.

:hug:
You're the best!

aA
kesha

[cleofus1]

37. i love the space

and that blank canvas is just sooooooooooooo sweet...

[Heidi]

49. Thank you, fellow ar-teest!

When designing the studio, I tried to think about how my work is likely to evolve in the future in terms of size, materials (and their potential messiness), etc. :D

(The giant canvas was a birthday gift from Call Me Wesley's sister and her SO! It's nice to be in a family of artist, because they always know exactly what to give for a gift! :evilgrin: )

:hug: :hi:

[In_The_Wind]

38. It Is Absolutely Beautiful!

I love the larch flooring and the huge expanse of glass walls.

I know you'll turn out some true masterpieces from there! :loveya:

[Heidi]

51. JOANI!!!!!

:hug: :loveya: :*SMOOCH:*

Thank you for your kind words, dah-ling! When does your cross-country trip start? Are you gettin' excited? :hug: :loveya:

[In_The_Wind]

57. Excited is an understatement!

I'm flying down to Florida for 12 days later this month.

Sugar Smack is taking the cross-country trip with me so it'll be awesome! We are leaving her house on 7/7 or perhaps a few days later. I want to hit the coast with enough time to wander about, staying a few days here and there before heading back east.

You must be lookin' forward to your first brush stroke in the new space.

[Heidi]

59. I lovelovelove Florida this time of year!

My sister lives in Key West, and I spent two weeks wandering around Florida after a cross-country trip that I took for my 36th birthday. You're doing a wonderful, wonderful thing for yourself, Joani! I'll get busy sending you good traveling energy. :hug: :loveya:

[In_The_Wind]

61. I'm going to do two things that I've looked forward to for many years.

I just need to make a phone call for reservations.

[Heidi]

62. I've done the hot air balloon thing!

I crewed for a hot air balloon team once at an event, and got a free ride. :thumbsup:

Go for it, gf! And have someone take a photo of you, for your adoring warrior women! :hug:

[In_The_Wind]

64. Somehow I'm not at all surprised that you've already been up there.

AirmansMom was up in the air at dawn with HarleyDad last year and suggested a local balloonist. She said there will be chasers taking pictures from the ground so I'll bring home a few tangible memories.

I thinking about packing my camera instead of carrying it (I'll be carrying my laptop) because I know I'll be taking lots of pictures from the Keys to share with DU. I don't know if that's such a good idea. I'll be changing planes going in both directions. :( Maybe I should just risk getting a backache by carrying both with me.

[Dangerously Amused]

39. Oh Heidi, that studio space is absolutely BREATHTAKING!

It is scrumptious and I am in looooove with it! I am so happy for you, with such a perfect place to nurture your creativity. :)

I have my Bachelor's in fine art... though I (for the most part, except for the rare one-project classes) set my artwork aside some years ago to pursue some other silly career thing. Oh, but that was foolish... I miss my art like crazy! It is in my blood, I HAVE to create again. I know you know what I mean. Lately I've been more into clay sculpture w/ mixed media. I would love to get a little kiln some day. Do you work in 3D at all?

Oh, and I can't wait to see what that nice big blank canvas becomes. I do so adore your paintings! Will it be another in your Goddess series?

[wildhorses]

50. you sound like me...DA

what were WE thinking?!?

Hey Heidi
:hi:


LOVE your new studio and that canvas is SWEET (like cleofus said)


I already know what I would put on it....


I am SO happy for you:hug:

And glad to know I will have a place to stay when I come for a visit:P

[Heidi]

53. There's my warrior woman gf!

Hi, wildhorses! Thank you for your sweet wishes! I've not yet decided what to do with the big canvas; I really need to work on process, which means doing some sketches and color studies . . . but I hate delayed gratification. x(

:hug: :loveya: :pals:

[Dangerously Amused]

58. Hey wildhorses!

I kinda figured that we were separated at birth or something.

Good to see ya, artist soul sista!

[Heidi]

52. Hi, DA!!!

Thank you, gf! I sort of suspected you had a background in the arts. I don't do anything three-dimensional, but CMW's mother is a sculpture, and has a studio on the same property (but with a southern exposure) where my studio is. Here's a life-size torso that she made me for my 42nd birthday last year. It's glass and pigment over fired clay, and symbolic of the feminine creative energy in this big family of artists we have here. :D

[Dangerously Amused]

60. Wow, that sculpture is very cool!

I see cloaked female figures moving across the stomach. Which brings to mind comforting thoughts of the lineage of our female ancestors. Actually, now that I look at it more, it reminds me very much of a small black and white acrylic painting I picked up from an artist selling his works on the street in Munich.

Oh, now I'm thinking of Munich. I would love to get back there again!

[Heidi]

63. You're very cool, DA.

I'd a thousand times rather buy a good piece of art from an unknown or "emerging" pre-hype artist, than a good piece of overpriced art from a well-known ar-teest. I hope you make it back to Munich, gf. It's a biggo, bee-you-teeful world out there, isn't it? :hug:

[Dangerously Amused]

72. Aw Heidi, that is quite a compliment coming from the coolest of the cool!

:blush:


Thank you!


:7




PS - I know what you mean about buying art. That little B&W painting by the unknown Munich artist has a place of honor on my dining room wall. I just love it so! I have another acrylic painting hanging in my living room. I bought it at a thrift store for a dollar or two. It is painted on corrugated cardboard and placed in a cheap frame, and "signed" on the back with a return address label. It is a painting of a chapel in the countryside among rolling hills in the late summer. Technically, it is not that strong of a work. But what charmed me most about the it was that some guy felt the creative drive to paint so strongly that he wasn't going to let the fact that he didn't have a proper canvas get in his way. Isn't that kind of passion what it's all about? :)

[merh]

40. absolutely beautiful.

Wow, just beautiful.

Congrats Heidi :toast:

:hug:

[Heidi]

54. Thank you, merh.

It took me a loooooong time to get to a "space" in my head where I believe in myself enough as an artist to take a big step like this, but I'm happy about it, because I _need_ to raise the bar for myself. Does that make any sense? :hug: :loveya:

[merh]

66. it makes tons of sense to me

there has to be a sense of place and comfort to create.

I hope to find mine again one day son.


Here is to raising that bar and having faith in yourself. :toast:

:hug: :loveya:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

42. Gee, you guys have such a hard life over there.

:eyes:

:P

Congrats on the new studio! Looks awesome!

:hi:

[Heidi]

55. Thank you, WritingIsMyReligion!

The floor is perfect for sliding around in sock-feet, too. :rofl:

[Floogeldy]

45. Oh, Baby

"Yes, I've already tried sliding around on them in sock-feet."

:rofl:

[Heidi]

56. What're you ROFLing at, Mister?

You know me well enough to know I slide around in my sock-feet on slippery floors! :P It's a way of life. :evilgrin:

:hug: :loveya:

[Misunderestimator]

67. Oh wow! That's going to be gorgeous!

:thumbsup: :hug:

[Heidi]

68. The new studio is cat-friendly, you know.

After all, I never know when Ginger might want to invite his cousins Rufus Harley; bertha's Daddy and Petey; bridgit's boy cat; jobycom's Millie; or his girlfriend, Althea, and her brother, Quinn, (whose human is ET Awful), in for a sleepover. :rofl:

[kwassa]

69. What part of Switzerland are you in?

My wife went to grad school in Lausanne, and her friends now live in Bern, where we visited them.

[Call Me Wesley]

70. Ticino.

Southern part of Switzerland. 10 minutes from the Italian border. :hi: