Francis Bacon’s studio
Posted: August 13, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized 36 CommentsI am thankful that my friend Rich steered me to the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin, not only for the excellent collection of contemporary art but also for a wonderfully voyeuristic view into Francis Bacon’s studio. Some years ago the whole studio (including walls, floor and ceiling) was dismantled and moved from London to Dublin where it has been catalogued and reassembled in all its chaotic disorder, including the steep staircase and rope railing that Bacon climbed every day to reach it. To capture it fully I would have had to draw in a much wider sketchbook, but I did manage to sketch a small pile of objects in a corner of the dimly-lit space. You can’t enter the room but you can walk around it and peer in through several plexiglass windows. My sketch in no way describes the amount of art materials, books, magazines, canvases, easels, boxes, furniture and dust in the room. It must be seen to experience it fully. If you are in Dublin, don’t miss this treasure.
To note: I haven’t been posting as frequently as usual due to health issues with a close family member. When all of that gets resolved I will resume at my regular and more frequent rate.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
This makes me feel better about my messy “nest.” May your loved one get better soon!
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Thanks so much Dee.
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Now that’s different! Hope you’ll soon able to be back posting more regularly.
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Me too Tony.
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What an astonishing drawing. This amount of detail would defeat me but you’ve captured it so beautifully, without any suggestion of fussiness. I do hope your family member gets better soon: I know the feeling.
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Thanks so much for your kind wishes Michael.
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Dear Shari, I’m sorry to hear you have a family member in distress. Look after yourself as well. We’ll be fine until you are back to your regular schedule. What ever you post is most welcome, but please don’t create extra pressure on yourself, at a difficult time!
Best
Jess
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Thanks so much Jess.
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Love this drawing. As Dee wrote, makes my room look neat. Much as I look forward to your posts, family is first.
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Thanks so much Judy.
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Amazing how you get so many details:)!!Amazing.
I am sorry someone in your family is not well..hope they get better soon:)
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Thanks Monique!
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Lovely sketch. Hope everything gets back to normal soon. Best wishes
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Many thanks Marina.
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All the comments reflect my feelings … Family first! Really hope your family gets well soon , Shari and you take care as well in what is a really busy year. Thanks for the heads up on Dublin as I visit there next year .. Hugs to you x
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Thanks for your good wishes Toni. And I hope you love Ireland as much as I did.
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What a coincidence, just reading last night in “Daily Rituals: How Artists Work” about Francis Bacon, they showed a photo of his studio from 1971. Like my husband, he wanted everything at his fingertips. As I get older and spend too much time looking for things, I totally undertand his thinking.
Your someone in need is so lucky to have a caring person like you to be there, may the wind be at your back.
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Many, many thanks for your kind words Laurie.
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Fantastic sketch of the section of the room. How did you ever make sense of what you were looking at in the dim light from outside the room?
Sorry about the family health issues. Hope things improve quickly.
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I just chose a corner and drew what I saw. It was really just a corner of the room. I would have loved to add colour too but it was really hard to see in there. And thanks for your wishes Joan.
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Hope your close family member gets better soon……amazing sketch,so much to see,where do you start?
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Thanks Liliane. For the sketch, I just picked a can of brushes and drew outward from there. In a scene like this there is no logical starting place. It’s just stuff piled on top of stuff…
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Sending my wish for your family member to return to health and comfort. Your work is always welcome whether daily, weekly or longer intervals, Take care of yourself.
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Thanks so much Jean.
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Hehe, I can relate to this. Great sketch of artistic chaos. Best wishes for you and yours.
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Many thanks Ros!
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Ditto on what everyone has posted here. Take care of your loved one and yourself. Thank you for being so generous with your time.
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Thanks so much Linda. Much appreciated.
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Hope things improve or stay stable regarding family issues. Miss seeing you on our walks. Take care and carry on.
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Thanks so much Sara.
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Kind thoughts to you and your loved one.
All of your audience respects your work and how much you share with us.
Love this sketch and the sweet one of Alice.
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Thanks Linda. Much appreciated.
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Somehow my name has changed on your comments….linder322 is me, Linda Daily.
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Hi Linda,
I thought it was you but the name is new. How did that happen? Vicky and I talked about you in Manchester. We missed you but hopefully you’ll make it to Chicago next year. It was great to see her.
Shari
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Your sketch is as bold as your watercolour. Love it.
Francis Theo
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Francis, I am so glad that you commented since I have been wanting to thank you so much for your beautiful book. I was so honoured to receive it. I haven’t had time to write since my father has been in hospital since I returned from Manchester. Thank you again and it was wonderful to see you!
Shari
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