How to Organize Your Home Art Studio Tips and Tricks to Make Your Life Easier

 

Do you have a passion for art, but not the time or space to devote to it? Perhaps you want to start selling your artwork or simply don’t know where to begin. An art studio is an ideal solution for any of these scenarios: it gives you ample space and time to explore your creative side, while still maintaining some semblance of order and organization. You can have your art and have some organizational peace too! To get the most out of your new studio, read on as professional artist Shaye Hirsch shares his handy how-to guide on organizing your home art studio.

 

Plan ahead

A studio is not an addition to your existing space. You have to plan ahead and decide whether you’re going to be painting in your home studio or having an outside gallery. If you’re going to be painting, you have to have the right space, tools, and supplies on hand. But even if you’re not painting, the basics, like lighting, ventilation, and temperature control, still apply. If you’re thinking of setting up a studio in your garage or outside on the patio, please reconsider. You want to be able to paint, not be baking in the hot sun all day. And you want your studio to be somewhere you can easily and comfortably access it (i.e. not in the middle of the family room and definitely not the kitchen). Your home is likely not the most inspiring environment for a studio, so compensate by thinking of it as a retreat. Keep the rest of the house in mind when setting up your studio.

 

Get rid of the junk

Take the time to clean out and get rid of what you no longer need in your studio. You don’t need to keep every single piece of old art equipment in the closet; the majority of it is from when you were a beginner. You might be surprised by just how much junk and useless clutter you have in your studio. It can be easy to get swept up in the art passion and ignore the practicalities, like cleaning out your garage or attic. But you have to keep in mind that you don’t want to be stuck with an excessive amount of stuff in your studio that you don’t need. While you’re cleaning out, be sure to throw away anything you don’t need and keep only the essentials in your new studio. This will make your life easier in the long run, explains New York-based painter Shaye Hirsch.

 

Know where everything goes

Take the time to label everything in your studio. You’ve probably got a mishmash of containers, drawers, and shelves in your studio right now, and you’ll thank yourself for it in the future. Take a few minutes to label and categorize everything you’re storing in your studio, from paint to pencils to canvas rolls. Decide where you want some items to go, and make sure they’re all stored in the right places. Label your paints, pencils, and other art supplies, and put them in labeled containers. Label your shelves and drawers too, so you know exactly where everything is. This will make retrieving the items you need much easier, and it will also help you track the condition of everything, making the most of the resources you have. When you start selling art, you’ll also want to be able to keep track of what you have and what’s in demand. This is especially important if you intend to have an online shop, ads Shaye Hirsch. You can use a simple spreadsheet application to keep track.

 

Keep your most important supplies on hand

Take the time to keep your most important supplies within easy reach in your home studio. You never know when you’re going to need a certain tool or medium, so plan to keep it close at hand. Most artists agree that you should keep a large, opaque canvas on hand at all times in your studio (you can also find many useful ideas for studio décor in this regard). This is a great way to kick-start your painting process and keep your creativity flowing. You should also keep an extra set of canvases, paints, paper, brushes, and other common supplies within easy reach, especially if you’re painting outside or in a space that isn’t conducive to keeping everything indoors. You should also keep a large garbage can or two nearby for when you’re painting outside. If you don’t have enough room for both a trash can and your large canvas in the studio, keep the canvas in the car or in a spare room.

 

Have a space for every tool and medium

Make sure you have a designated place for every tool and medium you’re using in your studio. This will make it much easier to keep track of everything and prevent clutter. Make a note of what you need by creating a floor plan, and put each item on a designated shelf or in a drawer. This will help you stay organized and prevent clutter. If you have a lot of art equipment, Shaye Hirsch suggests investing in a large, walk-in art cabinet or a wall-mounted metal cabinet for your studio. These cabinets are great for keeping your tools and mediums organized, out of the way, and easily accessible.

 

Don’t forget about lighting and circulation

Finally, remember that lighting is essential for any kind of art and a must for interior painting. Even if you’re not using an interior paint scheme, you’ll need to paint with light in order to create an aesthetic effect. You may also want to consider investing in an overhead lighting system for your studio. This will help you to illuminate your canvas and keep your paint neat and tidy. It will also help prevent over-painting, which can occur when your light isn’t bright enough. If you’re painting outside, it’s especially important to keep your canvas free of dust and bird droppings. You may also want to invest in a large easel that can be used outdoors; you can use it to keep your canvas elevated off the ground and free of dust and other debris.

 

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve provided you with a step-by-step guide on how to organize your home art studio. Remember to follow these guidelines, and you’ll be well on your way to having a beautifully organized studio!