5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Home Art Studio

5/3/2020

Tips for Creating a Perfect Art Studio at Home

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Why is having a designated space for art creation so important for artists? How can I create an inspiring area to work in when I'm short on space at home and/or barely have the budget to invest in my art supplies?

Lets be honest.

Staying consistent and productive can already be really hard for artists for a number reasons.

For a lot of aspiring artists I meet, their art tends to take back seat to more "urgent" priorities such as keeping up with classes, a full-time job and juggling all of this with adulting and family/social commitments.

I totally get it.

Even as a working artist myself, sometimes I look back to the last few weeks and it's pretty surprising to realize how much of that time I actually spent working on my art when compared to administrative tasks such as accounting and invoicing, marketing, emailing customers, preparing classes, providing students feedback, etc.

This is a big problem because not only is continuing to develop my artistic skills very important to me, but it's the foundation for everything else that can come from them, whether it's being able to sell my art, teach classes or workshops, or practically anything else I decide to do in my business.

If I'm not prioritizing my art creation, then I'll not be able to create the quality work I want to be able to offer and I won't have the ability/confidence to be a great instructor for my students, either.

Some time ago, I shared a blog post titled Time Management for Artists: My Secrets for Staying Consistently Productive, which I highly recommend checking out after this one if you're having trouble prioritizing your art and setting goals as a creative.

I also have this blog post/YouTube video, in which I provide my best tips that'll help you make more time for your art, even as a crazy busy person.

These are the things I set in place myself when I was still working at my last, "normal" highly-demanding full-time position in order to get to a point at which I was able to start selling my art and teaching others from my own home studio.

Remember that consistency is numero uno when it comes to making significant progress in any area of our lives, and our artistic journey has to be made a priority if we're looking to become more proficient and/or do this full-time in the future.

After setting this priority and committing to consistency, preparing a designated area where we can be productive in, even if it's just a few days a week for a short period of time, is instrumental in us continuing to take those steps forward.

No matter how big or small, or how fancy or scrappy (I'm still super scrappy and proud!) our personal creative space is, knowing we have that area to work in will make it much more likely that we'll stay consistent over time.

Not to mention, having our art supplies on hand, as opposed to stored away in a closet or drawer, will make it a lot more likely that we'll actually use them!

In today's guest post, emerging freelance writer Ruby Clarkson who's written for Jackson's Art and is absolutely obsessed with writing, theatre and visual arts, is sharing some awesome tips that'll help us create an inspiring space to work in.

Let's get into her article!

5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Art Studio Space at Home

by Ruby Clarkson

Whether you’re an aspiring artist or trying to make some money from your paintings, crafts or other creations, you’ll need the right space to make the magic happen.

Whatever your medium or your aspirations, it can be incredibly inspiring to prepare a studio for yourself where you'll be able to work consistently and where your ideas will have the opportunity to really flourish.

If you’re on a budget or short on space – or both – try some of these ideas to create your dream home studio.

Carve out your own space

If you can, try setting apart a space that’s just for you and your creativity. Psychologically, you need to know that when you sit in your studio, nothing will get in the way of your work.

Try communicating your priorities to your family, friends, flatmates, etc. Let them know when you've scheduled in time to continue building your artistic skills. This way, there's less of a chance of you getting interrupted while you're in the flow.

A spare room, attic or repurposed basement can be brought to life as a workshop or studio with even a modest budget. If you don’t have a spare room, you could consider renovating a shed or garage, and turn it into your new creative office!

This said, even a corner of a room can be turned into a studio space with a little imagination! Do you have an old desk or table somewhere in your home that can be re-purposed as an art desk?

Sometimes, working on old tables or desks is even better because you don't have to worry about damaging them with paint or cutting knives!

Whatever you go for, designating a space to your art will tell your brain that this is a priority for you and seeing it on a day-to-day basis will remind you to get to work.

You might be surprised at how much you can get done when you set up your studio away from domestic distractions!

Stay organized

If you’ve been creating for a while, you may already know that there’s not much truth in the “crazy-chaotic artist” stereotype, and that you’re far more productive and happy when you’re properly organized.

Whether you have paints and brushes, musical recording equipment, beads, fabric and sewing tools, camera equipment or a stop-motion plasticine film set – you’re going to need a strategy to keep everything organized.

Staying organized means that we'll not only be much more inspired to get back to work, but that we'll waste less time looking for things and/or cleaning up accidents.

So set aside a day to prepare a system that will work for your needs and do your best to check in each week or month so that you're still keeping up with it or making any changes that need to be made.

If you need to buy supplies or furniture to get organized, create a list for yourself and devote some time to researching best options according to your budget.

If you don't have money to invest in this, think of ways to re-purpose glass jars or containers from your kitchen, old boxes, shelves, tubs and baskets to keep track of your supplies and keep your finished (or in-progress) work safe.

Chances are you already have tons of stuff you can use!

And if you don't like the look of old stuff, think of ways you can clean them up, re-paint them or refurnish them so that they'll fit in with your style.

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Bring in your personality

It almost goes without saying that a space specifically devoted to creative expression should itself be set up with creativity and flair.

It’s your space – what do you want to do with it? How will it be more inspiring for you?

Even if interior decorating is not your forte, try to personalize your studio with your own work or pieces that speak to you. Hang paintings or display your favorite creations.

Plants, quotes, music, mood boards that really speak to you – have fun with creating a space that lets you unleash your inner desire to make something truly unique.

When decorating, carefully consider what you want to achieve. Choose bold colors and décor if you want your zone to jazz you up, or choose muted, peaceful colors and shapes to get you into a meditative, reflective state when you work.

Look at what you already have with a fresh set of eyes

Not all of us will have the luxury of extra square footage in the home, or a backyard for a dedicated outdoor studio. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have a home studio, though. It simply means that you’re going to have to be a little more creative in building a space that works for your needs.

In cramped quarters, you’ll need furniture that converts when necessary, so it can be used for other purposes when not serving as a part of your studio.

Concealed storage, modular or two-in-one furniture pieces or cleverly arranged corner spaces can help you make good use of every inch of space without compromising your creative mission.

Browse Pinterest for ideas, and use as much vertical space as possible.

Why not renovate a piece from a charity shop or reinvent an old wardrobe or door to make the perfect desk or storage cabinet? It’s amazing what you can do with just two walls and the right size desk…

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Don't forget about comfort

It’s great to make your creative space look good, but it also has to serve a function. If you want to happily spend hours in your studio honing your craft, then it’s essential that the space is comfortable.

Invest in a good quality chair if you're able, as well as lighting that won’t damage your eyes.

Think about what would put you at ease – some hot tea, a collection of succulents in pretty pots, calming music, a beanbag or warm fuzzy blanket to snuggle into during your breaks.

If your studio is cold, noisy or uncomfortable in any way, you may unconsciously decide not to work there as much. It may be as simple as hanging a picture of a loved one on the wall, or framing and hanging a certificate or glowing feedback from a previous project.

If you want to build a place that honors and nurtures your creative spirit, then only a place that has been put together with imagination will do. With a little thought and the desire to build something unique to you and your vision, you’ll soon have the perfect backdrop to dig in and start creating.

I'd like to thank Ruby for sharing all of this helpful information with us and inspiring us to work towards building a fulfilling life around our passions.

To get in touch with her, you can email her here.

I hope you found this post helpful and thanks so much for reading!