Dream Studio

Opus visited painter Pierre Coupey in his West Vancouver studio to uncover the key elements of a workspace that supports the creative process.

Pierre Coupey’s studio is as warm and inviting at the artist himself. There is an order and a serenity that equally calms the creative brain and excites it, making you want to pick up your chosen media and get to work. We spoke with Pierre about the beautiful space he has created in his home and how working there affects his practice.

Opus: When does an artist know they’re ready to have a dedicated studio space?

Pierre Coupey: I don’t think you decide to have studio space, you decide you’ve got to work and you need a place to work and you take what’s available. For myself, I started painting in my parents’ basement. I’ve realized over all these years that you can work pretty well almost anywhere, you don’t have to have a studio like this.

O: What are the most important elements of a studio?

PC: The light is really the most important thing, so if you don’t have skylights and if you don’t have north light, this (custom ceiling lighting with daylight bulbs) is like having a natural skylight. Light is the crucial factor. With wet oil paints, you don’t want any hot spots or bounce.
  Storage is also important. I have small, medium and large storage. And access to tools: I had all my tables built on casters. A good sink is important. A painting table is very important. Apart from that, it’s the primitive stuff like cans and brushes and pigment. It’s not rocket science.

O: What are the benefits and also the detriments to having a studio in your home?

PC: The detriment is that you end up doing a lot of household chores. You can get distracted easily.
  A benefit is that you don’t have to schlep around the city. I can come down here after dinner. Having long hours of looking, to sit with your work, is one of the major benefits of having your studio in your house. You’re not confined to 9–5, it’s there 24 hours. And [in comparison to a live/work studio] it’s also nice to be able to shut the door and have time away from the work, too.
  People come for studio visits – curators, other artists – it makes it a lot easier [to do business]. Sometimes the work sells off the walls in the house. Having storage helps too – collectors can rummage through it. It helps when showing curators because they can see the history of your work.

O: Has having a studio changed your practice?

PC: As you can see, [having a studio allows me to] have quite a few pieces on the go, they’re all at various stages You’ve got to have something of a studio to have a practice. Although some people are doing their original work digitally, and you see the possibilities for all that to expand, so you wonder if this kind of studio is going the way of the dodos and dinosaurs. I don’t want to think we [fine artists] are a dying breed.

O: You must work a lot on your own. How do you connect with other artists and is that important?

PC: I prefer working alone. Sometimes it’s really good if you have good people, really good artists around you, artists who are serious and who are working, then you have a learning situation and I love that.
  The studio space, especially one like this, unlike down at 1000 Parker Street (in Vancouver), is a private, solitary, secluded space and that’s great because as an artist you are committed to working long hours on your own, but there are times when you do crave human company. It can be very productive to be around other people and I yearn for that now that I’ve got my dream studio and my wish. I am here alone and it’s not like the old days when you’d be painting and people would drop in at random. It’d be nice to have more people around.

O: What would make your studio better?

PC: I would still like more space. The footprint here is 600 square feet but I lose a lot in the office space and the storage space. I wouldn’t have my office so close to the studio. It’s so easy for [the computer] to rob you of time. Another thing to make it better? A studio assistant!

To find out more about Pierre and see his work, visit www.coupey.ca

Pierre is also giving a talk at Opus North Vancouver on November 12, 2011. Click here for more information.