What draws you to a piece of art? Maybe it’s the attunement of colors or the atmosphere it creates, or it’s simply pretty to look at. But have you ever wondered what inspired the artist to create a piece? Explore what fuels these different artists’ creativity and how their studios reflect their craft.
A Timeless Estate
Brushes, etching plates, paints, and palettes remain frozen in time at Gari Melchers Home and Studio in Stafford. Born in 1860, Melchers was a prominent American painter who later moved to Virginia, creating Belmont, his idyllic home and studio.
The artist experimented with naturalism, impressionism, and modernism. “He didn’t have just one way of painting,” explains Susan Martis, GMHS curator, adding that her favorite aspect of his work is the way he chose color; he would have a diverse palette, from a vibrant orange to pale pinks and greens, for one painting.
Melchers was greatly driven by lighting. In “The Choirmaster” (1888–1891), he created a winsome ring of light around the choir class and objects. His fascination with lighting is in every corner of the estate—from the huge windows and skylights in his studio to the sunroom in his home. “He surrounded himself with comfort,” Martis says, adding that Melchers was incredibly inspired by his surroundings.
The most magical thing about Belmont is looking out the windows and seeing the exact frame that Melchers painted. Or the exact vase used in a still life and how he chose to interpret the shine that it reflects off of the same window. The beauty of Belmont—its trees, rose arches, architecture, and more—is alive in every painting, and any visitor will leave wanting to take a part of it with them. It’s no wonder Gari Melchers was so inspired by his timeless studio. GariMelchers.org
Snowfall, 1920, oil on canvas, depicting winter at Belmont.
The grounds at Belmont Estate, a frequent subject in Melchers’ paintings
The Choirmaster, 1888–1891.
A Catalyst for Design
Richmond’s Cathy Connon of Catherine Jordan Design describes her interior design style as traditional with a twist, and her studio is nothing short of that—plus a huge gorgeous factor tossed in. Connon describes her everyday space as if a bomb went off, but to a visitor, it’s a room bursting with inspiration—definitely a catalyst for ideas.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are the stars of the show: hers contain a full library of fabric samples, wallpapers, trim of every variety, plans, books, magazines—all neatly organized and overflowing. Bins label different themes: greens, yellows, aquas, small prints, large prints, botanicals, animals, geometrics, tweedy textures, neutrals, and more. Quotes complement the space, like designer Charles Eames’ “The details are not the details, they make the design.” Anyone’s eyes would sparkle at the idea of perusing her inventory.
Connon likens her creative process to mise en place, using her beautiful and ample center island to lay out different samples and concepts. The selected materials get transferred to trays—objet d’art in their own right—composing mood boards that match her clients’ visions.
The studio was carefully planned out to meet all her needs and includes slots for storing blueprints and plenty of cabinets and drawers. The room’s vibrant palette is unexpected and beautifully complementary: strong teal on the island, gray-green on the shelving, and citron for the storage drawers positioned under big, beautiful windows. They provide an inspirational view of her beds and borders, anchored with camellia, deutzia, hydrangea, and spring bulbs that give way to echinacea, Russian sage, and salvia.
The effortlessly chic Connon enjoys the process of putting colors and patterns together, always looking for a way to shape an interesting space. She speculates it’s in her DNA. “My mom painted and was into beautiful things, and I think I got something from that,” she says. CatherineJordanDesign.com
Flow, function, and aesthetics drove the design of this small TV room in Connon’s beach house.
Photo by Meghan McSweeney
Connon incorporated her clients’ 1955 Pierre Guariche desk, designed for Minvielle in ash wood and teal Formica, and two 1960s Finn Juhl desk chairs to create a mid-century vibe, proving that if you love it, everything can work together. Photo by Angela Newton Roy
A Tranquil Retreat
Winding roads of the Blue Ridge Mountains lead to potter Sarah McCarthy’s studio in Floyd. Trees shade a log cabin as butterflies usher visitors into her creative nucleus. “I like to think of this space as nature pouring into my studio, like it’s an extension from the outside,” McCarthy explains. “Everywhere I look, there’s light or a tree, and I see nuthatches climbing up and down.”
McCarthy’s work ranges from mugs to bowls and decorative pieces. Her pieces are the kind that are immediately recognizable by her signature color palette, clay finish, and whimsical adornments. They often feature some kind of fauna or flora, whether it be purple and turquoise fish or sprouting flowers.
The studio houses her spinning wheels, kilns, finished pieces, and works in progress. As the sun shines through huge windows, dozens of unfired clay pieces lay on a long table. McCarthy enjoys having other artists’ work around the studio, which inspires her and adds to the creative environment.
McCarthy exudes calm, offering Nepali green tea to guests. Her sanctuary is an intentional reflection of her work and aura.
“I can come to the studio. I can be quiet. I can just take a moment, take a cup of tea on my porch, and check out the woods. This studio brings me calm. And when I’m calm, I can create,” McCarthy explains. “Inspiration comes when I’m quiet and when my inside is calm. I’m able to be present in this moment. I can make work, and that’s the place I like to create from.” SarahMcCarthyPottery.com
This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue.
