If you are an artist, you know that having an organized art studio is key to being productive.
An unorganized art studio can be a significant source of stress and lead to wasted time and money. When your supplies are organized, you will be able to find what you need when you need it, which will save you time.
Additionally, when you know where everything is, you will be less likely to purchase supplies that you already have.
In this post, you will discover some easy tips for organizing your art studio that will help you save money and be more productive.
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Art Studio Organizing
The definition of organizing is to arrange into a structured whole; order.
I like to think of being organized as everything having a specific place. I call the specific place, its “home”.
Once I have decided the best place for something, I make an effort to put it in its “home” once I am done using it.
After a few times doing this, it becomes a habit to put it back in its “home” after every use.
It might seem that it is too much effort to put something in its designated area, but in reality, it takes less effort in the long run.
How is organizing during the day less effort in the long run?
- You will not waste time looking for something when you need it.
- You will not have to waste time thinking about where did I leave it last.
- You will be able to concentrate on more important things like creating and selling art.
- You will not waste extra time doing a weekly or monthly cleaning of large piles of clutter.
Remove Unused Art Supplies
The easiest way of organizing your art space is to get rid of all the art supplies you collected over the years that you do not use.
How many times have you said:
- I will use that someday
- I don’t want to get rid of those in case I need them
- I don’t want to through them out in case someone needs them
- Eventually, I will have time to work with those again
Donate supplies you are not using if you have difficulty throwing away your purchased and collected supplies.
Donating unused art supplies can be difficult, but it’s essential to do if you want to organize your art space. Don’t keep art supplies around that you’re never going to use–they’ll take up space and make it more challenging to work.
If you have trouble parting with your supplies, try donating them to a charity or another artist who might be able to put them to good use.
There are so many places that would be grateful to receive donated arts and crafts supplies.
Where to donate art supplies:
- Nursing homes
- Children hospitals
- Local schools
- Teachers
- Community centers
- YMCA
- Local art centers
- You will feel good that you help people in need, but you will also be reducing clutter in your art studio.
Art Studio Setup Ideas
The hardest part about being organized is starting. The easiest way to get started?
Take ten or fifteen minutes out of your day and decide where the best place will be for all those unfinished artwork, art supplies, paperwork – you name it.
Write down on this list each separate item that needs a new home (or at least some thought), then put them back tomorrow morning when you wake up with a space beside their appropriate listing.(i.e., “finished artwork” goes on the wall, “extra art supplies” go in a cupboard, etc.)
If you’re feeling ambitious, or want to tackle your organizing project all at once, here are some more ideas:
Ideas for an art studio setup
Have one space for finished artwork and another for works-in-progress.
Use storage containers and labeled shelves to organize art supplies by type or project.
Hang a corkboard or whiteboard to keep track of ideas, to-do lists, and deadlines.
Invest in a comfortable chair or couch to relax in while you work.
The most important thing is to find an organizational system that works for you and to stick with it. By devoting a little time each day to keeping your art studio organized, you’ll be able to stay productive and creative without having to worry about the mess.
Label Everything
It is important to label everything in your art studio, especially regarding supplies. This will help you avoid wasting time looking
Protip: If you have a lot of art supplies, use different color labels for each type of supply. This will help you quickly and easily find the supplies you need.
Recycle Containers For Storing Art Supplies
Mason jars and coffee cans in other containers you are not using work well for storing art supplies.
You can use them for drawing pencils, paintbrushes, and other art supplies. If you have enough of these containers for all your supplies, it will be safer because you don’t want to damage anything by putting all of your supplies in one container.
You can also use the recycling containers to store other things. For example, if you have a lot of tiny screws and nails, you can put them in a recycling container. Having a designated container will help you keep your work area clean and organized.
When it comes to art supplies, it’s essential to keep them organized. This will help you stay productive and avoid damage to your supplies.
Use Bins and Storage Files For Larger Items
Storing your drawings and paintings in a safe place will help you protect your work during the creative process and when it is completed.
A painting can be stored safely on an easel while you are working on it, but I have found that keeping my drawings on my drawing table is not the best decision for me.
I have a cat that likes to jump on my drawing table when I am not in my room. Unfortunately, there have been several times I had to start a project over because she soiled the drawing surface.
Now I keep all of my graphite drawings and pastel paintings in storage files like those below.
This helps me to stay organized while protecting my artwork at all times.
Tip: If you are using a storage file, use acid-free paper or cardboard to store your artwork. Separate loose art with glassine paper for extra protection. This will help protect your paintings and drawings from yellowing over time.
Storage Files for Artists:
Safco 5-Drawer Steel Flat Files
from: Blick Art Materials
Hann Six-Drawer Wood Drawing Table
from: Blick Art Materials
Weber 2-Drawer Wood Pastel Cabinet
from: Blick Art Materials
Prepare Your Art Studio For The Next Day
- At the end of the workday, get in the habit of putting everything back in its “home.”
- Clean your drawing table
- Sharpen your pencils for the next day
- Put your paints away
- Clean your brushes
- Clean your painter’s palette
By doing these simple steps, you will be ready to create when you sit down to draw.
Nothing will ruin your artistic mind quicker than having to clean an area before you can start creating.
More Art Studio Organization Tips
- Purchase affordable shelves and baskets at Ikea, Home Depot, or Target stores. Shelves and baskets can be used to store art supplies and other materials.
- Label shelves and baskets with the names of the supplies stored inside them. Labels will help you quickly find what you need when working on a project.
- Store materials that are used less often in lower cabinets or closets. This will free up space on your work surfaces for more important items.
- Use clear storage containers to hold smaller items like paintbrushes, pencils, and scissors. This will make it easy to see what is inside each container without opening it.
Conclusion:
We all have 24 hours in our day. What separates successful people from people who do not succeed is how time is managed.
Start taking control of your days and succeed at everything you do.
Use these art studio organizing tips and develop your own art studio organizing tips.
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