My appreciation of an artist’s creative space started at an early age. The first art studio that I ever saw was that of our family friend Enid Kotschnig. She was a professional illustrator whose scientific illustrations of animals and plants graced the covers of Smithsonian Magazine and many books and scientific publications.
Enid’s studio was one room in her New York City apartment, but it was a place of refuge for her from the outside world. Meticulously orderly, she had all her paints and brushes, illustration board and pads of paper and books organized in a way that fascinated me and my brother when were children. Enid showed us great patience and kindness, teaching us how to use her Goodkin Lucigraph enlarging machine and showing us the process she followed in making her art. These pictures of Enids’ studio were taken after she had passed away, but the memories remain. Click on the image to advance the slideshow below.
My fascination with art studios continues to this day. What does the place look like — where an artist’s creative imagination struggles or is unleashed? Does a studio echo the work of an artist? Is it a creative haven, or disorderly place of spontaneity? Here are some images of artists spaces.
Alexander Calder in his studio in Roxbury, CT
Claude Monet's art Studio
N.C. Wyeth’s art studio
Norman Rockwell in his studio
Paul Cezanne’s art studio
Lucian Freud at work in his studio
Francis Bacon’s art studio
Fairfiled Porter at work in his studio
Pablo Picasso hanging out in his studio
Mort Drucker's Studio
Jack Davis at work at his drawing table
Will Eisner in his studio
Jules Feiffer at work at his drawing table
The drawing table which both Drew Bishop and his daughter Faith share.
If you are curious about artist’s studios, there are many websites dedicated to sharing the creative spaces of creative people. For a start, there is a nice collection here:
https://www.boredpanda.com/famous-artists-and-their-muses-in-their-studios/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic