Mark Davis’ New Studio
After nearly two years of planning and construction, the mobile artist finally has a space
as big as his imagination.
Mark Davis in his previous attic studio.
In early 2018 I had just finished a wall-mounted mobile for a private client that measured 16’ high and 5’ across. What most people do not know is that I live and work in a small house built in 1883. In 1999, I repurposed the 2nd floor and attic to make a workshop for myself. I run up and down two sets of stairs 50 to 100 times a day.
Creating this piece was not the first time I had to conceive and create a sculpture that was two or three times the size of the space I was working in. I would manage by creating “workarounds:” making the sculpture in sections in my studio and completely assembling the finished piece only when it was time to install it. Needless to say, there was a lot of planning, faith, and held breath until those final moments!
During this project, I made a difficult decision: it was time to either move into a different home with more space for a workshop, find a workshop outside of my home, or add a building onto the existing structure of my house.
After many months, I decided to add a new studio space to my home. Using the existing garage, I would join the garage to the house, and raise the ceiling in the middle. Planning began in Spring 2018 and it was completed just last week. I am about to move my entire workshop into this beautiful, spacious and uplifting new space!
I will finally have a fully functioning spray booth for doing airbrush work. This will keep the fumes in an enclosed space with two high-powered exhaust systems.
I will also have tons of space to set up multiple benches, each for a different purpose. There is a real working sink in the room (I had always used a nearby bathroom sink for water!). Finally and most importantly, 15’ high ceilings and big barn doors will allow larger works to be built and easily moved out of the studio and transported to the installation site. No more navigating down narrow hallways and multiple flights of stairs. In all the places I have lived, I insist that the place I use to make art should be the most spiritually uplifting part of my home. I spend most of my time in my studio and having it glow is my way of loving myself.
The new studio stretches up to 15 feet high and is equipped with its own sink.
Once the studio is truly set up and organized, I hope to send out additional pictures. I almost feel badly working in this glorious space! This is a true dream come true for me, and I could not be more excited!
— Mark Davis
A custom spray booth features two high-powered exhaust systems.
Barn doors will allow for larger works to be moved in and out of the studio with ease.