Fantasizing about having a studio and actually building one are two different animals, but they can work together. A few years ago, my son flew the nest, to the world of computer-game design, creating the option of painting in a studio, instead of a sunroom stuffed with easels, canvases, tubes of paint, and the rest. But to convert the possibility into a reality took some serious work, which started with careful planning.

One early question was, What should it look like? -- especially the roof line. Using a house design program (Punch™) we played with several possibilities:

The first idea was a traditional gable roof, for simplicity. Aside from the hard-to-use space above the ceiling, we just couldn't bear the thought of a studio with so little inspirational value.
Next was an unconventional half-gable, to maximize north light. It sounded like a good idea at first, but to get the most out of the north-facing windows, we would have had to cut down irreplaceable trees on the north side of the building. And it just didn't fit the land.
We finally settled on a clerestory-window design. The ceiling on the high studio side would rise from 12 to 18 feet, with north-facing windows in the high wall. The low side could house a workshop for framing and other work, with a garage door aligned with an existing site entrance. The space above the workshop could be adapted for storage of materials and finished works. And having built two other clerestory-window structures, we had faith in the design.

After a winter of designing, we prepared the site, poured the foundation and slab, ordered materials, and got to work. With an in-house crew (and frequent help from neighbors) the work was slow but steady.

Gradually, the framing began to give hints of what the building would look like. The first distinctive feature was the south wall, framed with 2x6 lumber for stiffness, since it would include considerable window area, and be braced only at the sides and top.

The greatest potential waste of space was the area above the workshop.

However, we reclaimed this space with a series of "pockets" along a cantilevered catwalk, accessed by a stairway (not yet framed in this photo) up the west side of the building. The stairway, in turn, provided room for a small bathroom and more storage underneath.

Once the catwalk flooring was stained and varnished, it began to look downright civilized. Still to come are doors on the pockets and louvers to reduce the flow of cold north wind from coming up through the insulation baffles under the north half of the roof. In summer, hot air rising through the baffles immediately goes back out through the clerestory windows, which usually stay open, unscreened ... the mosquitoes, wasps, and wrens haven't yet thought to look for access 25 feet above ground.

The face of the catwalk balustrade provides a striking (but easily accessed) place to hang paintings for display.

It shouldn't be surprising that the real thing actually looks like the early concept drawings, but we can't help marveling sometimes.

The workshop downstairs has constantly earned its keep for art-support and for construction of the other parts of the building.

Anyone who has moved into a house or workplace before construction is totally finished can tell you that there can be confusion and conflicts. But that's a small price to pay for getting all the art stuff out of the house!

Gradually, things have come together, and the artworks pour out at an unprecedented rate.

And meanwhile we're living our dream.