It certainly was a mess, wasn't it, before I got shamed into updoing it after seeing Ronell's and Casey's studios in France in November? I'd painted in oils in there for years, and then acrylics, and made mosiac art with ceramic and cement, and all manner of sloppy mediums. Or perhaps I'm the sloppiness? Ever thought of that?
It was clean, but those stains on the floors and walls were there for the duration.
This small room is one of three studio spaces I have. It's the first one and still the chief one. I'm rededicating it to acrylic painting after using it as an all-purpose (and messy, yes) space for making watercolors and paintings and drawings and blogging over the past couple of years. Now that I'm going back to bigger paintings, I need a separate space for watercolor and drawing, so the papers don't get spoiled and splattered and stained. More about that in a minute.
So here are the befores and afters.
The second studio-ish space I have is the room that used to be our breakfast room and homework/project room for the children. I'll use it now for watercolor and drawing until I can reclaim a bigger room upstairs permanently for those functions. I'll continue to use it for short-termed projects. The armoire you see is full of art supplies.
When I finish reclaiming the room upstairs from various children's uses, I'll post photos of it, too.
Now, I'm all set and ready for a new year of painting, drawing, blogging. I'll do a year-end summary, as I always do, and talk about my plans for 2008, tomorrow.
Hello. I was just googling for decluttering an art studio - and found your site with pictures. Just wanted to say I really felt inspired!! Thanks!! Happy 2008~ (poster from Seoul, Korea)
Posted by: Jessica Ahn | February 27, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Gorgeous! (and you and I have the same long wood table, which I also use for a desk) The colors are perfect - neutral but not bland, and you've got such great light. I'm sure lots of good things are going to come out of these spaces. Congratulations, and enjoy!!
Posted by: juj | January 04, 2008 at 11:17 AM
A room of her own...
No, make that two rooms. If anyone can make full use of two studio rooms, it is you.
But it is very naughty to raise up one of the Seven Deadly Sins in the hearts of other artists!
My writing room is perfectly dreadful. Heaps everywhere. Paper everywhere. Dust antelopes leaping from odd corners. Child's wallpaper still up. Gallumphing people coming through on their way to the washing machine.
Posted by: marlyat2 | January 03, 2008 at 12:00 PM
happy new year Laura!
Your house should be in a magazine. Can't wait for you to mess up those studios! Happy painting!
Posted by: df | January 02, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Laurel, I have to be the opposing comment here I guess because I don't understand how anyone can work in such a beautiful, clean, organized environment. The fear of making it "messy" again would stick in my brain when I wanted to make that flicker of paint that could possibly go in a direction other than my canvas or board. How can you feel uninhibited? I think beautiful, organized and neat could be overrated. I love my old studio for it is a place that is never worse for my presence and only improves with spatters.
Posted by: Jennifer Janson | January 02, 2008 at 07:54 PM
I love looking at your studio. Wow, I'm envious. Love your blog.
sandy
Posted by: sandy | January 02, 2008 at 02:33 PM