Studios are Like Snowflakes

They say no two snowflakes are alike. I say no two studios are alike! How can they be? No two artists work the same.

That is why you are the one to decide what your studio needs to look like, sound like, smell like, and feel like as well as its function and how it flows. It should be a reflection of who you are as an artist. You should enjoy spending time in your studio. It doesn't need to 'match' the rest of the house unless of course you are sharing a corner of the living room. Even then you can add little knick knacks or artwork you love and that inspire you. That is a subject on which I can go into more depth and I will reserve that for a future post.

For this post I just want you to take a long, hard look at your studio and think about whether it truly tells your story. Could a customer or friend walk into your studio and know by what they see what your artwork is likely to be? Do you love color but settled on a neutral shade for the walls to be safe? Some artists keep white walls so the colors of their materials are the focal point. Are you a minimalist who wants your supplies all behind doors? Do whimsical things make you happy? Do roses make you comfortable, or do they make you want to gag? Each artist is unique and that is OK! It is better than OK! How boring it would be if we were cookie cutter artists.

As you are analyzing your studio, think about the types of projects you work on and the steps you go through as you work. Are your work stations set up so they are conducive to a convenient flow as you go through the process? If you are tripping over cords or having to walk around a piece of furniture or equipment every time you do a certain part of your creating, try to determine if there is a better way to arrange things in your studio so what you need is at hand as you need it. Keep items you use most often the closest to where you use them. It might even help to write down the steps you go through as you work. Is your sewing machine at one end of the room and the iron on the other side of the cutting table? This is a pretty obvious problem, but I'm simply pointing it out as an example.

I'm just saying you can ask for advice and opinions, but go with what works for you and what pleases you.

The photo of the tote on this post is a re-do I created. (Most of you know I love roses). You can find more about it here. I was intending to use the tote for storage in my studio, but it had other ideas, so I gave in. A tote like this would work well for containing tools, buttons, glues, tags, etc. you use often. You could customize something like this tote to suit your own taste by leaving it rustic, painting it with bright colors, country colors, embellishing it with rhinestones or decoupage it with vintage images. It is just an example of how you can add items to your studio to personalize the space. Be on the lookout at garage sales, flea markets or thrift stores for other items you could customize for your studio.

Have a memorable weekend.