My Secret Studio

Shouldn’t every serious artist have a secret studio, one where no one else is allowed entrance except for models, intimate friends, and a loved one? Yes, I emphatically believe this to be so. For me, creating art is a very private affair, and I certainly wouldn’t like having just anyone think they could enter into that process or are being invited to scrutinize works in progress. Helpful feedback in the form of sincere criticism might be what other artists are looking for when they throw open their space, but for me my studio is my sanctuary and only those with a special connection to me or my work are welcome here. I haven’t embraced the open studio concept, mostly because I don’t care to have members of the general art-loving public traipsing through my personal space. Here in San Miguel, the San Antonio art community is actively seeking artists who are interested in joining their group. I imagine membership entails paying fees to support advertising and other forms of promotion for their open studio tours. This smacks too much of commercialism and makes me uncomfortable. I am not a resident of the San Antonio neighborhood, but even if I were I would be very reluctant to join this group. By nature, I happen to be a very private person, and the idea of opening up my creative life to whomever wishes to come inside is anathema to me. If an art collector happens to be interested in my work a private meeting can always be arranged. I have no problem with welcoming someone who enjoys my work into my studio for a private viewing, a one-on-one discussion, and a glass of wine. Today’s fashion is to display everything in public. I’m not a total recluse, but I do guard my privacy fiercely, especially when it involves my creative life.  

Dolce Far Niente

San Miguel is a very lovely and vibrant place for an artist to live. Voted as the world’s best city by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler, it is indeed one of the most livable cities on the planet. All hype aside, it has many amenities – historic buildings, cobblestone streets, great restaurants, a cosmopolitan culture, old world charm, Mexican hospitality, balmy weather, and a minimum of urban blight. Artists like me love it here, and with good reason. There’s tremendous creative energy, an abundance of clear light, inexpensive studio space, many support groups, ample places for exhibiting, relative freedom from commercialism and competition, and a general sense of joie de vivre. It’s a great place to do one’s creative work. But one can also sit in the principal plaza, el jardin, soak up the ambience, watch the tourists, listen to music, sketch, or just sit back contentedly for a while and think, “dolce far niente,” how sweet to do nothing.