Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Loose Screws

Untitled, terra cotta, 1992
 I suspect I have a few loose screws.  While most people partied for the Holidays, I cleaned out my studio/workshop to make room for a new easel.  Seven days of manual labor--this was not the brightest idea.
 My Richeson easel arrived Monday afternoon. 
I decided I could handle and assemble a 98-pound easel.


 Lots of pieces--and a winch and pulley!  
Winch Warning:  Not for Humans.

 
 I had my Leatherman tool.

I couldn't resist the comfy box and the easel was perfect for rigging up the camera.  Getting into the box before the self-timer blinked wasn't easy--getting out of this box and up off the floor was even harder.  My right shoulder was aching! 
All set; everything works.  I have to clean off the counter and find my paints. Tomorrow, a trip to the dumpster.

25 comments:

  1. Oh ENVY! Wow! Cool easel Hallie! Oh, look at your studio! Great space wonderful counter. Ready for some Hallie-style stunning, creative art! I do like your untitled sculpture.

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  2. Chortle! I thought you might just end up giving in to that easel or tied up in the winch, but you DID it! You DID it!

    I love the humorous pic of you in the easel box - artists - nutty every one of them! :)

    I've never noticed the 'Slideshow' before Am I unobservant or is it relatively new? I just sat and stared at it for a while - full of eye-candy.

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  3. Impressive, you built it (by yourself?!) Enjoy the wonderful studio space with the wonderful larger than life sized easel. I look forward to seeing what you do first.

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  4. WOW! Is this the same studio I saw photos of last year? Or, did you win the lottery and build a new one around your new easel? Either way, NICE! It's pretty cool that you got a new cot for your studio, too.

    It's really good to see that the kid in you still likes to come out to play. How many times over the years did those wonderful new Christmas presents get left behind while the boxes became played with???

    Happy Creating in your 'new' studio!

    -Don

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  5. Whoo Hoo!!! You DID IT!!! Your studio looks fabulous.
    I laughed throughout your post and love the photo of you lying in the cardboard box. That's great! Thanks for putting yourself through it for the shot.
    Congratulations. Once you recover, you'll be ready to paint.

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  6. Hi Peggy. My studio/workshop is my favorite place. I found the counter (and two sets of lockers) at a yard sale (church classroom was being closed) soon after the workshop was built. Growing up in a country store made me a counter-leaner.


    Hi MM. No way could I resist lying in that coffin-looking box. The trick was setting up the camera at a distance to get the whole box. The top of the easel was perfect. The slideshow has been on the sidebar for quite a while--needs updating.


    Robin--Yes I am a first-class assembly person, good at reading directions and figuring things out. If possible, I like to work alone. I'm from a long line of do-it-myself folks. Plus, most of my friends have back problems.


    Hi Don. Unfortunately, I didn't win the lottery. This is the same studio--different view. Now I can walk through it (probably not for very long). The clutter got moved to the back porch--can't get rid of my stuff. When I looked at the box I remembered my parents. They didn't trust us kids to take care of their funerals so they pre-planned. When picking out caskets, Dad told Mom to lie down in one so he could see how she looked. Play runs in the family; I keep several boxes of children's blocks and crayons in the studio/workshop. (Dad's workshop was full of toys and tools.)


    Yes, Pamo, I did it. Patience is not one of my virtues. And there's nothing I enjoy more than taking stupid self-photos. That's an Area 54 Alien cap I'm wearing. My right arm hurts less--the pain is due to disk surgery 30 years ago. How did I rupture a disk? Lifting heavy boxes! Will I ever learn?

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  7. What a great post Hallie and congrats on the successful assembly of your new easel! I just love the photo of you in the box too. What a great creative space you have too. Happy 2011!

    ~ Kathleen Krucoff

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  8. MysticalMMW--Hi Kathleen. I drool over your jewelry, especially "Embrace the Light." I always enjoy reading your New Year's post (I'm curious about which word you pick). You're definitely staying in the zone and I know you'll have a great 2011--many shows and sales.

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  9. WOW WHAT A STUDIO!! I am drooling with envy. Wow. I love the easel - enjoy it. Can't wait to see what you make - that easel should be covered with paint splatters! Happy new year!

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  10. Hi Dan. I'm thinking I should just go out and drip some paint on it--it needs to blend with the rest of the workshop. Have you ordered your drafting table? Making space is a lot of work--now I need to clear the porch (or enclose it to enlarge the workshop). A great New Year to you.

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  11. fantastic post! the laying in the easel box photo seems ironic--because that silver paper stuff looks like 2 human sized aliens got in the box with you (to match your hat?) lol! I can't wait to see what comes off that easel!

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  12. Wow. That's really weird. I just wrote a whole comment about how my husband worships at the Church of Leatherman and would think you're a goddess for having one and using it. Then I said you also probably found, read, and actually followed the directions and that's what really makes you a goddess. That's when the whole freakin' thing up and disappeared. Right when I was about to mention how wonderful all that silver stuffage looks in the box and that of course you just had to try out the Big Easel's bed, Goldilocks.

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  13. Hi Celeste. The packaging was interesting--foam blown up to fit around the pieces, then wrapped with silver--looked a bit like a raft. I hope the garbage collectors will pick it up tomorrow--it won't fit in my car.


    SamArtDog--I actually have three (3) Leatherman tools! This is the largest and was a gift from my son years ago. His friends couldn't believe that he was giving his mother a tool for Christmas; I had requested it. (I have three because things get misplaced around my house.) The one in the photo was missing for at least a year. I just visited your blog; I needed to check your location--thought you might be from the Area 54 vicinity.

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  14. Hallie, goodness you've been busy since I last checked. Luscious studio and you are one helluva woman with your Leatherman Tool. I own two myself, but I can see you accomplish much more with yours. We Vermonters pride ourselves on doing it ourselves.

    You in the box -- priceless and very Hallie. Love that sense of humor. The easel is luscious and I am looking forward to some great pieces off that easel.

    BTW, thanks for sharing the past art. The charcoal paintings of your young sons are precious. I've been roaming around in my attic attempting to get rid of things so my kids don't have to when I join you in the box. BTW, I don't plan to do that in the near future. So many memories come flashing back. I could never get rid of the kids favorite toys, animals, legos, and trains. Still can't and I'm hoping that Bob's daughters will give us grandchildren. That will probably result in more stuff in the attic. Happy New Year and happy creating!

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  15. Hi Mary. You've been busy, too, painting with those water soluble oils. I haven't tried them yet. While I was cleaning the workshop, the house got really messed up so I'm playing catchup.

    Actually, it's a daughter who's wearing the "Sock it to me" shirt--after a short haircut. We sold our MD house to our son; now it's HIS attic that has all the toys (dolls, stuffed animals, cars, trains), a beer can collection, Christmas decorations, and paintings I did for toddler's rooms. He can't complain because we also left most of the furniture--too large for our little house here in VA. Thirty years in the MD house equaled lots of stuff.

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  16. Way to COOL ! Very jealous of your easel and studio SPACE ! I have no space left in mine. Still waiting for daughter #2 to get her own space and take her stuff with her. I was only supposed to store it temp. The job mkt. here has not been good for a Hollins graduate.
    HAPPY HAPPY PAINTING ! !

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  17. Hi Sue. I know about kids filling up our spaces. Even now, my son's fishing gear is stored in my workshop. (I have a note just inside the door "Warning: fish hook lost someplace in this area.") I decided I needed a cool looking lure and cut the hook part off--it disappeared and I've never found it. I'll find it with my finger one day. Just paint around your daughter's stuff.

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  18. That is a grand easel! Are you planning to work large? That's the easel for it. One tip. Make paintings that will fit your car. My max is 4x6".

    I love the picture of you in the shipping box. It looks roomy enough to share with a honey!

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  19. Lifeartist. Hi Davida. I had an inexpensive easel that I kept knocking over; I thought it was time for a substantial one. It might be fun to paint large--I could tie it to the top of my Jeep (if I could get it up there). I still have the box; it was too cold to drag it to the curb.

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  20. how big will you go--? it looks like it could hold a huge canvas!

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  21. Hi Celeste. It can go bit--will hold a canvas up to 106 inches tall and 200 pounds. I don't think I'll be doing that. There are no art suppliers close by so I shop on the internet. This one looked sturdy, was on sale, and I get a rebate! I sold some works at my October show; instead of jewelry (my usual investment), I bought an easel.

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  22. What a wonderful easel! Also I envy your above ground studio. It's a beaut! Mine is in the basement and cold as an Eskimo's nose. Cute pic of your box bed. I would not have been able to get out of that box alone, can't even get out of a tub now. No more soaking, just showers :O(

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  23. Hi Eva. I am very thankful that I have my own workshop--with heat and air and a bath room. I'd rather be there than any other place in the world (A Room of my Own). So far--so good, with my back and knees--knock on wood.

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  24. Hi Hallie, I am so glad I found you blog. Great easel! Great studio! Great art! I don't think you have a screw loose.

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  25. Hi Carole. Welcome; I looked at your blog--I'll be back to read more.

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