Set up your own studio-artists reveal their creative space professional tips

Whether you just want to paint privately or build a career with your art: At some point the time comes to set up your own studio . This can either be a room in your own apartment or house or a specially rented room.

Both variants have their advantages and disadvantages. In any case, the establishment of the new studio begins. In the following article, we have put together some important tips for setting up your first studio .

In addition, we let creatives and artists have their say who pass on their best tips for their own artist studio or the perfect design of the creative space.

From the arrangement of memory and storage solutions to the use of technology tools and sketchbooks- here you get insights into how professional artists organize your art studio .

The secret of an effective studio organization is often to find out what works best for you personally. Nevertheless, it can be inspiring to find out which methods use other artists to optimally design their work rooms.

We have used successful artists in YouTube studio tours and gained their experiences with the structure and organization of their studios. Some prefer a certain level of disorder, while others are most creative in a tidy room.

We asked renowned artists: "What worked best for you?" And discovered many innovative ideas.

01 Select suitable rooms

When setting up your art statelier, it is crucial to select the right space. This depends above all on your available options, the type of your art and your personal preferences.

1. Available space: whether you have an entire room or just a corner - make the best of it. Even a small area can become a creative retreat with planning.
2. Type of art: Depending on their art form, different requirements for the required space play a role. For example, painters need a lot of natural light, sculptor a stable floor covering and digital artist a quiet work area.
3. Personal preferences: Some artists feel comfortable in a full environment, others prefer minimalist spaces without distractions. Your studio should reflect your personality and work habits.

02 Plan Layout

Before you set up your artist studio, it is important to plan the design in advance. The aim is to create a harmonious flow of work that supports your creative work and not disabled.

1. Work area : Your art arises here. Make sure to plan enough space for your work table or easel and move freely.
2. Storage area : Organize your artist utensils in such a way that they are easily accessible but do not disturb. Shelves, drawers and storage boxes help.
3. Exhibition area : This area shows your finished works or work in progression. These include wall surfaces, gallery rails or shelves.
4. Inspiration zone : a space to promote your creativity through inspiration . From Moodboards to bookshelves to the exhibition of inspiring works of art - everything is possible.

03 Basic equipment and furniture

Clearly, your work utensils be in the heart of her studio. So plan to set up your easel or other tools required for art. A table on which you can spread your working materials should not be missing.

Staffies and work surfaces

Whether you choose a large table with a lot of space or a small side table is entirely with you. Experience has shown that large areas invite you to attract more disorder. Smaller tables are usually more decent, but they also offer less maneuvering and work surface, which requires more frequent space depending on the way of working.

Start choosing a robust and affordable easel. If possible, acquire a used easel via online marketplaces, classified ads or local ads . A stable, large table that offers enough space for your materials is also essential. Here you can put old office tables or massive wooden boards on bucks to create an inexpensive solution.

Storage options for materials

Shelves and storage boxes are crucial to properly store your materials. Browse through second-hand shops or search for offers and remaining items in the hardware store . Old bookshelves or discarded cupboards, which you may even be able to repair and adapt yourself, are also a good, inexpensive choice.

Seating

A comfortable chair is essential, especially for work that requires patience and precision. Remember that ergonomics is important. Therefore, get a used but ergonomic chair to ensure long -term comfort.

Multifunctional furniture

Think about using multifunctional pieces of furniture. For example, a large, old cabinet can not only serve as a storage space, but also as a partition to create different work areas.

The fastest solution-cheap new purchase in online shops

If time plays a larger role than money, you have a basic budget or would you like to simply use new goods to set up your studio, we recommend the following online shops for an inexpensive purchase :

• Atelier furniture at Otto
• IKEA - furnishing ideas for artists
• Poco domain: studio furniture
• Sale at Möbel Boss
• Sale with Mirjan24

Only when the work equipment is planned should you think about the further equipment of the studio .

04 plants

In any case, it makes sense to work with houseplants such as Monstera to bring some life into the room. Especially if you have rented a studio outside your own apartment and therefore have less opportunity to retire to other rooms during work breaks, the studio should also have a certain basic homeliness.

But caution is also required. Many artists find it pleasant to build a couch or at least a large armchair in the studio. But think of that well. Because the studio, which is detached from normal everyday life, should not serve as a replacement living room, but only to work on their art.

So you shouldn't do it too cozy in this area.

05 good lighting

The illumination plays a crucial role in the perception of colors and details in your work. A mixture of natural and artificial light can be helpful.

1. Natural light : It is advisable to set up your workplace as close as possible to the window to use daylight. However, it should be noted that direct sunlight can be hard and could be annoying. Therefore, blinds or curtains can be used to regulate it.
2. Artificial light : If there is no natural incidence of light, good artificial lighting is required. Flybules with daylight -like spectrum are optimal. Adjustable lamps could be useful to be able to steer the light exactly where you need it.

06 Organization and storage in the studio

The organization and storage of working materials should also be paid to the studio right from the start. Especially when you work with many different materials, it makes sense to create suitable custody. Yes, there are those artists who work most creatively in chaos . But for them too, it makes sense to at least have the opportunity to create order.

Organize your art utensils

A well thought -out studio saves time and anger. Develop a system that works for you and stick to it.

Use shelf systems make colors, brushes, canvases and other materials clearly and easily accessible Closed, non -transparent drawers and boxes create a more visible overall picture, but severely restrict the clarity.

A few helpful organizational principles :

1. Sorting by type: group similar objects. All colors in one place, brushes on another etc.
2. Sorting according to color families: color tubes can be sorted by color families. Plastic bags or transparent plastic drawers with partition walls are suitable for storage.
3. Sort brush by painting style: The brushes are sorted according to their size and type in order to meet the different requirements of different painting styles.
4. Frequency of use: make sure that things that are often used are easily accessible. Less used objects should be kept in such a way that they are not in the way.
5. Thematic sorting of reference photos: A thematic sorting of your reference photos makes the search enormously easier: flowers come first followed by the type of flower and color.
6. Label everything: A clear lettering helps you save a lot of time. This is particularly useful for objects in boxes or drawers.

Clever storage systems

Transparent storage boxes are ideal for sorting smaller items such as drawing pencils or eraser. For example, if the plastic boxes aesthetically appeal to you, additional plants can contribute to a more organic overall picture. By buying houseplants online , you can easily increase the total amount of plants.

In addition, hanging storage systems such as wall strips or magnetic boards for tools that you often use can be a sensible addition. When you work with slowly drying colors, think about planning the necessary space for drying your pictures right from the start. At least one wall of the studio should be kept cleared by a large area.

Vertical partition walls

Storage is always a challenge. A watercolorist described us:

"I had my painting tables made with vertical subdivisions from the floor to the worktop. So I can keep clean paper and my many works that have started in the boxes. Thanks to the labeling of the box ends, I can keep an overview of my stock and can easily remove the required material. Being, but it definitely works well. "

07 personalize studio

Your studio should be a place where you feel comfortable and inspired. Here, too, we have collected a few tips that will make personalization easier for you.

1. Inspiration board : Create a board to show pictures, quotes or everything else that inspires you.
2. Color design : The color of the studio rooms has an impact on the mood and creativity . Choose colors that you find motivating and calming.
3. Plants: If necessary, plants can be integrated into the studio. They not only improve air quality, but also promote a positive mood and creative energies.
4. Combination of light and color: In addition, light and colors can be combined to individually design the design of the studio. With tailor -made neon signs with your logo or name, you give the studio a personal touch. These not only enrich the ambience, but also give their art studio character.

08 archiving recordings sensibly

If you have difficulty finding past work in the art studio, it is advisable to simply photograph, record and take off your activities.

Many painters practice this and record almost everything they have created artistically. This documentation serves as an important reference for books, articles and collectors who want to view his works.

To implement this, an artist has told us how he set up a photo setup with illumination, a camera and a vertical board in his studio that is covered with black felt. Each painting is photographed individually or together and the images are then transferred to the computer. There they are processed - turned, cut, and archived as permanent files on a digital storage medium.

In addition, he creates long -term archiving backup copies. His daughter supports the artist by archiving all of his paintings of the past 40 years. It adds keywords that relate to the date, the medium or material as well as the topic and/or place in which each work has arisen.

09 reduction to the essentials

An artist told us:

When visiting my studio, an outsider would hardly think of organizing a art studio. But I have developed a system to understand what my wife Noelle calls 'studio situation'. A few years ago I realized that my studio became more and more chaotic and that I only dragged papers, materials and dog beds from one place to another. ”

In order to stop the mess, he finally decided to clear as much as possible out of his studio and thus force himself to have only the bare essentials at hand.

As a result, there were fewer opportunities for disorder or stack of garbage in his studio. The chaos in the studio still rise during his work. But before it becomes critical, the artist is now planning a fixed organization day. Sorted on this day and throws away things that are no longer needed.

Keep order and regularly clean up

From the last point, this advice follows seamlessly. As soon as the studio is set up, regular cleanliness should have top priority to ensure a pleasant and efficient workplace. It is essential to plan time to clean the studio every week.

This includes not only cleaning the floors and tools, but also dust wiping and vacuuming of all surfaces. A tidy studio contributes significantly to the fact that you feel comfortable and work optimally. Therefore, it is advisable to maintain an eighth order and to cover objects again and again after use.

This not only helps to keep an overview of materials and tools, but also makes work easier. In addition, it is recommended regularly take stock of the studio setup .

If necessary, changes or adjustments can be made in order to better meet the needs. A well -organized and clean studio creates a positive working atmosphere and thus promotes creativity and productivity when working.

11 Let the technology work for yourself

Applications developed for artists can save time and space. In the past, artists had to go to the corpse hall for photo references in public libraries or even sometimes.

Today the iPad and iPhone made the conception and problem solving much easier - and certainly more decent.

For example, some artists use an app called Artstudio , a mobile photo editing program to solve problems with paintings without damage the original. The app offers different drawing and painting tools as well as a variety of opaque or transparent colors.

In addition, hundreds of ongoing projects can be clearly saved on a small device for later use.

An iPad offers countless possible uses and has now become a creative studio for many artists to take away. It is used to store reference materials and photos of your own work as well as during various phases of an ongoing painting.

When looking at a reference, you can increase a section with the help of the iPad in order to be able to take a closer look at it. In addition, it is used for records, sales, billing, accounting, accounting, work plans, workshop plans, schedule for art competitions, exhibitions and appointments.

ecosystem of tools, software, apps and gadgets has developed around smartphones and tablets , which can make almost every area of ​​artist life easier and make it more productive.

12 Profi tip: Atelier setup with a small budget

13 Profi tip: How to make art in a small space | Tips for setting up a Tiny Art Studios

14 Profi tip: How to set up a art studio at home

15 bonus tips

After we have covered the basics, there are more to consider in order to set up an optimal art studio.

Personal details, the organization of the material and the consideration of your individual work processes can expand your creative space. Here you will find more tips for your perfect creative space:

1. Determine the required space type: artists need space to plan, manufacture, present, sell and store their works of art. The required space depends on the type of desired art.
2. Set your budget and set priorities: It is important to set a budget for both the initial setup and running costs. Take into account rental costs, moving costs and expenses for decoration and accessories. With a short budget, sharing the room with other artists could be an option.
3. Think about your art -related needs: Many artists prefer studios with large windows, lots of daylight and good ventilation as well as sufficient lighting (natural or artificial) and power supply for tools.
4. Select a suitable location: The studio should be easily accessible in a safe area - closeness to suppliers is also important.
5. Consider security aspects: Especially with expensive equipment, buildings should have all the necessary permits; Fire ladders-/-sprinkler systems are essential-insurance can be useful.
6. Don't forget the background noise! The noise level in your studio is also important - noise pollution could disturb your concentration.
7. Insulation & ventilation measures: For work with strong smelling materials, proper ventilation is recommended; However, bad isolation of old buildings could cause problems - consider the fan/room heater if necessary.
8. Understanding leases & get to know the property manager: Find out more about your rights/obligations as a tenant; Legal advice at the conclusion of the contract Ratsam - long -term term offers stability for focus on studio practice

Final words

In summary, it can be stated that the establishment of an art statelier or creative room is a personal and ideally proactive process. With the right objective and implementation, an inspiring and enriching creative environment can be set up, which stimulates the artist in them to work productively and feel comfortable.

There are no rigid rules. Ultimately, only the functionality, which is individually experienced for you, counts.

Good luck in designing and setting up!

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/