Artist in residence
The values of hard work and discipline run throughout this concept artist’s organised studio space
The values of hard work and discipline run throughout Long Pham’s organised studio space.
I spend my day at my small desk, which has everything I need to work. The desk itself I grabbed from a friend back in high school.
I love being at my desk. It’s in a corner of my house in Montpellier, France, away from the windows to avoid any glare from the strong sun of the south. I cleaned up the place a tiny bit for this article – there’s usually a few extra coffee mugs in view!
Working from home is the best approach for me. I haven’t looked into shared studio spaces yet but I know friends who love it, so that may be something to think about in the future. I really enjoy not having to commute to an office, though.
I use two computer monitors so I have a lot of desktop space to play with. I also have a small part of my library up on a shelf that’s within easy reach, with inspirational artefacts and art textbooks.
On an average day I just use my drawing tablet – an Intuos 5 medium that replaced my old Cintiq – and a small keypad for shortcuts. I feel that the Intuos is easier to work with than the cumbersome Cintiq. It’s also easier to move if I have to travel. Having said this, I find 3D work is often more comfortable with the mouse. Other than the tablet I don’t use anything special, just a computer that was built on a budget, yet has decent processing power. I love mixing workflows and experimenting with 3D, traditional media and Photoshop.
I do my work only during the day, especially in the morning. I find that it’s a great way for me to stay organised and focused when deadlines are upon me. It can be especially challenging to work from home with so many distractions around you, so a solid schedule is a great help for me.