Deborah Riva-Robidou

Ceramic, Glass, Metal, Found Object Mixed Media, Pen & Ink

How long have you been working out of this space? How has it evolved over time?

We moved here from Alaska about 4 ½ years ago and set up the studio as soon as we got here. At the time I didn’t have electricity to run any of my equipment, so we had to get all of that set up. I just started making little found object sculptures because I had to do something creative but I didn’t have any of my equipment. I started with small sculptures with bells for heads. I took them down to a local shop and everything [grew] from there. It was really neat to see how it started so small with just stuff that I was finding and glueing together. Now, I have been working on big pieces with parts from cars.

What is currently your favorite piece created in your studio?

When we shut down I was like, you know I haven’t had anytime to just be still and just be inspired and let it play out however it’s gonna go. So I just felt like, “You need to set up your camera and record your process.” I started with faces and made a little girl and just started talking about it and welding on camera. I had been listening to Anne of Green Gables and used that as my inspiration. She just took shape with her barbwire hair. As soon as that was done I was like that satisfies everything for me. They have personality, they are children, I love books, I love buttons and mixed media so everything just came together. So I ended up making a whole collection of these little people. I had an art show and sold almost every one I had. I love taking stuff that would be garbage and turning it into something that is so interesting and in a way beautiful or charming.

Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?

I think I couldn’t live without clay. Otherwise, I can make do with anything. If you don’t have very many art supplies, you can always have a pencil or pen and a piece of paper. In my space, I think it’s more things that remind me of my family. I have buttons and jars from my grandma. I have even been using the buttons in all of my pieces. It kind of helps me stay true to myself and stay connected to where I came from.

“Creating is like a sacred process in a way. You are tapping into your inspiration so it’s nice to have something special in that space.”

What tip(s) would you give someone thinking about creating their own studio?

The one thing when I didn’t have that much space, I at least claimed a small space that was mine. So I did have my own place to keep my supplies and my little corner that was still special. Even though I didn’t have a big room, I still had a little space that was special. Creating is like a sacred process in a way. You are tapping into your inspiration so it’s nice to have something special in that space. Like a little trunk that held all my little creative things. A safe place to keep all of your stuff.

Why do you find it important to have a space solely for creativity?

It’s so nice especially because I can set stuff out and walk away from it. Then I can walk in, see it and get my reaction from it. I need to be able to leave it and not feel like everything has to be tidy. With my found objects, I’ll have buckets of bolts and all these random things where I can just walk up and be like, “Oh, that can be an eye.” It really helps to have a place where I can keep everything spread out.