Hibernation

I've been telling people that I'm hibernating; actually I've been working in the garage preparing to start painting again. I started painting seriously when I was fifteen and did it continuously up until the late 1980s. I didn't really intend to stop, we bought a house and I didn't have studio space. Eventually my teaching duties took up more time and energy and I never got around to seriously looking for space. Since going to Wyoming to help my brother hang an exhibition of his work (photos here) I've been energized about making art again. A cursory search for studio space near home has been fruitless. There isn't much in the way of suitable non-commercial space at anything like a reasonable price. There is studio space in Chicago and some in Evanston, but I want something closer to home so I don't have an excuse to not paint. So I decided to paint in the garage while I kept looking for something.


This is the easel I built mostly out of standard 2x4s. Originally I was going to mount it directly on the garage wall but it was a very hot day when it came to drilling holes in the cement black so I added two legs so it could lean against the wall. I also mounted wheels — non-rotating — so I could move it around some. It can hold work up to 7 feet high and whatever width.


This is the first stretcher 5 x 5 feet, 2.5 in. deep, solid poplar and despite all the hassles I've had building it better and cheaper than anything available. It's heavy since it is only one part of the entire work. There will be other parts that mount to it so it is the main load bearing element. It could be a little lighter in construction and weight but I didn't want to make a light one and find out it was too light. Although making it lighter might require renting a table saw. Standard lumbar sizes are based on on the lumber but on wall thickness so the 1 x 3 in. boards are actually 0.71 x 2.5 in. as is the bracing. It really needs some true 2 in. stock but I haven't found any so may have to make it myself.

I've also been buying a lot of paint, some new brushes, and have organized a work area in the garage so I can still park the cars in it at night as they don't allow overnight street parking here. Next stop is sanding it then stretching and gessoing the canvas which I hope to get done today except it has turned out to be another hot one so I may wait for a cooler day or try to do it in the evening. More later once the painting starts.