The subject of this Work Spaces, an occasional feature that takes readers into the work space of a local artist, is Stephanie Rodriguez who works in the loft of her Miami Lakes townhouse. Here’s a little Q&A, along with some pics of the place where she paints while hanging out with her dogs and blasting Alice Cooper music.
Three words you feel best describe your workspace?
“Three words that describe my studio are cozy, cramped and full of books, papers and photos of musicians that inspire me (that’s more than three words)”
What do you love most about your space?
“I like the fact that my studio has large windows that flood the room with light. It is a quiet space where I can concentrate.”
The downside?
“The downside to my studio space is that I do become a hermit and spend a lot of time alone there.”
What sort of hours do you work on your art?
“I start working as soon as I brew my morning coffee at about 9 a.m. and continue working until 5 or 6 p.m. I also burn the midnight oil when I am on deadline for an illustration assignment or preparing for an art exhibit.”
How much of your work is created in the loft?
“I basically create all my work upstairs. My house is way too cramped with paintings and stuff my husband and I collect, and our three rambunctious dogs!”
Sounds while working (music, movies)?
“I don’t think I could concentrate without listening to Alice Cooper or anything really, really loud. I also listen to cheesy hair metal bands too like Warrant, Great White and Skid Row.”
Three things other than art supplies that inhabit your space?
My husband also shares the space with me. He is a musician so you will find guitars, amps and music books mixed in with my art supplies and tons of references for my paintings.
Work habits that may set you aside from other artists?
“I think what makes me a little eccentric is that my dogs love to watch me paint. I have three dogs, Gapard the Great Dane, ChiChi, the Chihuahua and Leo the Lion, who is a chow-lab mutt. Gaspard, who was named after a naughty bunny from a children’s book, and ChiChi get into trouble all the time. Leo, on the other hand is a momma’s boy and is always by my side.”
A work habit you’d like to break?
I think I drink way too much coffee. I think I must drink more than five cups a day! (This is my dad’s fault, by the way.)
Beverage of choice while working?
Chock-full o’Nuts coffee!
What most puts you in the creative mood. In other words, fill in the blank: You are most likely to create art after …?
“Listening to Alice Cooper’s song ‘Ballad of Dwight Fry.”
Anything else you would like to say about your artistic process?
“I like to work on several art projects at the same time in different mediums like oil, watercolor and pen and ink. I never know what kind of project I will be embarking on next. Right now I am working on a new series of fun pen and ink drawings [one of which is pictured here] called ‘Monster Mash’ which is inspired by campy classic horror movies, personalities and stories. I am happy to be working in a space that allows me to continue to explore my imagination.”
