HAVING A LIGHT TOUCH

Professional creative kit, an organised setup and a lot of dusty figures comprise this artist’s studio

The quality of light is important to Jens Fiedler, which is why he’s chosen fixtures and fittings that banishes the gloom from his studio.

My studio closely resembles my own character. It personifies my current career path of being a full-time, well-organised freelancer for over 10 years, and a long-time fan of video games (30 years and counting!).

I love to play with light both in my images and my studio. That’s why I’ve chosen to work in a bright room with big windows, which also allows some fresh air into the room from time to time. The right lighting has a big impact on your workstation and the speed at which your pieces progress, especially at night. I’ve even chosen lightly coloured pieces of furniture to help brighten the room; they make the relatively small space feel bigger and less constricting.

But my studio also needs a bit of personality here and there, which helps me to feel comfortable and also makes for a more interesting place to spend most of my day. Because

I like all kinds of visual stimuli, I make the most of my small space by displaying a wide range of different objects for inspiration. So I’m constantly collecting research materials such as comics, art books, books about nature, video games, and statuettes and figurines.

However, I have a constantly changing collection. If I feel that a book or a figure isn’t supporting my current art style or no longer has the same kind of impact, I’ll replace it with a new one. This helps me to keep focused on my work, without giving up on the personality of my studio.

I try to maintain a good balance between objects that are either interesting to look at or remind me of my goals, and the functionality of my workstation. This ensures it's not just a room to work in – it's also a space to reflect my personal progression as an artist. So who knows what my room will look like in a couple of years’ time…

I use this wall to display reference sheets. The number of tiny holes in the wall are proof of a constant flow of work assignments. Perhaps I should invest in a corkboard? Here’s the muscles of my studio. My iMac, with its brilliant screen, enables me...

I often like to mix modern and traditional elements, to create interesting contrasts in my art.

Even if I never show them to anyone, I love and hate my sketch books. They’re proof that I have plenty of room to grow as an artist. I should use them!