Flavia Guarino

The studio

My studio started in the spare bedroom.  It wasn’t quite ‘spare’ though.  It was full of the usual clutter, extra bed, unused furniture and a whole host of forlorn and mostly forgotten odds and ends.Once the space was cleared, mostly given away or thrown out, the computer remained on its tiny perch with a very old stereo next to it.  The room then accumulated a small easel and a few experimental canvases were hung on the wall. An old cane T.V. shelf became storage space for  meager art supplies: a few paint brushes and my remaining paint supplies, some watercolour pencils and an A3 sketch pad.  I purchased a white trestle, drawing table with a glass, tracing panel for $300 from a large furniture warehouse.  A chair came later.  I would write some days and draw others.  It was a small space but it allowed me the freedom to leave work out ready for another day.A large basket of blocks rested near the doorway to arrest the attention of little ones.  Early on I ordered some supplies through an art shop that was happy to take them to the post office and post them out to me.