An Artist’s Perspective: Insights From the Studio
Welcome to the 327th installment of A View From the Easel, a series in which artists reflect on their workspace. This week, artists transform their law school notes into a medium and weave the studio into their everyday life.
Want to take part? Check out our submission guidelines and share a bit about your studio with us through this form! All mediums and workspaces are welcome, including your home studio.
How long have you been working in this space?
One year.
Describe an average day in your studio.
My studio is my evening and weekend getaway. I work as an attorney during the day and let loose at night in my studio, usually into the morning hours. As soon as I enter, the curtains open to a city night sky, my Spotify connects to my speaker, I change into my studio clothes, and I begin. My music selection ranges from salsa, reggae, soft rock, old school hip hop, classical, pop, Brazilian funk, and more! A beverage might be poured, or I’ll take a quick smoke break before I begin. There are always several pieces being worked on at once. What I start with depends on my emotional and mental state. A long day at work may result in me pursuing a simple task such as canvas stretching, sealing, sketching, etc. Or a weekend might be a full 16-hour session, completely tackling one piece.
How does the space affect your work?
This is my second studio. My first didn’t have windows. Being here allows me to disconnect from my corporate life and be who I truly am. The space gives me what I need. A separation from daily life but still in the heart of it all. It’s refreshing to have a place in the city where I can enjoy solitude and produce my best work. At times I stare out the window and find new inspiration for pieces completely unrelated to what my eyes are picking up.
How do you interact with the environment outside your studio?
Dumbo is hard to beat. A few blocks from the river and a truly amazing view is priceless. I was born and raised in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Being near the East River is something I’ve made part of my everyday life. The view alone is what has pushed me to where I am today. The inspiration. The dreams. All of it stems from the view of the skyline. The cherry on top is that there is art everywhere. I am in a building with dozens of other artists. It’s comforting to be part of a community of peers.
What do you love about your studio?
Location and windows based on my previous answers. Sometimes a quick trip up to the roof on a nice day gets you a 360-degree view of what the city has to offer. Friends love to come over and I love to entertain. It’s pretty close to mass transit, so people are always coming and going.
What do you wish were different?
I mean more space, of course. It’s NYC. We all want more space. But other than that, not much. The winters are a bit cold due to the building’s heating system, but otherwise it’s quite perfect.
What is your favorite local museum?
I’m stuck between a few but I must say the Brooklyn Museum. I’m a member and go whenever I can. My love for it started as a kid on an elementary school field trip. And right next to the botanical gardens! Who can ask for a better location?
What is your favorite art material to work with?
My old case law textbook pages and sticky notes from work. When moving into my first studio, I was going through my belongings and couldn’t decide what to do with my old law school books. I opened one up and saw how pretty they were with all my color-coding, highlighting, and red pen marks. From that moment on, I started to incorporate them into my work and haven’t looked back!
How long have you been working in this space?
Two and a half years.
Describe an average day in your studio.
An average studio day begins after my full-time workday ends. I usually start around 7pm, once the house is quiet, and often work late into the night, sometimes until 2am or 3am. Those hours feel focused and uninterrupted, and on weekends, I spend longer stretches returning to the work more slowly. The practice often spills into my living room. Some processes, especially image transferring, feel meditative, so I work on the floor or horizontally, sometimes right in front of the TV. I almost always work on multiple pieces at once, letting ideas move between them. Since I work mostly at night, I use lighting that mimics daylight so I can stay true to color. For me, the studio is less about routine and more about showing up, sitting with uncertainty, and letting the work unfold.
How does the space affect your work?
The space I work in is intentionally fluid, and that openness directly shapes the work.