| Author | Message | ||
  artisteff |
Oh how I long for a real studio space!!! Suzy, your studio makes me drool. It is a wonderful space. I wish it were mine. I thought that I would finally get a studio when we moved last summer. But the house we ended up with was my husband and kids' dream home, not mine. What I wanted was a large room in the house for my paintings and flatwork and a shop with A/C in the backyard for my sculpture. What I ended up with was a 10x10 room with a small closet and sharing the garage with the trashcans, bicycles, storage, lawn equipment, etc. My husband was glad that I was getting my own "artroom" so the art supplies would no longer be crowded in our bedroom or in other parts of the house. He wanted all my art supplies out of sight and saw to it that anything that had to do with art ended up in that room. But when all of the supplies were moved in, I could barely step into the room, let alone work in it. The garage as is with most garages has poor lighting. It has no windows and no A/C, making it unbearable in the summer (I live in Florida). I have tried leaving the garage door open while working, but the neighborhood kids are constantly coming by and things keep mysteriously disappearing. OK, sorry for all the complaining, but sometimes you just have to get it out. I continue to dream of a real studio. Maybe someday..... | ||
Suzy |
Pink styrofoam peanuts. The hopper hangs from the ceiling making it easy to fill boxes. (Since my work is produced in ceramics we use a lot of these. Since posting these pictures I re-layed out the creative area of the studio and like it much better.It just wasn't "feng shui" (Spelling??). The office/"peanut" are area is the same. | ||
Robert |
Suz--I just noticed in the photo of your studio a big bin filled with pink objects. What's that? | ||
tachee |
Suz This is perfect space. You have inspired me! I had not even thought of flooring yet- bamboo floors are just plain terrific. Am re-thinking all storage space. I think you all have made me put more into storage...was keeping my head in the "what looks good from where I will sit". Focused on working in the room, but not using the room. | ||
Suz |
Yes, the studio area consists of a credenza type unit along the wall with a free standing island in the center of the room. The Island has storage accessable from both sides with a big open shelving unit in the center with twelve 2" high shelves that measure 26x32 to hold paper or wet works in progress. There is still alot to do but the basics are in place. The room is painted a soft yellow with white trim. The unit at the end of the room will have glass shelves on either side of the 8'X 8'sliding glass door. The back of this wall is actually painted a rich terra cotta color. I will use this are to display the most current licensed products so that I can do a bit of business in this room when client fly in as well. I obviously still need curtains. I will most likely put up something white and gauzy. The floors are diagonal laid bamboo hardwood. There is another glass door just opposite the credenza/and island that looks out to the lanai. Opposite all this, but not shown is a whole computer work desk area with my scanners, printers, files, erc all in the same white cabinets. The other photo is the inventory/shipping room. My styrofoam peanut hopper is my favorite thing. We used to have peanuts stuk to everything floating around everywhere. So far i am pleased with the layout but I still need to cozy it up. Its a little too open. | ||
tachee |
Suzy! Color me green! What great spaces you have. Quite a bit of planning went into this I am sure. How can you ever leave? In the first photo, what are we looking at? Do you work at this station? | ||
Suz |
Like I said, it is very much a work in progress. Just got all the cabinnet in week so Im anxious to set it all up. I'll post a finished set up later. | ||
Suzy |
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Suzy |
Thought I'd show you some pics of my new studio, still very much in progress. . The studio consists of two parts. A thirty by 15 foot inventory room and another 15 x30 studio.The studio is divided into two general areas with computer business at one end and work creative on the other.  | ||
Suzy |
Thought I'd show you some pics of my new studio, still very much in progress. . The studio consists of two parts. A thirty by 15 foot inventory room and another 15 x30 studio.The studio is divided into two general areas with computer business at one end and work creative on the other.  | ||
tachee |
Victoria, I shall take my luck any way it comes! Although I feel the star is flickering at times. There are artists guilds there. I groan, but I should probably join, if just to meet a few fellow painters to have coffee with. Anyone in here have good experiences with art groups? I started one once, much like herding cats. And others, for some, are all about the meetings. I want to say, "Been there, done that". But I suppose I should go. Sigh. | ||
victoria |
Tachee, your retirement plans sound absolutely wonderful. How nice to be able to go back to where you grew up with some extended family in tow as well. The setting sounds perfect for getting back into painting and the small town nearby sounds like it was specially set up just for you. You must be living under a lucky star. Victoria | ||
tachee |
Raleigh, Cannot imagine leaving Hawaii for Ohio. I would imagine your daughter is missing it even more with the weather Ohio is having. We live in Tennessee right now. Was worried about going back home, but I have discovered many artists in the area. Small town close to where we will be moving has taken their old downtown and added galleries, gift shops, etc. I met and planned a show with one of the galleries to help myself get introduced to other artists in the area. And buyers, of course. | ||
Raliegh |
Oh yes, 10 years ago Lahaina was known as the "art mecca of the world". According to who? Probably the Galleries on Front Street. I have been out of that loop for a while (selling art in a gallery, not my own) Upcountry seems to be the place tourist go to browse the galleries now. There is some beautiful work. | ||
Raliegh |
Robert, there are days I drive myself nuts with all the potential pictures presented here! I checked Stabins site, yes I like that simple clean style and would like to move in that direction. I've been trying to upload 2 w/c I have saved in a file but I was unsuccessful, I have to wait for one of my kids to help me. | ||
Robert |
Raleigh-- How's the painting there? Are sights there compelling enough to catch a flight there from Hilo to paint them? Lots of stuff around Hilo, but I've never been to Lahiana Maui. | ||
Raliegh |
Robert, Lahaina Side | ||
Robert |
Raleigh--Where in Hawaii do you live? I go to Hilo sometimes. | ||
Raliegh |
tachee, I have seen many wonderful watercolors from Ohio. My daughters there right now in college and shes missing Hawaii real bad. | ||
Anonymous |
I have a studio in a space that is 20x20. There is a sink right outside my door. There is a fairly large closet with shelves for books and supplies. Books in my case. I paint larger oils, 4x7 feet, 5x9 foot and so on, but It is a good adequate space. Of course I work in other mediums and it is nice to have a place to just leave them out. I intend to set up a couple of book and storage shelves later on but 20x20 is great. I also use to work in a bedroom 15x16 but not only has the larger space helped the creative process but having a studio has really freed me to just create. Not only am I happy with the studio but my work is growing in quality exponentially. | ||
tachee |
A sink big enough for the paper! Thank you, Sid- I had not thought of that. DUH. Victoria, I had never visited the ArtCafe, and I love it, thanks. So many ideas there. I shall return often. Raleigh, I asked if this could be built in Hawaii instead of Ohio, but it seems the commute might be a bit of a hassle. Color me green. The paper storage, inversion table were all already in the plan. Perceived need? Hard to distinguish from want at times. We are retiring and building a little bungalow with studio attached...with north light. Four close cousins are all retiring on 57 acres in the woods. The next stage of this life promises to be the best. I intend to paint my life away. Thanks for your input. | ||
Robert |
I use as a studio a spare bedroom, 13X 13 with a closet. I could use more room for paper storage racks--add about 4 feet depth for that, and I suppose for me the ideal size without extravagance would be about 17 X 13. | ||
Raliegh |
I've always thought the perfect studio would be a work station on wheels. My dream is to build a deck that runs all around the 2nd story of my house, I live in Hawaii, and I never tire of the views. | ||
Sid |
Tachee In my experience, do as Robert says, figure out how much storage space you need--then add more as you will quickly fill up space with completed paintings, frames, framing materials, paper, paint etc. etc. It's easy to make suggestions, but we don't know how big a studio you are planning. Having a water supply, sink, etc. is handy too. A sink big enough to soak watercolor paper in (if you are a watercolorist??) It's also nice to have a sitting area--a comfortable chair, reading light, etc. to sit in an contemplate your current painting and think about future ideas. Sid | ||
Victoria |
Hi, taches, Lucky you building your own studio must be like a dream come true. I understand what you're asking. You think you know what you want and need, but may be missing something that could be indispensible and once the thing is built there probably won't be much room to make changes and/or additions. Knowing what other people consider important can bring possibilities to mind that you might not think of on your own. Have you been to ArtCafe? They have had a number of discussions about studios and equiptment and design considerations in the past. You probably will have to register in order to access the discussion threads. Go to www.artcafe.net. on the main page go down to ACN ArtBoard and click on that, the at the top of that page is a listing entitled search, click there. On the dialog that comes up put in "studio" and the titles of all the threads concerning studios comes up. I think you will find some useful information there. But come back here too because I bet there will be a lot of good suggestions coming from this group as well. Victoria | ||
Robert |
This is like asking what sort of house should you build. I'm not sure anyone can answer your question honestly. I would make a list of all the furniture and equipment I would be using, the storage space requirements, and the creature comfort needs. I would plan my lighting so as to get the best diffused lighting with no direct sunlight (northern exposure if possible). It's cool that you are building a studio, but I would assume you are doing so because of a perceived need--(not just "I am an artist therefore I need a studio.") If you analyze your current and future requirements, you can design a work space (which is all a studio is) to neet those requirements. I would definately include some paper storage racks in my plan as well. I would also include an inversion table to hand upside down from to relax your back. I'd also include a guitar stand and a guitar chair to play while the paint dries. I'd also include ... Best of luck. | ||
tachee |
I have been reading these discussion boards for awhile now. You make me think and you make me laugh. Now I am asking for your input. I am building a new studio. I have always had a small space to work in. Now I am worried that I might waste space, or forget to include something that might be valuable later. I think I have the basics covered, but would like to touch base with others for their input and ideas. |
