Organize Your Space
Eliminate Clutter in Art Studio, Workspace or Kitchen Corner
Mixed media artists work in a wide variety of spaces, including corners of their homes, kitchens, studios and dedicated workspaces (part of a home office, a craft room, corner of the basement, and so on). It doesn’t matter where these projects are completed; some semblance of order is necessary. This is true for both the hobbyist and professional artist. How can organization occur without overwhelming?
- Clear the clutter: in “Mission Organization” style, designate piles of things to keep, to donate and to throw away. Yes, mixed media artists tend to keep a lot of what’s considered trash but, face facts, some it really is trash.
- Find shoeboxes, small containers, bags or whatever else works for you to store paper goods, supplies and found objects.
- Fill a basket with “action items” used most often during projects. Keep this basket in a prominent area of the workspace.
- Store completed projects on easels, in totes underneath tables or in portfolios.
- Keep lists handy for supplies, to-do items, project progress and deadlines.
Breaking these tasks up into small chunks increases the likelihood of completing them successfully. Try using an egg timer, as suggested on flylady.com, to complete tasks more efficiently. Set the time for fifteen minutes each day, and use that time only for organization and maintaining what’s been completed.
How else can maintenance occur without becoming overwhelming?
- This is a “what I learned in Kindergarten” type situation: put materials away after you’re finished using them. After the workspace has been organized, each item should have a home. This is where items need to remain when not in use.
- There will be times when projects must be kept out to dry or to be worked on frequently when time allows. That doesn’t mean, however, that these projects need to be a mess. Set them aside (or designate a “work in progress” area of your workspace). Keep work surfaces as clear as possible.
Many mixed media artists would rather keep their studios looking like an art supply bomb went off in them, and that’s fine. Troll around on some other artist’s blogs, though, and it can easily be seen how the need for organization is either being achieved or being listed as a near future goal. Don’t overdo it and wind up stifling creativity. Each artist has his or her own definition of what’s neat and organized. Follow what’s right for you, because it may not necessarily be right for the artist you admire or read about.
