Studio Overhaul = Studio Sale!

It has been more than three years since we built my studio. So I've had lots of time to see how well the furniture arrangement and storage systems I chose would meet my needs. Recently I ditched my existing display system, which was a series of painted boards with a channel cut into the top edges to hold removable metal hooks, in favor of a more attractive, much more useful system. Which I'll be telling you more about in a future post.

This change prompted me to evaluate how well the rest of the fixtures fit, or didn't fit, my current needs. Long story short, I dove head first into a total overhaul, and am getting rid of some pieces of furniture and acquiring some additional shelving to make the studio more functional and make the space work better.

One of my goals is coming up with better storage solutions. This includes finding better ways to store my jewelry making materials as well as finished, ready to sell pieces. At present, it's a jumble of pieces in progress, disorganized collections of beads and components, with finished items housed in several places in no particular order. Basically, it's chaotic.

The degree to which it's chaotic hit me full force the other day, when I opened a shoebox that had been haphazardly stuffed onto a shelf. Inside I found a dozen finished necklaces and other pieces I had made over a year ago and completely lost track of. So something's gotta give. To make my reorganization go easier I'm doing what any sensible artist who's organization-challenged would do: I'm holding a Studio Reorganization Sale!

No, it's not taking place IN my studio. (With all the "stuff" in there right now there's hardly enough room to turn around.) Instead, I'm holding the sale in my Etsy shop, Playingwithcolors. I've marked the jewelry items waaaaay down to clear the decks for new items to come. I've been adding one sale item per day (it's an SEO thing) rather than listing them all at once. So check in each day; you might find something you can't live without. And don't forget, Mother's Day is coming up soon. All my jewelry includes a beautiful organza drawstring bag with a matching hand painted blank gift card. No additional wrapping required.

Here are a few pieces I've recently listed:

Original collage on vintage domino, now just $20 in my Etsy shop

Large hand painted pendant, now just $28 in my Etsy shop

Original mosaic paper collage under glass,now just $15 in my Etsy shop

Text and images ©2016 Lynn Edwards

Studio Storage: A Great, Low Cost Way to Display Art

Finding a way to display artwork in your studio without breaking the bank isn't easy. Oh sure, wire display systems like those used in galleries can be had, but they're mighty pricey. Banging hooks and nails into the wall is another option, but it leaves holes that must be filled, sanded and then painted over. And over and over.

The Not-So-Great Way

In my studio, I've been using a system consisting of metal hooks and painted 1x4s. The hooks hang from long, continuous slots Hubby made in the narrow top edge of the 1x4s. The 1x4s are painted --- what else? --- white. The whole thing cost almost nothing to make: we'd had the lumber on hand for years (originally it was supposed to become a cabinet for storing gardening tools, but that never happened.) The hooks were bought on the cheap from a company selling used store fixtures and displays.

This arrangement has worked ok, but it's not without its flaws. When the humidity level rises, the wood swells a bit and it can be hard to insert the hooks into the slots. Large paintings lay fairly flush to the wall but small ones don't. They angle sharply downward. And trying to slip a picture wire onto a hook can be a little hairy when the painting is heavy and I'm teetering on a step stool.

The Pure Genius Way

So when my good friend and fellow artist Rebecca Salcedo emailed me about the amazingly clever -- and oh so affordable -- display system she created for her studio, I took one look and said, "That's pure genius!"

Rebecca's super simple DIY display system: a 2x2 and a length of wide molding. Paintings lean against the wall with no danger of falling because the lip on the molding serves as a stop.  Photo ©Rebecca Salcedo

If you can operate a drill, you can duplicate Rebecca's system. I kid you not. All you need to do is fasten a length of molding to a 2x2 cut to the same length. Then screw the 2x2 into the wall. What could be easier?? Rebecca left the shelf unpainted in the photo above to show how it's constructed.

Rebecca's shelving system lets you display works of all shapes and sizes. Paintings lean against the wall but are not fastened to it. They're held in place by the lip on the molding. Note the five paintings below the shelf. To double her display space, Rebecca simply laid a length of molding (minus the 2x2) directly on her desktop surface. Photo ©Rebecca Salcedo

Rebecca says there are actually multiple ways you can construct the shelving depending on your skill level and tool inventory. She provides step by step tutorials for all of them on her Smelly Rhino Studio blog. Take a look. You'll be amazed at just how do-able this project is! Everything you need, which isn't much, is readily available at your local Home Depot or Lowes. And you won't have to take out a second mortgage to afford it, either.

What's Not to Love?

What I like about Rebecca's design, in addition to its simplicity and affordability, is its flexibility. Paintings can be shifted around so easily. They can be displayed without hanging hardware, enabling you to offer buyers more choices at the point of sale. With this system there's no need to ever again wrestle a painting onto a wall hook. Finally, all pieces on display face outward at the same angle, lending the entire grouping a clean, organized appearance. I can't think of a better way to display art during studio open houses, gallerists' visits and private showings. As soon as I can get over to my local home center, I'll be adopting Rebecca's method.

What kind of display system do you use in your studio? Does it work for you? Would you choose it if you had to do it over again? Please share you thoughts by clicking the No comments/Comments link below. Thanks!

Text ©Lynn Edwards
Images ©Rebecca Salcedo
All rights reserved

Studio Clutter: De-Stash or Not?

They say nature abhors a vacuum. My studio is a good example of that, although the culprit is me, not Mother Nature. I'm a terrible packrat when it comes to art supplies. It's amazing how fast a space can fill up in just six short months when the impulse to stash goes unchecked. This was made apparent to me a few days ago when a friend asked me to send her some interior shots. Here's my studio as it appeared back in August, and how it looks now:

August, 2013

And now

 The studio seemed so big when it was empty!

August, 2013 -- how tidy!

February, 2014 -- not so tidy!

My "reading nook" is the only area that remains more or less uncluttered.

The moral of this story is (1) Art supplies reproduce like rabbits, and (2) No matter how big your studio is, it will never be big enough.

I suppose the answer is to set aside time to rigorously cull out everything but the essentials. But when I've done that in the past, in other studio spaces, I've regretted get rid of something because inevitably I've found myself needing it later. Instead I devise ways to pack the most into the least space.

Today you'll find storage tubs filled with mixed media supplies under both work tables, the mat cutter sandwiched between the book cases and the wall, rolls of paper hiding behind the armchair and sheets of foamcore stacked in a sliver of space next to the refrigerator. It's amazing how much stuff can be stored in nooks and crannies. My studio may never again look as spare and clean as it did six months ago, but who cares? It's my haven and happy space. De-stash? No way. Sorting through it all would be drudgery. Finding oddball places to house it...that's creativity, baby!

Text and images ©2014 Lynn Edwards

Solving Studio Storage Problems

Have finally gotten everything unpacked and have been busy devising functional yet inexpensive ways to store it all. My only "splurge" has been acquiring more shelving to house my books. Once again, I turned to Ikea and purchased two of their Expedit storage units. Stacking them one atop the other allows them to fit perfectly into the corner I'll be using as a reading nook. They're very sturdy and they look great. At just $39 each they were affordable too. These Expedit units hold all my over sized art books with ease because they're slightly over 15" deep. I love 'em!

A Different Angle

One strategy that helped me use the floor space more efficiently was placing some of my furniture perpendicular to the walls. This creates more usable wall space, makes better use of the room's interior square footage, and -- to my eye, anyway -- makes the studio seem larger than it actually is. I've done this with an open plastic shelving unit that houses a collection of lidded boxes containing my art supplies. Placed at a 90 degree angle to the wall, the open-backed shelving unit functions nicely as a room divider, with the work area on one side and "kitchen" area on the other. It effectively keeps the latter somewhat hidden from view, clearly defining the two areas, yet still leaves plenty of "moving around" room. Another advantage is that I can access the boxes on the shelves from both sides. Very handy!

To the left of the shelving unit is an old computer cabinet whose surface now holds a small fridge and microwave (not pictured). The cubbies below hold canvases and wood panels. In the foreground, adjacent to the shelf unit, is my "poor man's wash station." The unsightly electrical box will be concealed by clips attached to the wall holding sheets of watercolor paper.

I've placed my six foot work table perpendicular to the wall as well. This way I can work from either side. I'm really enjoying the versatility of this arrangement. Having easy access to the entire table surface is nice, and when my friend Kathy joins me for our weekly painting session, relocating my chair to the side closest to the door gives us both more room. The table Kathy uses sits several feet away from the 6' table, but we're both capable of making a bit of a mess as we work, so the more space, the better!

My 6' work table placed perpendicular to the wall leaves ample room for storage to both the left and right. That open area now occupied by the trash can is destined be filled with a small 3-shelf bookcase.

Put Up Some Pegboard 

 

Pegboard painted a cheerful color holds tools that used to take up valuable drawer space.

Another storage tactic that has worked out great was putting up a pegboard panel in the work area to hold everything from brayers and palette knives to rulers, scissors and other frequently used tools. I painted the pegboard a happy shade of lime green in about 30 minutes, using a 4 inch foam roller and latex house paint. (The pegboard I used was pre-primed.) Pegboard is much more attractive when it's painted, and I've been amazed at how many items it holds, even though the panel I used was only 28" wide. Mounted in the space between the two south facing windows, it accommodates a few dozen tools and then some. As you can see in the photo above, it takes up hardly any space but holds a lot!

With all the gear I use routinely on full view, I no longer have to waste valuable time hunting through cabinet drawers trying to find a particular item for making art. Pegboard panels are inexpensive (a 4x8 foot panel is usually less than $20) making this storage space-saver a super bargain. The metal hardware that holds the tools on the pegboard is usually sold separately. I bought a set of hardware -- assorted pieces in a variety of configurations -- at a big box home center for about $9. The set also included the brackets for mounting the pegboard on the wall.

One last item still unaddressed is figuring out what kind of hanging system I'll use for that gallery wall. With so many choices available, that decision will take some homework on my part to get it right. So stay tuned. I'll keep you informed in future posts as I explore my options. Perhaps you have some suggestions or advice as to the kinds of hanging systems for artwork that have worked best for you? If so, I'd really appreciate your sharing it!

Images and text ©2013 Lynn Edwards