On Space

The biggest difference between the studio now and the way it was a year and a half ago is that it is now set up primarily for my work, rather than shared regularly with Steve. He tends to paint in bursts, and is almost exclusively a painter. He is also much less particular about his painting environment, and often just paints giant canvases right on the floor. I paint and do sculptural assemblages, and will no doubt be continuing with mixed media. I need a lot of light to see, and tables and other furnishings for physical comfort. It's just plain easier to get lost in the process if I'm not struggling to move around. That's the first element.

The second element is the psychological space. We shared studio space our first two years together, and it generally wasn't too bad. His style was so strong and assertive, however, that it had a great influence on my own style. I learned a lot from the proximity, and perhaps the greatest benefit was shaking off the academic approach which was strangling me. I learned to paint on demand and sold quite a few paintings. I am ready to see what develops from that experience now that I am down here on my own.