Artist Spotlight: Studio50//Furniture & Housewares

We love featuring various artists on our blog. The world is full of so many talented people and celebrating everyone's gifts is one of our favourite things. If you think of anyone who you think would like to be featured, shoot us a message!

Studio50: Rock Bottom Vessel

Introduce yourself. When did you get started with your work?
We are a husband and wife team Steve and Kim Prokopowich of Studio50 which was officially launched in 2013.  Unofficially the making of Studio50 has been evolving over 15 years while we designed and built our first home in Paris and the furniture and many of the home accessories throughout. Last November we relocated to a larger property still in Paris that offers us the space to have our workshop, studio and home all back together.  Between us we each bring a very different approach to the design and making process but meld together to create our authentic style. We design and make furniture and housewares using primarily concrete, wood, and steel.

Why did you choose this career path? What made you interested in your art?  
As an engineer, Steve works with math, specifics and the golden mean while Kim's approach embraces intuition, history and what's pleasing to her eye to define their concepts. Inspiration comes through books, nature, everyday rituals in our home, possibilities of what can be and questioning what is and why.

Who is your inspiration?
Our lifestyle. curiosity, as well as past time periods (medieval, viking) are our inspiration.  We want to create pieces that engage individuals and challenge their default thinking to possibility thinking.  Designing pieces that are functional and enjoyable to use in the everyday with often multiple purposes.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Embracing life and creating with open arms and eyes...taking in the little things in life, like a beautiful quiet morning with a fresh cup of coffee, and enjoying the simple moments with kids, family and friends. But who really knows...that's why we live each day in the now...and end each day content.

Studio50: Concrete Beam Bench

Studio50: Platform Collection Coffee Table

Studio50: Platform Collection Console Table

Studio50: Walnut Trestle

Check out more about Studio50
Website: www.studio50.ca 
Media Kit: Press & Media
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From The Intern Corner//5 Things I've Learned So Far

Welcome to the Intern Corner!

I can’t believe I'm about halfway through my summer internship with Jono & Laynie! I know… it’s crazy right. I’ve been learning SO MUCH while being here. From photography tips to personal financial advice from Layne and everything in between hehe. 

Here are just 5 things I’ve learned so far: 

1. Blogging, blogging, blogging

It takes a lot of behind the scenes work for your business to be successful. Things like networking and improving your website can really help. That’s why we always try to stay active on the blog. Meeting new people at networking events or passing out your business cards to different people can help. And your work can even spread through word of mouth. So it’s always good to try to get your name out there.

2. Personality
As a photographer you meet lots of people all the time and sometimes you’re put in stressful situations. You have to do a lot of on-the-spot thinking. It takes a certain type of personality to become a photographer. Even if you’re a bit shy you have to be outgoing and engaging in front of others, which is something I have to work on.

3. Editing

I’ve been doing a lot of editing with Jon and Layne and I’ve learned a lot about how they edit their photos. I find editing really fascinating and it’s interesting to see the many different ways a photographer can choose to edit their photos. There’s a certain process you need to follow to store your photos that makes sense to you so you can locate all of your work at any time. And don’t even get me started on external hard drives!

4. Cameras

I currently have a Nikon camera and just as I suspected most photographers use Canon. Not to say that Canon is better than Nikon (which is an age old debate) but I’ve noticed that a lot of photographers use Canon cameras.
I’ve learned that you have to have many different lenses for all types of situations. Anywhere from a telephoto lens to the widest lens possible because you never know what kind of situation you’ll be in.
 

5. Lifestyle of a Photographer

Even though their studio is in Brantford, Jon and Layne sometimes have to travel hours and hours away to photograph an event. That takes dedication! And as I’ve experienced a few times already, plans get changed a lot because of things like the weather or because someone decides to cancel at the last minute. And if someone decides to postpone something to another day you have to be available.
So you pretty much have to be available at all times of the year! …No not really. That’s impossible.
But you have to have boundaries and give yourself a break in the week. Since a lot events are planned on the weekends, a lot of photographers don’t get a “traditional” weekend so they have to schedule time off during the week. Basically the lifestyle of a photographer is a balancing act between work and play.

I could go on and on but these are some of the main things I’ve learned so far.

I’ve been posting a lot of blogs lately so check out all the blogs I’ve written so far and give it a like!  

Intro to Orianna
Real Estate Photography
Saturdays are for Reading
Depth of Field
Outdoor Photography
Studio Photography
Favourite Lens

:)

Cheers!

-Orianna