Welcome to the 360th installment of A View From the Easel, a series in which artists reflect on their workspace. This week, Gerardo Rosales paints stories late into the night to the sounds of Chaka Khan and a James Baldwin audiobook.
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.
Gerardo Rosales, Houston, Texas
How long have you been working in this space?
Two years.
Describe an average day in your studio.
I don't have a set schedule. I would say that I have two studios: my home, where I sometimes draw and sketch, especially on my computer, and my actual studio. In my studio, I produce larger works or ones that involve more use of paint, where I don't feel like I need to be careful about making a mess. Sometimes I work for long hours, including late at night, or I just go to the studio to look at the work I am doing and think about it. I like to listen to music while I am working. I have a very eclectic taste. At the moment, I am interested in Gregorian chants, Chaka Khan, and Caetano Veloso. I also like to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. I recently finished listening to Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas, and I am now listening to Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.
How does the space affect your work?
Space definitely affects the work I produce. From 2000 to 2015, I didn’t have a studio like I have now, so I worked from my living room at home. I produced mainly drawings and small-scale paintings. I also produced works that I could assemble in a gallery and that would become large installations. Around 2016, I was able to have access to bigger spaces, and my work was significantly impacted by this. I started producing large paintings, some as big as 96 by 120 inches. After that, I also started making large-scale wall paintings.
How do you interact with the environment outside your studio?
My studio is in a very large artist studio complex in Houston. I believe there are more than 300 studios here. Having said that, I normally work independently and I don’t feel part of an art community where I am at the moment. I have artist friends in the city whom I meet occasionally to talk about art, our work, and life in general.
What do you love about your studio?
Several things, I like the light and its tall walls. This allows me to expand my ideas into large-scale works, and also to play with the space and create installations throughout the studio. The location is very convenient because I have access to art supply stores and coffee shops. I especially like working in my studio at night because it is quieter and my work flows better.
What do you wish were different?
I wish the studio were more affordable and part of a smaller art community with more like-minded individuals. I also wish I had more opportunities to interact with artists from different areas of expertise, so we could collaborate, exchange knowledge, and learn from one another.
What is your favorite local museum?
I don’t have a favorite local museum. I like several museums in the city for different reasons, and I enjoy what each one has to offer.
What is your favorite art material to work with?
I don’t have a favorite material. I like to experiment and use different materials depending on what is most appropriate for each project. I often say that my favorite material is the next one, the one I haven’t worked with yet.