Prairie Hill Farm Studio

Making Best

2008-07-17T16:24:00.005-05:00

I tried to walk with Georgie last night down on the prairie pasture here. My steps are picking up but its hard to walk a couple hundred yards bent over, even with a cane. I had to stop frequently to regather myself...I had the distinct feeling I was going to topple over onto my face eventually!

Georgie wanted me to see the Compass Plants in their glory...they're in their peak form right now and look amazing...most would be taller than me even if I could straighten up...one plant has to be over 7 feet tall! Just beautiful. I really appreciated seeing them but not being really capable of photographing them right now was a little frustrating.

Making the best of a sore situation is what you do when you're all hunched over in the studio. I'd been working on website work all morning long and you can get lost in the tedium, and veer from the path easily after too long some days. I decided to try going miniature again for the exhibit coming up in a few weeks.

I'd looked for more information on miniature painting/drawing the other day and it varies widely. An Australian site gave information for different regions in Australia, and Great Britain, Canada, and the United States. Sizes allowed vary, frame sizes vary, life size ratios vary...it can't really be pinned down unless you're exhibiting with a particular group. The one thing I know would knock me right out of "wanting" to bother with working miniature - detail. Judging takes place with magnifying glasses...dust, minute scrapping, scratches, lack of "clear" detail, all would knock you out of contention.

The one thing I'm finding fun about the exhibit coming up soon is the distraction of drawing something smaller that usual...hang the detail...they "look" detailed with these tired eyes anyway. I'm forcing myself to stay tight, resharpen the wax leads constantly, and using solvent blender sticks as well as wax blending sticks. I even have to go back in with a sharp razor blade constantly to clean up "misses" and "crumbs" of broken and chipped lead pigment. (Using prismacolor pencils again)

I wanted to do a prairie forb (wild flower) and chose a Turk's Cap Lily (Michigan Lily). I figured if I was going small I should pick something that would stand out in color and shape.

The finished size is 1.25" W X 1.75" H (4X5cm)...small enough for me.

Taking the Bad with the Good

2008-07-16T10:04:00.003-05:00

Keeping on top of things is always a challenge, but when jobs are picking up and the days are beautiful, it's OK. I always count my blessings and thank the Lord for each day...that hasn't changed. What has (changed) is a herniated disk in my lower back. I am now seeing what its like to have great difficulty standing, sitting, and lying down...walking is extremely slow and not fun. I really appreciate those friends who have extended their thoughts and prayers to me - that does help!

But all is not dreary and downcast, I do have work ahead of me to keep me busy, I've been finishing up a website I began work on this time last year. I've mentioned it before and we're just adding the educational components for K-12 to it now. This is a REAP grant project for NW Iowa and is showing to be very popular! Watchable Wildlife of NW Iowa is well worth your time to visit for "local" natural and cultural heritage...what better way to spend less on gas than to experience great things closer to home!

I've also been finishing up work on a wall display for the Prairie Heritage Center south of here in the Waterman Creek and Little Sioux River valley. This display is to help illustrate the Mill Creek Culture that lived along Waterman Creek and the Little Sioux River back around a thousand years ago. The display is sitting here in the studio, waiting for my back's rehabilitation to advance far enough along so I can manage to put it up!

Another project I'm just beginning is a website for a favorite magazine publication "Midwest Woodlands & Prairies" - a journal dedicated to the wise management of natural resources. I can't remember how I first found out about this publication but I first subscribed about 3 years ago...its in it's 5th year so I've missed 2 years...my loss! The subscription is just $15 a year and it is published quarterly. For a former woodland, and now, prairie buff, I find it worth way more for an ad free well illustrated magazine! (PO Box 713, Monona, IA 52159 if you're interested)

Just this week I was asked to do a one man exhibit at the Foyer Gallery at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The exhibit is scheduled for February of 2009, so I have some work to look forward to that exhibit, as well as the nearly constant preparation for this October's Artisans Road Trip here at the studio/gallery.

I'll paint when I can and when I'm able, and in the mean time I'll try to behave and be a good patient. I'm still counting my blessings.

One of Those Days

2008-07-12T18:43:00.004-05:00

It's an incredibly beautiful day today, the kind that reminds me of another place and time with all the amenities thrown in. This was a perfect day for the camera...would have been great to walk on the prairie and admire the Milk Vetch and the Butterfly Milkweed.

I started the day taking care of some chores while Georgie put in more time on the root ball of the Ash that fell over the fence and into the prairie pasture. When I finished chores I went over to the tree and tightened the chain on the saw while Georgie worked.

It had been 8 days since we worked on the tree last...I had done a terrible thing that time around. I had tried to move a log that was twice the size that I should have even considered. To make a long story short I was in a rather bad way for a few days and stayed away from anything remotely strenuous.

Today though, I'd been feeling really good for 2-3 days, maybe longer, and we were about to dive into tree removal again.

After tightening the chain saw I was looking around through the area of the pasture that tree had flattened and saw some Mare's Tail that needed pulling...Georgie was still working on the root ball so I walked over and began pulling weeds.

Georgie heard me make a noise and said "Don't hurt your back.", but it was too late...

What does a person do when they've screwed up twice in just over a week and they can't straighten up or be decent company??? They go back to the studio and wallow in self pity with an ice pack!

I "wallowed" with some prismacolor pencils and a block of hard pressed watercolor paper...there is a miniature show coming up sometime soon at the Sanford Museum in Cherokee (IA) and I haven't had any time to even give it thought. Well I felt there was an opening here after my stunt outside so I got busy. I had a couple ideas but after some reflection I thought of a piece I saw in the southern sky from Prairie Hill Farm back in late June. There was a thunderstorm many, many miles away and someone was getting lucky (we were needing to water the gardens by hand at that time). Thunderstorms out on the prairie are features worthy of admiration from a distance!

The piece is only 7X3.5". The miniature show requires no framed image to exceed 5X7", so I'll be mounting the piece onto some surface that'll be self hanging for the show...after the show I think I'll put it in a proper frame..I kinda like it and it'd look good in a nice frame.

The piece is titled "June Rain Missed" and for my intentions, at this time, is going to be a painting sometime in the future (I hope). Time will tell if I revisit on the easel.

In the meantime enjoy these beautiful days outside, and - watch your back!

Morrison's Studio and Gallery at Prairie Hill Farm

2008-07-06T11:08:00.006-05:00

Over the years a person looks for ways to promote their work, whether a visual artist or whatever their focus. I think you need to look in many directions - for instance what type of area promotion is available to you? Can you tie into local economic development in any way? Is area tourism being supported somehow?

Tourism in our area is being supported more and more during recent years. There's O'Brien County Tourism, the Western Iowa Tourism Region, the state in general (Iowa), and there are other local attractions that can support you in one way or another - even if it just means getting the word out about you. Then there's the local media - newspaper, radio, television (not necessarily in that order).

Networking with other artists is a great way to spread names around, and one good tool in NW Iowa is an event like the Artisans Road Trip which is an open studio/gallery event during one weekend. The A.R.T. website and published booklets help advertise/promote area artists. Anything that helps is good!

I have many interests that intertwine with my artwork, I don't know many other artists or photographers that are any different. I met the prairie years back and that became my passion. If you were to visit Prairie Hill Farm in the summer and fall months, this would become obvious to you! I have been involved in prairie and prairie organizations, prairie restoration and reconstruction (both public and private) for many years now. It's in my blood and it focuses my work in many ways.

Prairie Hill Farm is located along the Waterman Creek valley, in the Little Sioux River watershed in NW Iowa. This area has become extremely important in the last 15 years as a last stronghold in Iowa for remaining prairie remnants of significance. The Iowa DNR has worked to regain native Tallgrass habitat nearby us (Waterman Prairie). The County of O'Brien has worked to establish the Prairie Heritage Center to promote education and appreciation of our natural heritage here - the Tallgrass Prairie.

Prairie Hill Farm was a Godsend to us in hard times, a refuge and source of inspiration. The gravel hillside upon which we sit has a wonderful remnant of prairie grasses and forbs (native wildflowers) that escaped modern agricultural practices because of the terrain. But Prairie Hill Farm also has a heritage of agriculture...the last farm family here made a living off the land for 50 years.

Our renovation of the Sheep Barn/Poultry Barn this past 9 months has embraced this heritage as well! We feel this is the best of both worlds and a very good use of the agricultural heritage in partnership with the natural heritage of this land.

I hope you can visit us sometime and enjoy the senses of this place, walk along the prairie paths, and rest in the shade for some conversation.

In the meantime, if you have a decent connection, take a few minutes and view our video above!

Enjoy the summer while you can...

Get Away

2008-07-05T12:38:00.011-05:00

Georgie and I haven't had a real vacation in some years...its my fault, I know...what can I say - I do like taking some time off though, really!

A good friend of ours, Julie, took us away last weekend from this terrible gorgeous place to another in NW Wisconsin, at her brother's place on County Line Lake near Birchwood. This lake is a pleasant small private lake in a heavily glacially potted area, with lakes virtually over each rise. The nicest thing about this lake is the "no motors" stipulation...makes for a "very" pleasant place for everyone around this little piece of paradise.

The biggest boon to me was brought about by the "no motor reg" - we were given the use of a small boat and electric trolling motor. The lake has an Osprey nest on the extreme end and a nearby bay has an active Loon nest. The Loon nest is off limits (good plan) so no one disturbs it. Georgie and I just poked around exploring the shoreline, trying to photograph lily pads from the boat, and eventually photographing one of the resident Loons, one of the Ospreys, and a Coyote running through the shoreline timber.

I would never recommend shooting anything from a small boat...I'm a serious tripod person. Getting a sharp image is important; it also gives the photographer pause for reflection and time to explore options. A boat is more of a "quick shoot!" experience - which was certainly true of the Coyote images I got. But I found the Osprey and Loon were very use to quiet small craft and didn't seem to mind us being near for several minutes at a time.

Our short vacation was full of walks along the road and through woodland trails, doing some bird watching and looking along the forest floor at many old familiar plants.

Georgie and I are familiar with the north country, we had our own small getaway in NE Minnesota, on the north shore of Lake Superior for 18 years, and we'd honeymooned and stayed many times at her folk's place in NW Ontario. But we hadn't been away from the acreage and prairie for some years...it was very nice.

Thank you Julie!

Second Day

2008-07-03T19:53:00.002-05:00

It's the second day with the tree. We've managed to lop all the leaf branches and haul to the burn pile...it's amazing how many small branches a big tree has! The pile's over 10 feet high and 20 feet in diameter, and that's with heavy branches weighing things down.

Tomorrow the chain saw and firewood. Likely the root ball will be a summer issue...they don't just disappear unfortunately.

I need to get back into the studio! But we're grateful for the small extent of damage to the house (busted up gutters from falling/flying limbs) and just a bunch of clean up time spent. Iowa, as a whole, hasn't been so fortunate this summer. God Bless 'em.

First Come, First Serve!

2008-07-02T21:54:00.004-05:00

Going to the first taker! Beautiful full grown ash tree with root ball and attached bird house! Fresh stock - acquired this morning at 4:45 a.m.! Sorry, can't let you have the hail...melted :(

...Bruce

After Father's Day

2008-06-16T09:49:00.005-05:00

It was a busy day on Father's Day at the Studio here, we had 20 family members over for a great meal and a walk-about around the place...it was a glorious day to share with everyone. The week before we had all four grandkids here with us - what a time that was!

I'd been busy in the studio a couple weeks back, trying to start another painting. I often work from things that have sat too long in my head. A problem that arises from this "storage" is my original idea becomes changed by time and when I finally can get down to fleshing it out, I'm not sure I'm finding the original message!

I think this piece is looking like I originally envisioned it, although it isn't finished it is down to the final stage. It's of a "Wolf Tree", a Bur Oak in this instance, one we came across in "Southwood" a state wildlife area down in southern Woodbury County, Iowa - in the Loess Hills.

Wolf trees characteristically have broad, spreading crowns that dominate the area of ground lying within their shade. They monopolize the available light, water and nutrients for their own use to the detriment of other nearby trees thus allowing them to dominate. Old dominating Bur Oaks survived countless prairie fires with the help of their thick cork-like bark and stand as a testimony to their perseverance through many, many years on the tallgrass priairie.

Bur Oaks are probably my favorite tree but extremely slow growing. We tried starting many here on our prairie remnant and have failed a few times due to the rabbits and deer ending early attempts. We now have one caged in the back yard and another persistent seedling in the north pasture. We'll never live long enough to see them in their glory, but someone will and that's important too.

Artisans Road Trip 2008 - Preview Exhibit

2008-05-31T12:16:00.005-05:00

"Summer Pasture" Oil on Canvas, one of the pieces at the A.R.T. Witter Exhibit

An exhibit featuring the 2008 Artisans Road Trip artists is being hung this weekend at the Witter Gallery in Storm Lake, IA. Artists participating in the 2008 A.R.T. were to select 2 pieces of work from their collections to take to the Witter show.

A.R.T has been ongoing since 2004 I believe...I've been in all except last year's when we were into our studio building project. The weekend of the showing last October was the same weekend we had the entire roof off of the building and it was raining! That was actually the first rainy weekend of A.R.T., it has usually experienced some pretty weather.

The Witter Gallery is a very nice place to view artwork of regional/area artists...I believe the first year I exhibited down there was back in the 1980's.

The A.R.T. exhibit runs from June 3 -27, and admission is free to the public. The exhibit is being sponsored by Paxton's Jewelry of Storm Lake.

The gallery hours are -

Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday - 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Thursday - 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (Summer hrs.)
Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Take it in if you have a chance!

Finally

2008-05-24T20:37:00.005-05:00

I finally got to my first painting in the new studio this week...ya I know, it's about time. I guess I've just been too busy finishing up old projects and paying bills.

I haven't even thought of a title yet...and it may not even be fully complete, I'm just not sure. But it certainly feels good getting back into the "studio" and not just the office!

The subject matter is one I've had an idea for some time, and one I've tread on before - a large sky of summertime clouds with a Red-tailed Hawk banking into the scene. I've fixated on Red-tails before, in fact I've fixated on them since I was 10 or 11 years old. I used to spend summer vacation afternoons out along the hills west of Fort Dodge along the Lizard Creek valley, lying on my back in someone's hillside pasture watching the clouds form and the Red-tails catching thermals and become tiny specks in the sky. Those were the days!

Fall migration was also a favorite time to watch hawks, and the other raptors pass over head. The pencil above (Fall Migration, Red-tails") was of an area near here that experiences wonderful episodes of hawks, falcons and eagles each autumn.

Well now that I have the paint out I'd better keep with it...I'm feeling rusty after the long winter of construction!

Help it's Spring and I Can't Keep Up!

2008-05-15T16:34:00.004-05:00

I'm sure anyone can relate to the sentiments of the title for today's blog! Ugh...so much to do, so little time!

Every year I say, next spring I've got to do this, get there, see these, take this photo, do this painting, and on and on. The problem is I'm not getting any younger and "next spring" opportunities should be taken less and less for granted.

I managed to get a small start on one item on the list this morning...I've been so distracted by the American Wild Plums about the place here and in the valley. The scent waifing through the air around here is almost intoxicating and the wonderfully flowered trees have been as well.

The venture out this morning was quite different than some photography work I do, I'm concentrating on "examples". I need to do a "Plum Painting", and if there's one thing that never lasts long enough in the spring, it's the plum blossoms - they fade and are history before you know it (it seems).

At the moment I'm taking a short break from some website work I'm behind on - to write this blog. As I look out the window I see Georgie working hard in the gardens, she just finished tilling them all! I do believe I'd better keep the plums in the back of my mind for the time being and get back to work!

Hmmm, that smell...

Dusk Chorus

2008-05-10T10:57:00.002-05:00

My last post was the Dawn Chorus - I'm heading to the opposite time of the day here!

If you remember my post from a few days back "Little Friends", this is my little friends in the valley here singing it up and lulling us to sleep at night. The American Toads start singing when the water starts warming into the 60's and that has just begun this week here.

I've recorded nature audio since the mid 1980's and often run the tracks while I'm working in the studio. I do it mostly in the winter when I need a pick-me-up from the short days and cold nights. I also listen to them because they are a wonderful music from our creator!

If you haven't got a connection any faster than dial up, I'm afraid you'll likely want to skip this, but it is a short piece I just added to the NW Iowa Watchable Wildlife site on the videos afield page if you can visit later with a better connection.

Enjoy creation, its a gift!

Dawn Chorus

2008-05-07T14:53:00.004-05:00

One thing I look forward to so much in the spring is the dawn chorus. And it is also the first thing I feel a bit sad to hear come to an end.

I once did a piece to celebrate the dawn chorus, it was an American Robin singing from an old neighbor's tree. I did the image first as a pencil rendering, then transfered it to several (25 actually) screens and printed a small edition of 60 prints as a serigraph.

We have been so happy that the evenings have finally warmed enough to sleep with the bedroom windows open. Last night we went to sleep serenaded by Chorus Frogs and American Toads, We haven't slept so well in months! The morning's "dawn chorus" was equally as wonderful of a tonic! Some people complain about all the birds singing so early but we find it soothing, a wonderful comfort, and just great music that lulls one deeper into a restful slumber.

The first birds we usually notice singing are American Robins. They usually start around an hour before sunrise. They are my favorite dawn chorus bird but Mourning Doves can be equally pleasant to listen to.

I've stated more than once in the past that I like using what I've experienced in my work and this piece is no exception. It is something I look forward to throughout a long hard winter and is something we'll cherish here at Prairie Hill Farm until late July/early August when the chorus subsides again to not return till next spring.

Pencils were the study piece for my serigraphs in the past but the pencils could stand on their own merit and sometimes I felt like I shouldn't need to go further. All these pieces are in private collections now, and this particular serigraph edition is nearly sold out now (with only 4 prints left). If anyone was interested in this hand pulled print, it can be purchased online at - http://www.morrisons-studio.com/Springsong.htm or from the new Studio/Gallery here.

The deck is completely finished now and we're working on the really fun and important things for a change!

Crack the window tonight and listen to the music!

Completion Closer?

2008-05-04T09:23:00.004-05:00

Georgie and I brought the deck very close to completion on Saturday. It's surprising that the rails would take so much time for a small deck like this but all the leveling and support work were very time consuming.

We still have the rail for the stairs, the door threshold for wheel chair accessibility and some grading, landscaping and planting work to do, but all in all it's ready!

In keeping with the building theme (ag-related) we've enclosed the deck with hog wire. Ya, sounds weird but it works great; I'm not a hog loving person but it definitely fits the theme of agriculture. We've also placed an old watering unit in the corner past the steps...we'll be working on plantings around the deck that will be drought tolerant.

The ramp is on the traffic side of the building and we made it as long as the property's access requirements would allow. We have access and egress requirements for farm machinery to pass by and into the field behind us so had to keep the required clearance between this building and the barn.

We sat out on the deck around 8pm last night to enjoy the late view. It'll be real nice this summer when people stop by for a chat or whatever... hint, hint :)

Check it out...take a side trip

2008-04-30T18:51:00.003-05:00

A project I've worked on since last summer has finally come to completion...well not entirely, but at least it is now ready for public use. The project isn't about art per say, but has a lot of photography relating to my favorite subject (natural heritage). I was very fortunate to be asked to create this web site for watchable wildlife in NW Iowa, it got Georgie and I out into the field quite a bit during late summer and early fall and also got me back into video work, which I enjoy doing very much.

The site is http://www.watchablewildlifenwia.org

The site has 3 themes...it takes each category and discusses it enough to help get your feet wet, then gives you a trail loop to follow to each of the "sites" along that category's loop. The 3 categories are: a "Glacial Trail" loop, a "Prairie Pothole Birding" loop and a "Prairie History" loop.

If you like, you can download a county map of each loop, or you can continue on to the pages giving all the specific sites in each loop and using an embedded Google Map to show you where each site is. Keywords are embedded on the pages that give you photos of certain flora or fauna when you select them. Videos are also embedded on the pages so you can actually visit a particular site for a short stay, or you can download these videos to your mobile device on the trip itself.

Want to take a short trip to Steele Prairie in Cherokee County for example? Here's a glimpse at what you will see and hear -

There are 34 sites included in 9 NW Iowa counties so far, and the web site is designed to show you all the great places to go and things to experience - get you and the family out for an adventure this summer "or" this weekend!

There is a photo gallery page with the intent to include site participant's images in the future. There is a page with helpful wildlife viewing tips, and a link page leading to more videos as well as great sources of information and a little humor if you like.

No it's not about "art" per say, but it did give this artist some material and ideas to work with for some time to come.

Take a trip with Watchable Wildlife in NW Iowa, and enjoy the surprises along the way!

Back to the Workout

2008-04-26T18:57:00.005-05:00

I'm spoiled...Georgie's spoiled too because I've been in the studio working and out of her hair the past several weeks. But the frost is out of the ground and the "workout" has to begin once more.

We're putting a deck entry in front of the building. The ground slopes away pretty fast and it's not an easy walk up into the studio without a better entry.

Right now we're just forming the main platform, then we'll put in the steps, and then work on the ramp.

We just got the ledger, Girder and rafters up and are just beginning the deck boards.

It was a little cold starting this morning, had a slight skiff of snow on the ground and the temps were below freezing...but was out of the wind and pleasant enough in the sun.

Need a new body though. Too creaky and stiff after only a day of carpentry work again!

We promise to at least have the place accessible this week, so feel free to drop by!

Little Friends

2008-04-23T15:53:00.005-05:00

It finally warmed and dried enough for Georgie to get into the garden yesterday. She always plants the cool season crops early but was behind schedule this year because we still had frost in the ground a week or so earlier.

Georgie likes to get spinach and lettuce planted first and while preparing the ground, came up with a couple toads. This wasn't surprising - it happens every year. In fact she said to me as she headed for the garden, "I'll tell you when the toads show up".

I have a long tie to toads, raised many from tadpoles when I was a kid. My mother let me raise them in the basement and tolerated my little friends hopping all around the basement floor. I always told Mom they'd "eat the bugs"...and I think she latched on to that promise in order to not discourage me. My first "remembered" wild critter when I was around 2-3 years old was a big fat toad staring back at me from it's hole in the grass in the backyard.

I like to draw and photograph the things that mean something to me; that are close to my heart...that covers an awful lot of "things" but these things aren't always embraced by the art loving public. But no-matter...I do it because I enjoy it!

Watch your step outside this spring and summer - you might make new friends if you do!

Prairie Spring

2008-04-09T17:20:00.004-05:00

It is officially spring on the Tallgrass Prairie now. It is never official until the Pasque Flower blooms, and our first official sighting was Monday evening (the 7th)!

This is also when my itch begins to photograph or paint and follow the native forbs (wildflowers) through the season. I must try harder this year to make the most of what time I can come up with! Sort of a delayed new year's resolution I guess.

Pasque Flowers are like the "Robin" of prairie flowers. All through the winter, when the short daylight and gray cold days get to you, something to look forward to keeps one hopeful and sane. We've been looking forward to the first Pasque Flowers! Now I have to wait for the next snowfall (tomorrow) to come and melt before I can go back and embrace their return with my lens.

Its worth the wait.

Isn't it Great!

2008-03-21T12:21:00.004-05:00

The Vernal Equinox finally made it yesterday! I've been telling Georgie for weeks and weeks that it was coming!

Yesterday wasn't just the first day of spring, it was also the first "operative" day in the new studio building. The service provider came out and hooked me up wireless to the system in the studio, so now I'm at work once again.

I kiddingly like to regard "signs" as things of importance. Once we had the internet up in the studio yesterday I checked my business email and found I'd just sold a couple big prints...now is that a good sign or what!? I thought so. The day we moved all the furniture into the building a few weeks back we had good signs too...our first Robin of the year was spotted out the gallery windows and a mature Bald Eagle out the front windows! I thought that was a good sign too!

Its fairly gray and chilly out today but I'm still feeling pretty good about whats going on around us here; the birds are singing and geese are flying up the valley in large flocks, and the Great Blue Herons have returned to the rookery in the valley across the creek from us.

The "Immature American Robin" pencil study above is indicative of a new year of life beginning. I haven't carried that study any further yet but maybe it'll see new life this spring or summer?

Overview

2008-02-28T19:29:00.006-06:00

Here's an overview on the "business" side of the building. The east end is the office, studio, meeting area, and the beginning of the gallery.

On to the west end is the gallery aisle...I will admit I can't hang much on the south side (window side), but I'm still making use of the space, with picture lights and hanging work between each window.

The long tables in the center hold work as well as being used for possible gatherings. My intent has been to build a primitive style plank table for the center of the gallery aisle space...that will be a summer or fall project I suspect.

We have more display work to do also, more work for this spring or summer?

I love the sliding barn door we made to separate the gallery from the shop area! The space back there is still being worked on, but basically is the framing, mating, printing, storage, etc, space.

We still have to hang the light out front and build a small deck for easy access to the building. We want it to have decent steps and a wheel chair accessible ramp. It won't be a big deck, but is more for function of access since the east end of the building is a fairly hefty step up from the ground sloping down hill in front of the building. Another project for this spring; need to get the frost out of the ground here first!

We'll be working on all these small details as time allows and will announce our first open house down the road. Hope you can come!

Studio/Gallery (more shots)

2008-02-27T16:39:00.005-06:00

Here's a couple more shots of the Studio/Gallery space. Georgie and I have already had a nice evening meal there (conference table), and found it to be a very pleasant place in the winter. I'm wondering how the heating/cooling system will handle the summer heat?

The couch is a good seating space in the front gallery for just relaxing or conversation. I'll admit to giving it the "nap test" yesterday...turned on a little low music, and the small stove...it worked great! (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz)

I'll show you the rest of the gallery tomorrow, gotta get back to work here!

Another Look...

2008-02-26T20:03:00.010-06:00

Thank you to those giving encouragement after seeing the studio building for the first time since it became what it was built for. We're pretty excited too.

The office part won't be fully functional till frost is out of the ground...probably 4-5 weeks(?). We need to bring the internet service over to the building as I do a great deal of web and computer multi media work. If we went wireless from the house, we still would not get the cable part of our internet service, so a router and cable are in order...once that's in place then the office part of the studio will be fully functional. We've put a phone base in the house and can get calls out there...I'm not sure if it's optimal but have answered a couple calls out there already.

The studio is fully functional now, we just have to make the "artist" fully functional! Just kidding...well maybe not, but either way I have another contract which is being completed (soon I hope), before the studio will see "lots" of action.

Here's another shot without the "body" blocking the view. One thing you'll notice is the bright window light coming in. We will be putting shades on the windows...this is a good idea for many reasons (UV light on the printed work, glare when working, etc...) The winter sun angle is low and does enter the building and warms the floor...this is passive solar and does a very decent job of helping heat the building! In the summer the sun angle will be much higher...we'll see how much enters the low south window space or if the eaves overhang enough. These are issues created with the sheep/poultry building - lower windows and shorter walls make for interesting conditions.

This shot is a small conferencing setting for clients or brainstorming, discussing projects, etc.

I'll show more shots as I get them done - keep warm, Spring starts 3 weeks from this Thursday!

Vision...

2008-02-25T13:11:00.009-06:00

I would never claim to having vision of a "space". I would have made a horrible architect. I did work as a shop draftsman prior to winning my first lottery (drafted into the Army during 'Nam)...I drew all sorts of cabinet blueprints, but they were done from specific measurement requirements (dimensions).

Georgie has this gift of "vision"; she's always been able to see something dimensional in a space, before it actually became a reality. I stare blankly and just have to take her word for it. I'm nearsighted when it comes to "spacial imagination"! (I'd never make it as a 3 dimensional artist)

When we first moved here in 2002, we had this building we called the "Coup". It was slightly short of a disaster area inside. We later were told it had been a sheep barn since the mid 1950's and had 100 head in the building at one time. (it had been a poultry barn previous to that)

The roof rafters had been stuffed with straw and stapled over with a sort of "vinyl" material. This was a means of insulating the building...the north, east and west walls were boarded over with straw inside as well. Eventually the mice must've become a huge issue...they loved this place...so many nice bedding choices! The inside took some doing to just get in! Eventually we cleaned up enough to store things inside.

But, as I said, Georgie has this gift. She suggested this could be a great studio, gallery, and shop space. I'm sure I looked at it like a deer in headlights. Over the next 4 years, we cleaned things up. I'd say she was right! I'll also say I felt like a deer in headlights once again after we got things moved over this weekend...it blew me away! What can I say, she's got the gift and I feel blessed for her to share it with me!

I'll share the new studio/office/gallery/shop space with you...today just the office though; we don't want to over do it!

Oh, we have some more work to do yet, painting walls and putting up shelving in the shop, putting shades on the windows, and some other things. But we beat the snowstorm (raging outside right now) and have the "bones" in place.

Meanwhile, Georgie is working in the house...its changing as I type. I don't suppose she's "seeing things" in there?!!

Giddy...

2008-02-15T19:57:00.004-06:00

I must admit, I'm getting really giddy! I can't help it...it means maybe I'll be painting again someday soon. It means I may not be tripping over myself every time I turn around in the studio or office. Maybe it means I'll be more productive? Hmmm, well the view and new digs will likely not help see a rise in production very markedly for a bit, but who knows?!

Georgie and I put up the shop door today...all we have to do now is put handles on it and trim the rail hardware a tad.

We're trimming the last of the windows tomorrow...and putting on all the outlet and switch covers. Oh, did I tell you?

The electrician has finished!!!! Oh happy days!!! Curt did a great job!

There are a few more things to work through, but I'm starting to get a little giddy!

Trim Progress

2008-02-11T13:54:00.000-06:00

Georgie and I have finished the trim on the casement part of the windows this morning and are now onto other items for the moment.

I did want to give a note on the last blog installment...if you subscribe and get the blog via email, you'll have to click on the "Header/Title" to get the actual blog with attachments. That'll make more sense if you read the last sentence of yesterday's blog and went no further.

We're into winter here again...came in from the studio only to find the hot water pipes frozen! Weird huh?! We keep our faucets dripping in this weather but don't keep the hot water running all the time for obvious reasons! Well, guess we'll have to drip those too for the time being.

Stay warm!