photo taken by BT Livermore
In an effort to stay close to my roots as an artist working in the real world, I want to begin a new feature here on the Cotton & Flax blog: studio tours! While I was visiting Portland, Oregon a few weeks ago, my friend BT Livermore gave me a tour of his new communal studio space in NE Portland, Magnetic North.
BT Livermore is a talented printmaker, sign painter, and illustrator, who I met back in my beard-obsessed post-college days (BT co-owns a moustache wax company called Man’s Face Stuff along with Evan Dumas). He recently moved into a new studio space, called Magnetic North, that also serves as a studio space for artists Mary Kate McDevitt, Fred DiMeglio, KB Sawyer, and Lacey Van Nortwick.
Magnetic North is a great space for these creatives, they have space to tackle a wide range of projects. In addition to having their own desk area, there is space to screenprint, a tabletop letterpress complete with type, a small laboratory corner for creating moustache wax, and lots of table space to spread out and draw or paint.
Printmakers require ink, certainly.
photo taken by BT Livermore
Another of BT’s hand painted signs. And below, a large hand painted sign in progress.
There is a small retail space up front, which sells original art, prints, and even moustache wax.
And outside, you’ll see more hand painted signage inviting you into the shop. Mary Kate McDevitt and Fred DiMeglio created the beautiful window, made using windows reclaimed from a 100+ year old house in Portland. It lets in lots of light, and lends charm to a space already loaded with personality.
Check out the Magnetic North Blog, or visit BT Livermore’s Website, Blog, or Twitter.
