| Finding and choosing a comfortable and inspiring work place to create art is not always easy! I have found spaces that I used to find distracting to actually turn into my most productive work spaces. I have also set up an entire work space and barely utilized it. What I find to be helpful is starting with a space that you frequent, like your bedroom. I do most of my artwork in my bedroom because it's personal to me, easily accessible to all my materials (which helps on days that I am being lazy), and it's a place that I know I am not going to be interrupted. I actually use a variety of table top surfaces and arrange my work station around me. I use my bed as a place to sit and use a laptop table to place my drawing board on. I like to keep my laptop running with music or a television series that only relies on listening to enjoy it. I also have a stool to keep on the left of me to place my desk lamp on and water (I know, bad combo) but it works! My paint and paper towels are always on the bed next to me but I paint using watercolors and gouache, which can be kept in plastic containers or trays (as seen in the picture above. I will post some examples of work spaces I have, including my work space at the school I teach in, and yes I do like to participate in art activities during my lunch hours and preps when I have a chance. My best advice is not to limit your production spaces. Sometimes working in public spaces can be inspiring too! I will go over all of them with you to leave you with options to think about! Personal: A great place to start producing artwork is in a space that is personal to you, a place that you can access and store materials easily. Although I like to create artwork in a few different locations I always found myself losing interest in picking up and starting or continuing a piece if I had to pack everything up, set it up, and then pack it up again. When I am working from home I have the option to leave my work out and come back to it if I feel like it, even if it's days later. This does not always apply to everyone, as some people work better outdoors or in public spaces. You will also notice that your artwork style, productivity, and compositions may change depending on the environment you are working in. I also like working on the floor if there is a large open space. I started using pillows to sit on since a hardwood floor can become uncomfortable after awhile. Utilizing a floor space gives an artist opportunity to spread out materials and gain some breathing room free of clutter. Work: If you're anything like me, you arrive at work way before you need to begin your work day. If you're as fortunate as I am, you work as an art educator or in an art field that allows art creation to take place naturally. If you're a student then you are just as lucky as your art teacher, if not luckier! Art students have the ideal situation for creation! Influence and inspiration is all around them. They can gain experience working in a public setting and work independently during lunch time. The best part about being a student in the art classroom is having access to a mentor (the teacher). As an art teacher, I love creating art at work. I can do it while class is in session and then independently during the morning or lunch. Students love to see their teaching participating in the artmaking process too! It shows students that making art is not just a required class to take, but sometime that is actually enjoyable to do. Public: Whether is be studio spaces, college classrooms/studios, setting up an a canvas on the beach or sitting on the bench in the park with a sketchbook, public spaces can serves as motivation for artists to produce work. Receiving the attention of the public while working can boost confidence and self-esteem and often introduce new ideas! I always loved going to painting class in college, putting in my headphones, and just doing my thing. Once in awhile a classmate might comment or the professor, a person I loved to take criticism from because their advice made my work stronger. Performance artists work in a public setting as well, which is always interesting to see. I had my students work live during an art gallery two years ago. Not only did it attract more traffic but it motivated my students and made them feel good about themselves. I only talked about a few great places to create art. Every individual might have different preferences. You might find that working outside is distracting and frustrating, while another artist prefers to work outside (landscape artists being one). It's good not to limit yourself to one place to create art. Get experience from a few locations and see how it impacts your art and thought process. If you find you are working in one space most of the time, trying rearranging that space. I used to love having my drafting table set up in my room and really loved sitting there in front of my window, but I found it cluttered my room too much so I decided to move to the laptop table and stool set up. See what works for you but do not get comfortable saying "next time". If you have the opportunity, buy a drawing board and tape your artwork to it. You can carry it anywhere with you and when you find you have yourself a great drawing you might skip on the laziness and begin painting or coloring it. N e x t up [Lets talk about photography] ! ! ! Location Subject Camera Lens Easy Photo Editing Perspective Emphasis Just a few things to discuss without having to be a professional! |
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