Christina Hutchings
Step into the studio with Christina Hutchings. Located at home in Bermuda, it is a working space split into two rooms: the first centred around a large drawing table where she conceptualises the work and develops it through detailed drawings; the second for painting, where she completes the artwork, led by colour and material.
The artist gives us a behind the scenes tour, providing an intimate look at her materials and a unique insight into the process behind her striking mixed media artworks which span collage, painting, sculpture and installation.
BNG: How often do you work in your studio?
CH: I am in my studio every day. My work time varies, depending on the state the projects in progress. The most important task I do is to keep a watchful eye open for any delightful interactions between the materials around the studio.
BNG: What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?
CH: A typical day in the studio starts first thing in the morning with a glancing check on how any ongoing projects look. If there are errands and supplies to get, I usually do those in the morning and early afternoon. I find that my most productive time in the studio begins around 4pm and runs late into the night. I sometimes read and sketch in sketch books rather than working on a project while I am in the studio.
BNG: How have you set up your studio and why?
CH: My studio spaces occupy two rooms. One room holds my drawing table and lots of architectural scales and triangles. This is where I do scale drawings, plan large pieces and work on smaller collages. This first room is also filled with nicely designed wooden boxes that contain old projects or are art projects in their own right. There are small canvases, objects, small pieces of wood and metal on the wall. These are accidental compositions; often, they will inspire new pieces.
The second room is more like a painter’s palette with painting supplies, hardware, tools, miscellaneous pieces of Plexiglas, metal, wood, and colourful things all around. With all the colourful things around, an accidental juxtaposition of something will catch my eye and inspire a new art work, always a happy occurrence.
BNG: How have you been spending lockdown? Has this been a particularly creative time for you?
CH: During the lockdown, I have worked on a drawing series titled Missing People – Public Spaces. These drawings are large and made with black and white gouache and acrylic paint on paper. What I have found interesting about the process is that the images of empty spaces have evolved organically out of the drawing and erasing process.
BNG: What are you working on at the moment?
CH: At the moment, I am working on three pieces: a plexiglass and metal collage for the new Bermuda airport; a drawing series called Missing People – Public Spaces and a large 6 ft x 12 ft. assembled collage on a wooden framework. The framework supports a grid of aluminium rods and various other shapes and materials. It is an experimental piece.
Follow Christina on instagram at @christina_hutchings