The Portuguese born artist Paula Rego works from a studio in north London, which is full of things: a wash-basin that’s not plumbed-in, which once served as a prop for a painting, a large collection of dolls, and lots of different animals, all of which she manipulates, like different characters in a play, moving them around as she composes the story for each piece.
The studio, which was built around 1900, has two enormous roof lanterns, which offer an incredible amount of natural light. Even at the age of 83, Rego still enjoys her work, aiming to start at 10.30 each morning and work until 6.30 in the evening. She works closely alongside her assistant and muse, Lila, but doesn’t let anyone else enter her studio until she comes to the end of completing a painting, when she might ask a friend to give her their thoughts. A reliable source of feedback was her late husband, the artist Victor Willing, who also helped her battle against writers block. “When I couldn’t think what to do next, he told me just to start by reading a story and illustrating it. That was very helpful,” Rego says, “Before that, he once tried to help me by setting up a blue ceramic bowl with oranges in it. (Vic liked Matisse). That didn’t work; I didn’t know what to do with it because it didn’t have a story.”
The studio, which was built around 1900, has two enormous roof lanterns, which offer an incredible amount of natural light. Even at the age of 83, Rego still enjoys her work, aiming to start at 10.30 each morning and work until 6.30 in the evening. She works closely alongside her assistant and muse, Lila, but doesn’t let anyone else enter her studio until she comes to the end of completing a painting, when she might ask a friend to give her their thoughts. A reliable source of feedback was her late husband, the artist Victor Willing, who also helped her battle against writers block. “When I couldn’t think what to do next, he told me just to start by reading a story and illustrating it. That was very helpful,” Rego says, “Before that, he once tried to help me by setting up a blue ceramic bowl with oranges in it. (Vic liked Matisse). That didn’t work; I didn’t know what to do with it because it didn’t have a story.”
She has a relatively clear routine, and typically likes to listen to music as she works; opera in the morning, and fado in the afternoon. If she wants to diversify, she might listen to Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, or the French singers Mouloudji and Jacqueline François. “I always have a rest after lunch,” Rego explains, “I’ve done that since I was a little girl growing up in Portugal. I eat two rice-cake sandwiches for lunch, full of salad, and a bit of ham or cheese, and an apple. I drink peppermint tea. When I have finished work for the day I enjoy one glass of champagne… I love being in my studio.”
(Source: mutualart.com)
(Source: mutualart.com)
