It's remarkable that so many of the great artists haven't accidentally set fire to themselves. Oil paint is quite flammable. The substances used to remove oil paint - also quite flammable. And many of them are constantly smoking and drinking and probably prone to tripping over their own detritus.
"Chaos breeds images." I SO agree! Whenever I look at some sort of surface or scene with irregular patterns, I always see images emerging. It can be a floor, curtains, an old worn down table, a pile of leaves...whatever. Tidy and organized spaces are, in my mind, dead. There's nothing there, because nothing is allowed to be there.
That was brilliantly captivating. Normally I start nipping down to the comments section or checking to see how long the video has to go even when I'm interested in the topic but not this time. Thanks so much for putting this together. Amazing about the relocation of everything and setting it all back up. I'm loving your channel. Great work.
I've seen photos of Bacon's studio and wondered if it was really that chaotic - you've proven that it was. I always imagined that he worked in there, but went home to a nice home. It's incredible to see that his bath tub was in the kitchen across the hall from that mess. Great video.
Bacon had a 'regular' larger flat around the corner, plus a studio/apartment in Paris. Reece mews was his favourite working space. It was useful for promoting his image. He was a very wealthy man.
This video brings to mind a famous Australian artist Margaret Olley who lived and worked in Sydney and used her whole house as a studio. When she died they did the same thing and recreated her studio at Tweed Regional Gallery on permanent display. 👍
Thank you. A most informative and stimulating production. The background music is a little intrusive in my opinion. The quality of the data, the information speaks for itself. If I may take the liberty, may I suggest, don't rush the delivery. Thank you once again.
Why do video makers add music at all? So distracting, even when fairly subtle like this. Is it something to do with copyright? Also we don’t need images of you with head phones. The images of Bacon and the studio are much more interesting. Also you are talking too fast. What’s the rush? These criticisms are meant constructively. I enjoyed your video!
My "studio" is my living room--I just looked around and I have 15 paintings on board, canvas and paper on easel, leaning against walls, or propped on chairs and mantlepiece, 2 tables with paint tubes scattered, 2 cups with brushes, and a work table in the other room with wood, paint, boards, etc. I feel better now.
What you're describing here is exactly my setup as well! I don't use oils as I don't have the space to store finished work for drying. I knew an artist who was as messy as Francis, you had to wade into his space to view work, it was incredibly chaotic but didn't bother him at all.
Sounds like a great studio! For now I'm stuck in a 9'6" X 13' with 8' ceiling. Except it has 8 windows and a door to the large deck outside. As large as I can go is about 48"X 36 canvas because I can't get far enough away. I only clean and straighten it twice per year. The rest of my home is very well kept. In the process of walling off the1st bay of my detached 3 car garage. Will give me 12' X 24' with 12' ceiling. Work bench across the 24' wall with wash tub. I have a wood shop set up in my basement, is where I build my own canvas stretchers and make my own picture frames as needed. I have a small closet full of recent work, paintings behind furniture, under furniture and in my attic. I struggle to find the tube of paint I'm looking for on the stupid little rolling cart. The little room doubles as computer office room and printers. Makes my painting space more like 10 by 8.
For this case, I can totally make sense of Bacon´s work... You see, usually we see his artwork in museums or galleries with very well kept environments that makes the artwork seem "off" in some way. Yet, I can TOTALLY picture Bacon´s artwork in his studio.
I never comment but I NEED TO say i just stumbled into this video and your channel and i absolutely looovve that ur videos allow the deep focus on the studio (and all the research) so we get these hyper specific info and view on artists we all have know (or not) in the midst of this oversaturated platform. Fully enthousiastic and supportive of all ur future video projects. You will get an honorary space in my art master thesis :)) greetings from Belgium! (going into ghost-no-comment-only-watch-mode on youtube again hihi)
I try to keep my painting area clean and tidy, and it always makes me think of Bacon’s studio. Thank you for this though, as I didn’t know that they’d painstakingly relocated his to Edinburgh, including every last dust molecule.
5:53 that's such a good point about the mirror. Some compositions just look somehow empty, skewed, misaligned or just off when viewed in the mirror... and yet in normal light and the right way round to me the artist they look totally fine!
I was lucky to live near the gallery in Dublin. Perhaps more than the images even, the space was an inspiration because it gives me an unglamorous look at the life of an artist, as I was choosing that life for myself. It removed the glamour and pretentiousness which is associated with the term “artist” and allowed me get the perspective of focusing on the work and the process.
Excellent content and video. My creative space room looks not dissimilar. I thought about a tidy up. But it feels comfortable and has many inspirations at hand at once.
When I was living in Manhattan, I had a visit from my tenant organizer. Looking around at the clutter of my apartment, she said, "What is all this junk?" I responded, "It is the soup from where creative ideas come from..."
Great video, Alex. I just saw the film Love is the devil about Bacon. And then these days it's also no coincidence to come across something about Bacon then on YT. Bacon's role in the film is insanely well translated by Derek Jacobi.
this definitely appeals to me, i know it looks like a hurricane in there but i can imagine trudging in with a cup of black coffee and my slippers and getting to work. that being said bacon WAS particularly haunted and tortured as an artist and the external very much matches his internal world. theres a number of studios in the fine art dept of my uni that are practically indistinguishable from his the main difference being more energy drink cans and less work produced! I always wonder what internal discipline pushed him to create despite his addictions and personal troubles, and the studio provides some hints.
Yes Bacon definitely a troubled upbringing. I skipped over a lot of his personal life quite intentionally. Mostly because I try to avoid super long videos. But I do think that some people just naturally gravitate towards mess and disorganisation far more than other people, as you say it appeals to you. Bacon was one of those people.
Wonder what Bacon would have thought about the studio transfer and relocation? Super interesting. Makes me feel better about my "messy" space ha ha, at least I can see the floor!
I like your obsession very much. I knew about Francis Bacon's mess, but never thought to put Picasso in the same boat. If you don't have the inspiring materials in front of you, you will forget they exist. You can look at a magazine image and be intrigued with it without knowing why it is so interesting. Bacon just went with it, not needing to understand it. He was right. For me, having to put my materials away every day is a big downer.
It’s interesting to think about the similarities and differences between Freud and Bacon’s studio. Not just because they were friends, but because they show two - in their own ways - very focused individuals, who adapted similar spaces in a very different way to suit their way of seeing and working. While at first glance the aesthetics of Freud’s place seem similar (paint tubes, old furniture, and a quite enormous bulbous accumulation of flicked oil paint that is collected on the wall because he use to clean it that way), it’s different in that he worked with models. Which is to say: the room, it’s mood and furniture played an important role in setting the tone for that work. Also: if you watch the video of his last day working (his assistant and model recorded some while he was sitting for him) you see how precise and eagle-like his gaze was, quite a contrast to Bacon’s.
Good comparison. You're definitely right in that Freud's studio looked very similar, but played quite a different role in his work. It was much more a scene or backdrop for his paintings, whereas Bacon's studio was more a provider of reference material. I touched briefly on Freud's studio in a previous video but didn't go into too much depth. I might revisit it the future.
@@alexwilliamyt Sure, no worries, this was the very first one I've seen. If you ask me though, Bacon's room directly acted as his subconsciousness: storing images, materials and other inspirational stuff he could dump there and leave, forgetting about them. And by the time you re-discover them while grabbing stuff to work from off the floor, it feels like fresh input. Quite similar to the difference between 'found footage' and 'footage made by yourself'. By the time you pick it up again off the pile on the floor, it no longer feels like someone else originally created it. And you're very free to associate and create these influential images.
This is wonderful. I have clouds and millions of images I keep my reference photos in otherwise I would have this mess. Im a reference material hoarder and I will spend days going thru my hoard looking for something that clicks 😂❤
I was assisting on a job for sports illustrated and the photographer tells his wife while we were at the airport. "My assistant is reading Francis's Bacon's Bio", That's a first.
my bathroom is a work of art right now. I will require a team of curators to take inventory. Once they see the splatters of the many shades of brown, they will undoubtedly agree that it is a work of art in itself.
I love your channel because I am also obsessed with art studios. You should do some average artist's art studios also, like come see mine? 😊You would always be welcome if you came to Cocoa Beach, Florida.
If you like I’d love to see a vid abt Picasso's home studio. It was full of paintings, sculptures, ceramics etc. After his death they found thousands of thousands of sketches and paintings and other works he made. I love a creative mess but in fact Bacon is a bit too much for me personally but obviously it worked for him to make art.
I wouls like to hear your perspective and thoughts on British painter Anthony Micallef's studio. as his work has changed dramatically fro his early origins. But I see a lot of Francis Bacon in his work. For me I relate to the clutter as I always knoe where things are or within a certain area or spot. Its a fine line between controlled chaos and a form of an emotional ties to things.. Andy Warhol was a massive Hoarder and a good part of his arc hive is filled with boxes of crap.
@@alexwilliamyt I do believe that an artist studio and its content, layout is an extension of the artist brain and mental state. I can't let it gwet to extremme cause then I feel like an episode of hoarders. But as I have gotten older I try not to hold on to shit. Art ist different. I hold on to books and music. But at the ne d of the day it is purely stuff. I dont want to be one of those people on that Show screaming" it has meories." All while crying over 863 cans of piss and shit.
Artist's and creatives kind share something with hoarding ,but it is not hoarding per say. Kinda of like living with inspiration all around you. Anything that motivates is worthy of keeping. Einstein is said to be messy.
Whenever I feel bad about my work habits I look at images of Bacon’s studio and I feel better.
Poor Francis. Whenever his father was displeased with boy, he would turn him over the the stable grooms...
It's remarkable that so many of the great artists haven't accidentally set fire to themselves. Oil paint is quite flammable. The substances used to remove oil paint - also quite flammable. And many of them are constantly smoking and drinking and probably prone to tripping over their own detritus.
They obviously knew about it and had no issues… it shows that society worries about way too much
I think Michael Heizer's friend burnt to death while helping him to build City. but they weren't using oil paints on that, obviously.
And some of them actually smoke The Paint.
that's why they stay in damp places
"Chaos breeds images."
I SO agree! Whenever I look at some sort of surface or scene with irregular patterns, I always see images emerging. It can be a floor, curtains, an old worn down table, a pile of leaves...whatever. Tidy and organized spaces are, in my mind, dead. There's nothing there, because nothing is allowed to be there.
Studied in China where everything had to be organized,neat.It was a struggle to work that way.I have reverted and mess is glorious.Excellent video.
I’m a clean freak
While working however it would be and is a huge distraction to the creative flow.
Focus on the idea is the key!
So many artists are hoarders, certainly a way to keep the creative juices running ❤
It's most likely due to OCD, ADHD and PTSD.
The archiving work is mindblowing 😳
Thank you for this inside look into the minds eye of a Artist. Well Done.
one of my favorite painters haunting images and what a total character, The one and only Francis
That was brilliantly captivating. Normally I start nipping down to the comments section or checking to see how long the video has to go even when I'm interested in the topic but not this time. Thanks so much for putting this together. Amazing about the relocation of everything and setting it all back up. I'm loving your channel. Great work.
That means a lot, thank you.
I'm messy myself but this studio would absolutely drive me crazy!
Wow...this has been the single most informative video on how a genius like Bacon got inspiration that I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful :)
I couldn't agree more, the documentaries certainly go over a lot but they always gloss over the meticulous details of his art studio.
@@c3ramics This is a great video - informative, intimate, visually stunning.
I have seen the autobiography movie of Bacon, but this was fantastic, I had never seen his living area. Thanks for making this
I've seen photos of Bacon's studio and wondered if it was really that chaotic - you've proven that it was. I always imagined that he worked in there, but went home to a nice home. It's incredible to see that his bath tub was in the kitchen across the hall from that mess. Great video.
Bacon had a 'regular' larger flat around the corner, plus a studio/apartment in Paris. Reece mews was his favourite working space. It was useful for promoting his image. He was a very wealthy man.
Love the history of Bacon...love your voice, you are an excellent teacher. Thankyou for this piece, fabulous ❤
Much appreciated!
Excellent perspective. Your concise and informed views on these spaces are a treat.
Stumbled onto this channel. What a treat!
Thanks for watching! Drop a like if you enjoyed - it really goes a long way!
Ok
This video brings to mind a famous Australian artist Margaret Olley who lived and worked in Sydney and used her whole house as a studio. When she died they did the same thing and recreated her studio at Tweed Regional Gallery on permanent display. 👍
I am happy to come across your channel, I love the Art history you provide. Thank you
Thank you. A most informative and stimulating production. The background music is a little intrusive in my opinion. The quality of the data, the information speaks for itself. If I may take the liberty, may I suggest, don't rush the delivery. Thank you once again.
Thanks for the feedback!
Why do video makers add music at all? So distracting, even when fairly subtle like this. Is it something to do with copyright? Also we don’t need images of you with head phones. The images of Bacon and the studio are much more interesting. Also you are talking too fast. What’s the rush? These criticisms are meant constructively. I enjoyed your video!
Fascinating! I especially liked seeing how his unkempt and partially destroyed photos were used as references for his work. That explains a lot!
My "studio" is my living room--I just looked around and I have 15 paintings on board, canvas and paper on easel, leaning against walls, or propped on chairs and mantlepiece, 2 tables with paint tubes scattered, 2 cups with brushes, and a work table in the other room with wood, paint, boards, etc. I feel better now.
I can relate. Bacon is one big reason I had to paint, which I did, as a muralist and professor of painting at a small college. Thanks Mr. Bacon!
Sounds like a productive studio! :)
You are just getting started!
What you're describing here is exactly my setup as well! I don't use oils as I don't have the space to store finished work for drying. I knew an artist who was as messy as Francis, you had to wade into his space to view work, it was incredibly chaotic but didn't bother him at all.
Sounds like a great studio! For now I'm stuck in a 9'6" X 13' with 8' ceiling. Except it has 8 windows and a door to the large deck outside. As large as I can go is about 48"X 36 canvas because I can't get far enough away. I only clean and straighten it twice per year. The rest of my home is very well kept. In the process of walling off the1st bay of my detached 3 car garage. Will give me 12' X 24' with 12' ceiling. Work bench across the 24' wall with wash tub. I have a wood shop set up in my basement, is where I build my own canvas stretchers and make my own picture frames as needed. I have a small closet full of recent work, paintings behind furniture, under furniture and in my attic. I struggle to find the tube of paint I'm looking for on the stupid little rolling cart. The little room doubles as computer office room and printers. Makes my painting space more like 10 by 8.
For this case, I can totally make sense of Bacon´s work... You see, usually we see his artwork in museums or galleries with very well kept environments that makes the artwork seem "off" in some way. Yet, I can TOTALLY picture Bacon´s artwork in his studio.
The way he had things put behind glass and framed, too, increased their oddness!
I never comment but I NEED TO say i just stumbled into this video and your channel and i absolutely looovve that ur videos allow the deep focus on the studio (and all the research) so we get these hyper specific info and view on artists we all have know (or not) in the midst of this oversaturated platform. Fully enthousiastic and supportive of all ur future video projects. You will get an honorary space in my art master thesis :)) greetings from Belgium! (going into ghost-no-comment-only-watch-mode on youtube again hihi)
Really appreciate your comment, thanks. Good luck on your thesis!
I try to keep my painting area clean and tidy, and it always makes me think of Bacon’s studio. Thank you for this though, as I didn’t know that they’d painstakingly relocated his to Edinburgh, including every last dust molecule.
If you visit New York USA, Jackson Pollock’s studio is on display in East Hampton Long Island.
5:53 that's such a good point about the mirror. Some compositions just look somehow empty, skewed, misaligned or just off when viewed in the mirror... and yet in normal light and the right way round to me the artist they look totally fine!
I was lucky to live near the gallery in Dublin. Perhaps more than the images even, the space was an inspiration because it gives me an unglamorous look at the life of an artist, as I was choosing that life for myself. It removed the glamour and pretentiousness which is associated with the term “artist” and allowed me get the perspective of focusing on the work and the process.
Brilliant video, Thankyou ❤
I love these videos sm 😭💕
Thanks Sha'an! :)
Am I the only one wondering how his studio didn't spontaneously combust from all of those oil paint supplies and photos piled on top of each other? 😂
Good point! The fumes from spirits and oil paints is not something I thought about. Must have been intense.
Excellent content and video. My creative space room looks not dissimilar. I thought about a tidy up. But it feels comfortable and has many inspirations at hand at once.
honestly so glad this studio has been immortalized
I LOVE your videos! Great information in a reduced amount of time! Bravo
Dust is a protective cover for furniture...takes on a new meaning!
I love how your studio is all clean and white walls 😂 great video chap
Thanks for reminding me how fascinating this creature was. I’d forgotten!
Every photo that I've seen of Bacon in his studio shows him in neat and clean attire...not one paint splatter anywhere to be seen on his clothes!
Good work on this upload. Very thoughtful and well presented. I will check out your others 🐫
interesting. a very G rated version of what it was about his history that made his work so dark.
Went to visit the studio in Dublin in Hugh Lane gallery on a school trip, its energy is beyond chaotic
I love your videos! Bacon is such a captivating artist, glad you covered him! ❤️
Thanks for watching! :)
Fascinating! Similar to the squalor of Margaret Olley but without all of the dead floral and fruit arrangements.
When I was living in Manhattan, I had a visit from my tenant organizer. Looking around at the clutter of my apartment, she said, "What is all this junk?"
I responded, "It is the soup from where creative ideas come from..."
Hahaha. That's dope. But you probably sounded retarded to her
Great video, Alex. I just saw the film Love is the devil about Bacon. And then these days it's also no coincidence to come across something about Bacon then on YT. Bacon's role in the film is insanely well translated by Derek Jacobi.
this definitely appeals to me, i know it looks like a hurricane in there but i can imagine trudging in with a cup of black coffee and my slippers and getting to work. that being said bacon WAS particularly haunted and tortured as an artist and the external very much matches his internal world. theres a number of studios in the fine art dept of my uni that are practically indistinguishable from his the main difference being more energy drink cans and less work produced! I always wonder what internal discipline pushed him to create despite his addictions and personal troubles, and the studio provides some hints.
Yes Bacon definitely a troubled upbringing. I skipped over a lot of his personal life quite intentionally. Mostly because I try to avoid super long videos. But I do think that some people just naturally gravitate towards mess and disorganisation far more than other people, as you say it appeals to you. Bacon was one of those people.
Wonder what Bacon would have thought about the studio transfer and relocation? Super interesting. Makes me feel better about my "messy" space ha ha, at least I can see the floor!
His art reflects his studio
So well done!! Thank You!! New subscriber!! 🎨
A complete fire hazzard
I like your obsession very much. I knew about Francis Bacon's mess, but never thought to put Picasso in the same boat. If you don't have the inspiring materials in front of you, you will forget they exist. You can look at a magazine image and be intrigued with it without knowing why it is so interesting. Bacon just went with it, not needing to understand it. He was right. For me, having to put my materials away every day is a big downer.
Great Bacon 👍
Fascinating video.
Thank you!
Legend. Real painter. 👏👌
It’s interesting to think about the similarities and differences between Freud and Bacon’s studio. Not just because they were friends, but because they show two - in their own ways - very focused individuals, who adapted similar spaces in a very different way to suit their way of seeing and working.
While at first glance the aesthetics of Freud’s place seem similar (paint tubes, old furniture, and a quite enormous bulbous accumulation of flicked oil paint that is collected on the wall because he use to clean it that way), it’s different in that he worked with models. Which is to say: the room, it’s mood and furniture played an important role in setting the tone for that work. Also: if you watch the video of his last day working (his assistant and model recorded some while he was sitting for him) you see how precise and eagle-like his gaze was, quite a contrast to Bacon’s.
Good comparison. You're definitely right in that Freud's studio looked very similar, but played quite a different role in his work. It was much more a scene or backdrop for his paintings, whereas Bacon's studio was more a provider of reference material. I touched briefly on Freud's studio in a previous video but didn't go into too much depth. I might revisit it the future.
@@alexwilliamyt Sure, no worries, this was the very first one I've seen. If you ask me though, Bacon's room directly acted as his subconsciousness: storing images, materials and other inspirational stuff he could dump there and leave, forgetting about them. And by the time you re-discover them while grabbing stuff to work from off the floor, it feels like fresh input. Quite similar to the difference between 'found footage' and 'footage made by yourself'. By the time you pick it up again off the pile on the floor, it no longer feels like someone else originally created it. And you're very free to associate and create these influential images.
Love it. Thank you.
This is wonderful. I have clouds and millions of images I keep my reference photos in otherwise I would have this mess. Im a reference material hoarder and I will spend days going thru my hoard looking for something that clicks 😂❤
My mother always complains my room and work areas are too messy. Down I don't feel bad one bit.
love your channel! keep it up!
wow i see my future studio now thank you
Yo great content👏🏾you should make a studio vid on Jean-Michel Basquiat 🙏🏾
As an Artist myself I can see the Madness
quite amazing the extent they went to ..to move all his stuff
Really engaging video, thank you.
Modern Painting is all hype
So interesting. Thank you!
They took this entire 'mess' and transplanted it intact into the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin - you can step into it, separated by glass
great work keep it up
The making of art is always more interesting than the result imo, at least if its done properly!
Yes, in a lot of cases it is.
A positive spin on a hoarder situation.
They should make a movie about him starring Oliver Platt. They must be long lost relatives.
great video! thank you!
Well, if I was Loaded all the time................I too would be non judgmental about my squalor!! lol
Quite true!
I was assisting on a job for sports illustrated and the photographer tells his wife while we were at the airport. "My assistant is reading Francis's Bacon's Bio", That's a first.
my bathroom is a work of art right now. I will require a team of curators to take inventory. Once they see the splatters of the many shades of brown, they will undoubtedly agree that it is a work of art in itself.
great video!
Thanks!
My room looks like that, and it's not even a studio.
I love your channel because I am also obsessed with art studios. You should do some average artist's art studios also, like come see mine? 😊You would always be welcome if you came to Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Thanks! I'm covering a smaller artist in an upcoming video!
If you like I’d love to see a vid abt Picasso's home studio. It was full of paintings, sculptures, ceramics etc. After his death they found thousands of thousands of sketches and paintings and other works he made. I love a creative mess but in fact Bacon is a bit too much for me personally but obviously it worked for him to make art.
Picasso video is currently in the works!
@alexwilliamyt It's gonna be so interesting, thanks! Your channel is great.
I wouls like to hear your perspective and thoughts on British painter Anthony Micallef's studio. as his work has changed dramatically fro his early origins. But I see a lot of Francis Bacon in his work. For me I relate to the clutter as I always knoe where things are or within a certain area or spot. Its a fine line between controlled chaos and a form of an emotional ties to things.. Andy Warhol was a massive Hoarder and a good part of his arc hive is filled with boxes of crap.
Yea his studio is very reminiscent of Bacon's space. Really interesting painting work too! Might feature in an upcoming video. Thanks.
@@alexwilliamyt I do believe that an artist studio and its content, layout is an extension of the artist brain and mental state. I can't let it gwet to extremme cause then I feel like an episode of hoarders. But as I have gotten older I try not to hold on to shit. Art ist different. I hold on to books and music. But at the ne d of the day it is purely stuff. I dont want to be one of those people on that Show screaming" it has meories." All while crying over 863 cans of piss and shit.
@@HenryHateFineArt ha ha ha
Great video.
Artist's and creatives kind share something with hoarding ,but it is not hoarding per say. Kinda of like living with inspiration all around you. Anything that motivates is worthy of keeping. Einstein is said to be messy.
So, the sawdust and cat hairs in my work is purrpusfull!
😂😂😂
Given how flamable oil paint is, this scares me!
great video
Well done laddie
my 16 year old college art self could had definitely competed with that mantle.
'I want to paint the scream more than the horror.' - Francis Bacon
there's nothing impressive about an artist being a hoarder. like.. hi... i do that too
this is a very typical artist's studio, a typical atmosphere !
I'm curious about what Bacon might think of certain studios of 'stylish' young artists on Instagram :)
This came up on my algorithm, watched and it was super engaging with good pacing. Nicely done :) Subscribed!
Welcome! :)
good video!
nice video.......Daniel Radcliff ? ? ? ?
?
Expelliarmus!
we're all like those people
17:50 Who’s ‘Van Go’ ? 🤦♂️
What a pleasure. Thanks for sharing. Subscribing for more.
who is giamiety? some russian artist? i thought he was called giacometti
Yea, I didn't pronounce that one quite right. My bad!
@@alexwilliamyt man you didn't even tried
Wondering how Bacon would feel about his studio being deified
It must be difficult to keep immaculate clean any painting studio room. But this is a bit over the top of dirties.
Art has two periods. The period before Francis Bacon and the period after. There is no further need for classification.