A studio visit with Christian Patterson

photographs by David Brandon Geeting

Where is your studio exactly and how long have you been working there?
My studio is in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which is located about five minutes from my home.

What are the pros and cons of your studio?
Pros: Location, size and space.
Cons: The internet.

How many hours do you usually spend there per week?
30ish.

Do you have your own daily routine within the studio? For exemple, do you usually start by answering your emails then get to work etc?
I start by turning on my computer, playing some music and answering e-mail. The rest of the day depends to a large extent on various ongoing projects and what other people need from me. For the past several months I also have spent a lot of time traveling, going to exhibitions, doing book signings, giving artist talks and leading workshops. But I am now finally, slowly turning my attention to what I hope will be my next big project.

Are there things you deliberately forbid yourself to do/have within the studio in order to be more productive?
I am obsessive and self-motivated enough to not have to worry too much about distractions. If I am not being productive I am not happy.

You had your studio to yourself for a while but you’re now sub-letting a portion of it to a friend. What are the pros and cons of sharing your workspace with someone else?
I like to be alone. My friend and I say hello and chat with each other but we mostly keep to ourselves. We are both busy with our work, and that is what makes the situation work for us.

What is your favorite track to edit photos to?

for more of Christian’s work, please visit www.christianpatterson.com