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A Quick Tour of the NEW Bob Staake Studio (originally published on On-My-Desk)
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Here's where I work. I'm very lucky to live in a 200 year old house that's 300 feet from the ocean but is only inhabited by 100 ghosts. My new studio, however, was built in 2006. It's a very simple building that I designed. Originally, there was a small barn here on the property and while we did not change the 12' x 20' footprint, the studio has a main floor, a full basement and a loft. >>>>> (Click any image for a full-size view) |
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When I was a kid, I dreamed of being an architect. This is the model for the studio that I created based on my measured drawings. |
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I've been working professionally as an illustrator since the age of 17, so over the years I've acquired a pretty nice library (this is only a portion). The entire south-facing wall is comprised of 12' wide book shelves. Everybody asks where I got the cool orange couch ($249 -- IKEA). I have one just like it in the main house. |
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Never, EVER trust a humorous illustrator who doesn't have a shelf filled with weird toys, odd gizmos and things created by his friends and colleagues. |
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For years my studio was always a crazy mess of chaos and disarray, but the older I get, the more I see benefit in a little more order. I've got SOME stuff laying around on the shelves, but for the most part, I try and keep the place pretty spartan. Oh, the tile covered in old shards of Fiestaware was something I had to create and show my wife before she let me cover our entire fireplace with Fiestaware. Once she said "okay, fine -- go for it", I did the job the next afternoon before she changed her mind. I'll post a photo of the fireplace at the end of this page. |
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NOT a very exciting desk, huh? Well, that's why I angled it this way to make it look less boring than it really is! |
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All my work is digital now, so I don't really have a need for flat files any more. You might be able to catch a glimpse in this photo of some prototypes of teapots, french presses and other kitchenware that I'm currently working on for Fox Run Craftsmen. You can also see the seat of an old Eames chair that somehow broke. I'll turn it into something else when I get around to it. |
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Hey, I've got an idea: Let's open one of these drawers and see what's inside? I have a TON of original illustration and cartoon art -- primarily done by friends and contemporaries (we all trade our art with one another). I see a color piece by Patrick McDonnell, a few Elwood Smiths, a Jack Davis (hey, I've got something like 400+ pieces, so I can't frame 'em all!). But the MOST incredible piece? It's that drastically horizontal bamboo brush drawing by my niece, Nicole. I was falling all over the place when I saw it, so a year later when she came to Cape Cod, she gave it to me. Now THAT I definitely need to frame! |
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It gets pretty damn cold in New England. This cool, vintage fireplace keeps me toasty in the winter. |
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I bought this old 50s drafting table at an antique shop in rural Missouri. Can't remember where I bought the taxidermy bat. The acrylic painting was something I found on ebay by a guy named Juno Muller. It really creeped out my wife when it was in the house, so I brought it out to the studio. |
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A few years ago, I found an old grandfather clock case being thrown out in someone's trash, so I snagged it. I added an old schoolhouse clock, shelves and a door and painted the whole thing. It really was the perfect case to display the old wind-up clocks that I collect.
MORE BOB >>> Bob's Books |
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Okay, So As Promised... Here's the fireplace that I covered in old pieces of Fiestware, Bauer and other California pottery. Someone thought it was so cool that it was on the cover of (hold your breath) St. Louis Homes and Lifestyles magazine. When people would come over and ooo and ahhh over the fireplace, we explained that it was made entirely from plates that my wife threw at me. |
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