Inside Art Studios of 5 Famous Artists
We often see art as the end product, a fine creation born out of the artist’s million experiences and emotions. But it is not the completion that makes art sacred; it is the process that the artist goes through to create it. Artists are their truest and rawest selves when they are completely immersed in their work. Doesn’t tell us a lot about them and their art?
This is one reason why historians and art enthusiasts have preserved houses, offices, and art studios of famous artists. Such places are exuberant and brimming with the memories and aesthetics which were once intimate to the artists. The secret creative hives of the most celebrated artists in history provide a kaleidoscope of insights into their personas. In this article, we’ll have a peek into the creative spaces of some of your favorite artists.
Claude Monet
The most interesting thing about the renowned French artist Claude Monet’s workspace is that there was no workspace. Monet once famously quoted, “I have never had a studio, and I do not understand shutting oneself up in a room. To draw, yes; to paint, no.”
Claude’s artistic eye bloomed in his childhood years, and he began attending art school when he was 11. The artist spent much of his growing years perfecting his art on park benches and open spaces. He met his mentor Eugène Boudin at the age of 16, who later introduced him to oil paintings.
Monet followed the impressionist style of paintings, and most of his artworks drew inspiration from his backyard Giverny garden, which he grew as his studio. Even while painting indoors, the artist stayed in touch with nature in the form of houseplants and beautiful flowers.
Georgia O’Keeffe
The 20th-century American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe is known for her marvelous abstract depictions of big flowers, New York Buildings, and Mexican landscapes. O’Keeffe had left New York in 1949 to explore her passion for the natural beauties in the plains for New Mexico.
That’s where she purchased her studio, 5,000 square-feet Spanish Colonial-era house, in Abiquiú, which later became a National Historic Landmark. O’Keeffe spent the golden 30 years of her career working in the studio. The influence of the house can easily be seen in her artworks from that time.
O’Keeffe created many artworks based on the studio house and surrounding areas, the most iconic being its scenic views of the Chama River. O’Keeffe loved the hardwood floors and the studio’s famous black door, along with sprawling gardens surrounding the house.
Joaquín Sorolla
The elegant studio of the Spanish painter Joaquin Sorolla lies in the heart of Madrid. Huge iron gates open to a sprawling courtyard garden and lead to the well-preserved house of Sorolla. Outside his studio, there’s a small antique doorbell that reflects the artist’s apprehension for any disturbance.
The studio space is expansive, with high ceilings and rows of high-level windows. Inside, you’ll see a dazzling display of edgy paintbrushes that define Sorolla’s art style i.e., direct, fine stroke lines. You will also spot a cozy daybed in the studio, referencing to the need of the artist for replenishing afternoon naps.
It’s not often that you see strong wall color in an artist’s studio as a backdrop. Sorolla’s often painted in his beloved garden, which is connected to the studio via tall glass doors covered in white fabric blinds to diffuse sunlight.
Pablo Picasso
Picasso’s light-filled studio apartment in Paris is not only a major tourist hotspot but also an insight into the artist’s mind. Lovingly called the Bateau-Lavoir, this lofty studio is dotted with several exquisite artifacts and showcases many of Picasso’s famous artworks.
Picasso painted most of his important paintings in this studio, including the Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, which is considered as the onset of modern art. The beautiful wooden structure was consumed by fire in 1970 and later rebuilt using concrete in 1978.
The building has now been reorganized into 25 pretty studios, which young artists can rent for work. There is surely something special about working in a place that saw the birth of ‘Cubism’ and pop art.
Francis Bacon
If there’s one word to describe the workspace of the noted Irish-born painter Francis Bacon, it’s ‘Chaos.’ Six years after his death, conservators transferred Bacon’s London studio to his hometown Dublin to preserve it.
The studio is a beautiful mess of paints, brushes, loose book pages, clothing used to transfer textures in his paintings, and old photographs. Even the dusty doors and walls which he once used as palettes have been well-preserved.
The disheveled creative space of the artist reflects his restlessness, chaotic thoughts, and carelessness. Bacon considered his studio nothing but a replica of his mind, just like how it feels on the inside.
Be Inspired
The guilty pleasure of sneaking into the personal spaces of famous artists is surely unparalleled. However, marveling at their world-famous artworks brings just as much respite to the heart.
Visiting your favorite artist’s studio located across the globe may not be possible. But you can always have their popular artworks reproduced as a memoir by talented artists at 1st-Art-Gallery.com. Art is a melting pot of joy in the making, as well as on completion.
