I love my studio. It’s a little creative sanctuary for me. But, in this sanctuary, there is an ongoing battle that followed me from my last studio. It’s the push and pull between wanting a tantalizing buffet of books and art supplies in view and wanting room to work and white space to foster new projects. This side that is almost always winning is the former and lately, I’ve been feeling it. Maybe it’s because I wedge a cat tree in a free square foot of floor space next to my desk (the kitties do love it) or that I have piles of papers and books on most available flat surfaces, but it feels like a tidying-up is called for. Maybe even some rearranging, rethinking, and, yes, purging.
It seems the more I embrace being an artist, the more I become an artist, playing right into the stereotype of being a bit scattered and messy. A part of me doesn’t mind being wedged in between art supplies and shelves of books. That feels cozy and comfortable to me, but it can also start to feel a little stifling.
This photo was taken about a year ago and, while packed to the hilt, was pretty tidy. Over the last year, frames have accumulated and are leaning against the counter and hardware cabinet. There’s a basket with rolls of patterned paper in front of the bookshelf on the left. I just liked it out, so I made a place for it. There’s a box of old photos, waiting to be scanned, sitting in a trug on the floor next to a box with notepads I need to list for sale. Storage and display are squeezed into every available space.
So, what am I going to do? How will I walk this tightrope of wanting everything out and visible in a space that will not grow with my collections? I’m sure I’ll be puzzling that out for the rest of my life. It will probably always be a cycle of “order, disorder, reorder, over and over.” (From the Jason Gray song.) But, I don’t want to surrender the endeavor entirely. As I did with my last studio, I’m going to go through every drawer and cabinet, getting rid of the things that aren’t useful, and relocate some of the things I want to keep but rarely use. I also need to whittle down some of the collections like shells and pencils! While I enjoy having them all in sight, they really don’t need to be and I know I’ll appreciate the open space more.
So, that’s the plan in the studio.
In our MN house, I started organizing in year three of living there and that seems to be the same for this house. It’s just long enough to know how we use each space, what we use, what we need, what we like, and what we can do without. I’ve even been toying with the idea of putting together a big yard sale.
I’ve wanted to post more on my YouTube channel this year about art, creativity, and creative work, so I think reorganizing the studio would be a nice thing to share.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggles with this balance. I enjoy my things and want to see them and interact with them often, but there is a time when it feels like too much. Well, if you’re also in that club, we’ll muddle through it together…
32 Responses
That’s me, muddling through it.
Be sure and share when your yard sale is please. I think I can come to this one😊. Thank you, Dale
Yes, I definitely will!
I constantly feel that struggle in my creative space. I thought I was alone in this so thank you as always for your honesty and transparency.
I am currently going through my creative space…what to keep, what to display and what to give away. I look forward to going through this process with you as well.
I love it. I thinks it looks great. I like my things around me, too. I have a hard time of letting go, especially if it was my mother’s.
I think the artist needs inspiration in chaos, while the mind needs space. They will always be in conflict. Is it possible for you to move books behind books? I do so; my bookcases are double-layered and selected on the subject. Bigger behind the smaller. The ones I take out more at eye level, and the books I only need for research are lower. High up, I need a stair so only rare ones. Perhaps try to find the old Victorian kitchen shelf units. They are massive and wall-filling but fantastic for storing all you need. It gives more unity if all is in one big cupboard instead of ten little ones. I wish you clarity with rearranging.
Me too, It goes in circles, I enjoy it out, then I am overwhelmed and It all must go away. But I cleaned out closets to remove things I really don’t need, stored the things I do need in lidded baskets on the floor of the closets and keep trying. I have my little boys to watch every week , so Noni can’t have too many precious things out. However the NEED to streamline really helps the process.
This is definitely me. I think though as I’ve gotten older, I have realized I will never use up all the fabric or craft supplies I have. It is overwhelming to a point that I don’t even want to bother with any of it. However, I am reevaluating space and deciding what really needs to go. I’ve also been contemplating how to get rid of it. A yard, FB Marketplace, ebay, donations, or what. Muddle, muddle, muddle.
Boy can I relate. I have a third bedroom I turned into my craft/sewing room. I make quilts and recue vintage quilt tops and blocks that have not been finished and finish them. I repurpose vintage items and sell them and I paint, more into watercolors right now. I have a wonderful library of books on decorating, painting, quilting, sewing etc. and decorating and quilt magazines and within those items, I have Christmas ones that I take out every year for inspiration. I am all over the place and have to feed my creative side. I have purged and rearranged and still it gets out of control.
Your studio is amazing and I have loved watching it come together in your new home. So I guess I will just muddle through with the rest of us.
Yep, that’s me! Too much great stuff! I have a wonderful antique 36 drawer chest and sink in my closet, but can’t get to them with 6 foot piles stuffed in between. I’ve hit the I can’t stand it anymore stage!
I did a major donation of craft supplies. I think I’m being a lot more creative with less than more.
It’s funny you should post this today when I am in the midst of doing exactly what you described, going through drawers, rethinking what I really need, want, and have room for. I am hoping to get back to painting in earnest since my husband is doing much better and hopefully is still cancer free. I have our largest guest bedroom as my studio. We don’t get many guests so I don’t feel badly that I took the larger room. Still the closet is crammed full of large canvases, frames, art I never have put up for sale, boxes and boxes of photos that need to be scanned, etc. My previous art studio was above our garage at our farm. It was the most wonderful place with room for everything and I could leave the mess and go to the house and no think of it until I returned. It was nice to always have my workspace ready to go. I can’t really do that now but I feel blessed to have the space I have and have to figure out what is really important to have in here and what can be stored or tossed.
I hear ya sista!!! Loud and clear!!! My issues are…sewing, watercolor supplies, crocheting and collecting of oddities. Now you may say, “How much space can crochet hooks take?” Well…..it’s the irresistable yarns and pattern books that go along with it. lolol…. There are just not enough hours in the day!!!!
Definitely in the same camp, though recently I swapped rooms that my studio and office were in. That took awhile and in the end I decided to keep my art books in my office so I can be happy while I work; and the shelves in my studio hold supplies which seems to be working. I also have shelves in the closets in both rooms! Clutter still finds me.
Your room is beautiful…not cluttered but cataloged. I declutter but hands off my studio. Your studio should be your sanctuary filled with everything you love! Hugs! Remember Luckett’s in the spring…im sure you can fit in one more beauty!
Oh, always! I don’t think I’ll ever give up the hunt, but I need to be discerning!
Creative people see “possibilities” for beauty/interest while many others see junk. I collect “possibilities” and sometimes they become interesting items of beauty…and sometimes they become “junk”.
I love that ! I’ll say that to my daughter next time she says that “I hoard too many art materials” . Nope. I collect opportunities! Thank you.
Oh, that is SO TRUE, creative people see possibilities and others see junk!
You could always make room for your books in the basement, lol!
Yes, I’m actually doing that! I have three shelves down there that I need to assemble (and prime and paint the wall before I install them) and I think I’ll move two more down there to open things up a bit in here.
For sure one thing I miss in my Arizona home is a basement.
You have a fantastic basement that is big and dry. Sure it’s not where you want it yet but you have loads of space to make at least one area for your shell collection, books you don’t want out now, art supplies etc. My space is like a bowling alley with one side all windows— this is such a huge plus for me! —and 2 large sliders on the other side for house access. So walls are at a minimum. So far I’m making it work but I too must purge some of my stuff. Let’s do it together!!
Yes, that is exactly what I’m going to do. I need to make much better use of the space we have down there for storing extra books and supplies.
I am actually the polar opposite. I absolutely hate things being out. And I am a true “stasher,” which is counter-productive when one is feeling the pull to be creative artistically again. Everything comes out, project/s done, everything put away. That’s the only way I feel calm and balanced. My eyes may need to “rest” more when looking about in any room. SO, that said I will share that my basement is a complete disaster. SO I do need to organize it because I find I am not creating nearly as much as I did when it was tidy down there. Now it is more hazardous than anything. Good luck with your organizing. It will be great when done. But it sure isn’t fun to do.
You must have read my mind! The last few times I’ve clicked on your blog I’ve been hoping it would be about your studio! I feel like we haven’t gotten to see it nearly enough in this new house. I can’t wait to see what happens in here. Like you, I like having things out where I can see them. But I do get that sometimes that can feel a little stifling too. Can’t wait to go on this journey with you.
I have the same struggle with my office. It is intended to be a place for me to write, sew, craft a bit, and also to take care of farm business such as bill pay and record keeping. It is just a converted bedroom with a desk, a dropleaf table, a small sewing table, and a hutch. But I often have several stacks of paper all over the desk and table and fabric stacked on the chair and sewing area. So, tidying up has to take place. Usually, the disorder is a result of not getting finished with one project and needing to work on something else instead. So, it can get overwhelming. We need the supplies handy and organized but we also need some inspiration and admiration opportunities there, too!
I can’t create if my art studio is not organized. I bought clear organizing trays and drawers at target. That way everything is visible. Pretty white iron stone or porcelain creamer vases hold my paint brushes. Square clear bins hold my pens, markers etc. My problem? I’m like you. I dab on everything. I just love trying different art mediums. Sometimes I work 3 different things in a week! Hang in there you’ll do great!
I’m also great at creating spaces. Install higher shelves that can hold lightweight materials. Invest on those target super clear trays and bins. Hire someone to scan your pictures. Good luck!
always , always, a problem
I am teaching a copper tooling class to 6 graders at our wed. night church service.( Pulled that one up from the 70’s ), thanks to you tube to refresh me, doing a fish, I use my basement and bought 12 matching containers with labels to store on shelves( helps to make it look nice) and also have rolling carts, this is behind doors in a walk-in closet, then bring up when needed . I live in a rancher with a finished basement
having a party this week end so gotta clean up the basement,
Well, it certainly is true that creative people are going to be surrounded by beautiful and inspirational things! And a certain degree of “mess.” I am definitely all about having “white space” in my house though, so that I can experience “the fullness of nothing.” It is very important for me to have big blank areas where there is nothing going on, even if other areas are full of details. Generally this takes the form of big blank wall space that give the eye a rest vs. the other areas of the house that are fuller.
I would also like to suggest that you can create this white space without even moving anything into or out of a room, just by putting up curtains! Specifically, curtains over the front of bookshelves, or curtains behind a glass cupboard door, etc. Something form-fitted that covers up the color busyness of the what’s on the shelves, by just blanking it out with plain fabric. Meanwhile, everything is accessible underneath. I do this with utilitarian things like shelves of tools in the basement that I don’t want to see also.
I agree with the person who said that these clutter/nonclutter issues will always be going on in the mind of an artist. And the people who say that they will never even be able to use all of the art supplies that they currently have, so why not purge some of that now?
Clearing things out by decluttering is just one of the most wonderful pursuits in the winter months especially. It can give you a whole new lease on life! You don’t have to become a minimalist either. Just ask yourself the question “If I had only a couple of minutes to grab what I valued from my house and make a run for it, would I take this?” and see what happens. Because to an artist, everything is beautiful and/or useful and can be justified in keeping. Considering deeper heartstring meanings might be more illuminating.
We need to create a “muddling mavens” group!
I just finished purging and organizing my spaces! I also purchased a lovely second hand oak bookcase. I have an office/painting studio and a jewelry studio. I am very lucky to have two spaces but I don’t do well with clutter. I can’t focus if things are too busy/messy. I do make a mess creating but I have a reset before I start a new project.