New London Studios: Home to a Great Bunch of Artists

New London Studios at 17 Union St. is home to four painters and two bands, totaling 12 occupants in the art space  - and it is a space used well. 

Originally based in the Dewart Building at 300 State St., the occupants of NL Studios decided that they needed a bigger work area after having trouble transporting some larger work out of the space. So in October 2009 they moved to a bigger, more versatile studio.

The upper floor of the new studio is dedicated to painting, complete with works of small to massive scale covering almost every inch of the walls.

If you follow your ears downstairs you will find the practice space for FFT (Ferocious (F-word) Teeth) and Estrogen and Tonic as well as a fully functioning recording studio.  In the life of NL Studios, the space has been home to numerous bands such as the Paul Brocket Road Show, The Weird Beards, Brava Spectre, Total Bolsheviks and Straight to VHS. There have also been recording sessions for many of these bands as well as others.

Sgott Mackenzie, a painter and metal worker, is one of the occupants of NL Studios and also works in collage, wood music and film.  Most of his visual art is light hearted and humorous. “I like to create things that are funny to me,” says Mackenzie. “My own work makes me laugh.”  

Mackenzie is currently working on “The Giant Squid and Seagull meet Laviathan” a sequel to his children’s book “The Giant Squid and the Seagull.” "Writing these books gives me an opportunity to speak with kids about life lessons.”  He is also working with Jeffery Bayman of Worship Skateboards to print some of his art on the back of their boards.

Kim Abraham creates in acrylic paint, photo, collage and paper mache. Her work is colorful and fun and she is currently working on paintings “representing inner enlightenment and wisdoms” for an art show this summer at the Hygienic Art Galleries.  

Abraham never attended a formal art school but was always encouraged by her grandfather, who was a stonecutter, to draw. She took one painting class at Connecticut College with Martha Wakeman and “got bit by the art bug right there,” Abraham tells Patch.

Brian Smith is a painter and a musician who creates large-scale paintings of fantastic scenes with bright and fluorescent colors that seem to leap off the canvas. He has a background in digital and commercial art from the Art Institute of Seattle.

Smith spends much of his time in the studio improving his existing work and honing his skills. He says he enjoys painting because “it’s something I have a knack for but it’s still a challenge.” “It’s important to separate your work from your living space, to have a work space outside of where you sleep,” Smith tells Patch. “You ruin fewer paintings that way.”

Every once in a while the space becomes a hang out spot for close friends who are curious about what new creations are being born in the studio.  A couple of times a year they have an open studio showing where people can come and view the art space.