With an expanded space bigger than two NBA basketball courts, Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio is ready to bring even more art offerings to Newton.
“We have added to our ability to run more classes, and we are very excited that we now have a space dedicated to book arts as well as expanded cyanotype capability, state-of-the-art photo engraving, and we hope to soon acquire everything needed to make paper,” said co-owner Liz Shepherd.
When she and fellow co-owner Rebekah Lord Gardiner opened in 2018 — at 27 Dunstan Street in West Newton — the studio occupied a 3,000-square-foot space. It soon grew to 6,000 square feet, and after taking over the entire building, the studio now occupies 11,550 square feet.
Open House, February 18
In celebration of the massive increase in both size and class offerings, the studio will hold an Open House on Sunday, February 18, from 11AM to 3PM, for the public to stop in and check out the changes at 27 Dunstan Street.
Shepherd, a sculptor and printmaker, said they are most excited about realizing their dream to open a workroom dedicated to book arts.
Before the expansion, they “ran book arts classes in the screen-printing room, which was not ideal since book arts is best done in a clean space and with some specialized tools and equipment like dedicated paper cutters and book presses,” said Shepherd. “Being able to expand gave us the opportunity to have such a workspace.”
The new book workshop includes a massive board shear that cuts paper and board; nipping presses used in bookbinding; sewing frames; leatherworking tools and more.
Artists can rent space like this one, belonging to Laurie Sheffield, inside of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Monotypes by artist Susan Murie hang in her space at Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Sandra Cardillo will be reusing some of her prints in new collages and books she intends to create at Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
“I Am Curious Walrus,” a photo engraving created by instructor Ralph Robinson, is on display in his space at Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Ralph Robinson, an instructor at Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton, stands next to several of his photo engravings made from photos he took in nature. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton (photos: Julie M. Cohen) From left, artists Rebekah Lord Gardiner and Liz Shepherd, co-owners of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton, stand next to an electric etching press while holding a photo engraving made by Shepherd. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Artist Rebekah Lord Gardiner, co-owner of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton, demonstrates how to use a board shear, which is used to cut paper and bookbinding board. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Artist Rebekah Lord Gardiner, co-owner of Shepherd & Maudsleigh Studio in West Newton, demonstrates a nipping press, used in creating handcrafted books. (photo: Julie M. Cohen)
Other new areas include dedicated spaces for papermaking, cyanotype, and photoetching, according to the studio’s website.
Changes in the original space include a larger silkscreen room and a dedicated classroom with worktables, ink slabs, and a press.
Rounding out the facility are 27 individual studio spaces for artists to rent, communal spaces and storage areas where members can work on and leave their work, as well as a kitchen and dining area.
The owners want to “keep a tight community in a big space,” said Shepherd.
The walls around the individual artist spaces give privacy but are low enough to allow colleagues to interact and offer supportive feedback to each other on their visions.
“We attract those who want very much to be part of a community,” said Shepherd. “This feeling of community is reinforced by our love of having lunch together every day, where we talk about family, art, travel — everything except politics!”
The importance of having a space where artists can interact became even more apparent during the pandemic.
“When we closed for Covid, we realized how devastating isolation would feel for our group, who became so accustomed to having each other for support,” said Shepherd. So, they held Zoom check-in meetings every day and offered free online classes, until they could gradually return.
Members and students come from not only the local neighborhood but also Cambridge, Wellesley, Boston, Brookline, Concord, Natick, and even as far away as Andover, said Shepherd.
Sandra Cardillo, who was working on repurposing her earlier prints and using them in collages and as elements of books in the future, was eager to explore the new book workroom.
“I’m so excited” for the expansion, she said.
