Martins New Studio

I say his "new studio", I'm not sure that he has ever had one before so I guess the title should be; Martins First Studio.

I went to visit him last night in his studio which is located somewhere north of Taunton around the Kingston St Mary area. I found the drive to get there an interesting one since I was travelling at night and in the pouring rain which meant I couldn't exactly follow Martins directions which instructed me to look out for a driveway with yellow chippings and two big trees. Thankfully though my gut instinct led me down a random driveway where I was greeted with the sight of Martins Toyota and just behind that, his studio.

The studio was much much bigger than I had imagined with ample space for the four artists who would be working there, leaving enough room for some seating where they could relax and discuss the types of things four artists discuss.

At the moment Martin is basically killing time, waiting for his materials to arrive so that he can get stuck into the first project he has planned. Despite the fact we had a little gas heater in the room and I was riding on an exercise bike, the temperature inside the studio was freezing. You could see your breath in the air.

Martin had already said that the studio wasn't the warmest of places but that when you were doing physical work, you soon warmed up.

I think there can be a misconception amongst a lot of people about what a studio is and what its actually there for. Maybe the requirements for a studio differ depending on the artist using the space but I got a feeling last night that the purpose of Martins new studio is for work. Yes the work is creative but in its current state the building is not to inspire the conception of creative ideas but to provide a space where the ideas can be realised, a space for the production of and the manufacture of art.

Although the studio at the moment may appear cold, bare and even lonely, I think it is important to what Martin hopes to achieve that he maintains this studio as a work environment and that he doesn't transform it into a cosy hangout for people like myself.

So in conclusion, being creative is work. Also if you are visiting the studio, wrap up warm.