A short history of creating an art studio:
Back in 2015 I shared this photo with the caption: One day this will be an art studio. Can you see it?
This was our creepy underground basement room that leaks and has gazillions of spiders. First, we fixed the leaks from the outside (it was a grading issue) and I blocked all the potential entry for bugs:
Painting the Walls White
I knew for the basement to be an inviting place I needed a blank slate so I caulked all the cracks and we painted the walls white with a stain blocking paint:
Adding a Wall Easel
I used to have a large standing easel and all I remember is how much room it seemed to take up. What I really wanted was an easel system on the back wall of the studio that could hold several canvases at once and could also be easily adjusted. The solution we came up with was a simple wall easel made from five 2×4’s and a small dowel. One horizontal 2×4 was bolted to the floor the rest of the 2x4s would lean vertically against wall. We used a drill press to add the holes to the vertical pieces so that pieces of dowel can be moved up and down making it completely adjustable:
I added a few other work tables and shelves and here’s what it looked like at the beginning of 2016:
At some point I hung up these deconstructed vintage mattress springs as bulletin boards:
A year later I still wasn’t doing much art in this room because it had become more of a storage room for my project supplies:
Painting the floor suddenly made the room seem bigger, brighter and cheerier! It changed everything.
An Oversized Worktable
When I was in California I used to have two huge worktables and that was something I definitely missed but I wasn’t sure if the room was big enough for one. Brett had the idea to place a large piece of 4’x8′ styrofoam on the floor so I could test out the size before we actually built a worktable. I walked around it for a few days and decided it would be great:
Brett had some scrap wood laying around and so all we had to purchase was the finish-grade plywood for the top of the table. The best idea was the storage shelf:
I painted the top and the shelf below with the same paint I used for the floor:
Getting use out of the storage shelf:
The studio is always changing and will always be changing. I painted the door one day with art quotes just to spruce up this side of the room:
And I will forever be trying to perfect my organization:
Especially for my paint:
The most important thing for me as an artist is to be able to create and not have to clean everything up….I can just walk away from the mess and leave works in various stages of completion:
It’s definitely a space I love to be in now as you can see from all the artwork in various stages:
Art Studio Upgrades
It’s funny that the two major things that I consider upgrades are a 1950s heater and a TV. The basement stays around 60 degrees all year round except for when outside temperatures drop to the teens for a few days and my ancient old heater keeps me warm:
For Christmas I asked for TV and I got it! Sienna seems to spend more time with me in the studio now that I have Netflix:
Here are some studio scenes from the past few months….it’s fun to see how the art changes and what is in process:
Things rotate in and out:
An eclectic mix:
A floral streak:
Inspired landscapes:
I’d love to know what is your favorite thing about your creative space. If you could change anything what would it be? Feel free to share a link too to your own studio if you have pics!
I love the built in easels and the white paint on the floor really made the room bright. Is this space your whole basement or are there other rooms? You really have been painting up a storm.
There are other rooms. It kind of mirrors the main floor of our house but I think almost all the rooms are kind of creepy 🙂
A creative nook to die for!!! The Easels are genius, as are the vintage bed springs….and whoever thought the crowning glory would be found in the white floor. Fabulous job!
Thank you Carolyn!
I loved seeing the art change over time in the last few shots!
Thanks Lori! I love looking back to see what I was working on….and what keeps getting worked on.
thanks or sharing the journey rather than just a final photo. much more inspiring as well as encouraging. i think the absence of a basement is the biggest challenge when moving rom the east to calif..
I remember that. And then coming back to the east coast was another bug change again!
My creative space is at the front of our house in the small den. I have bird feeders lined up in the bushes out front so the cat is likely to join me if the door is open. The dog goes wherever I am regardless but mostly for the sun rays. I like that it has a big window in the front and lets in lots of natural light.
I need to add a standing work station and work on the ergonomics of the place. I am tall but have short legs and long torso- so standard chair and desk do NOT work. I am a serial craft piddler, mainly in polymer clay and beads and wire jewelry with some card making thrown in so I feel if I sit- I am constantly hunched over and now that I’m 40 that is not friendly to the neck and back. lol
I love your paintings and the transition, painting the floor really opened it up. I wish I had a basement.
I’m always hunched over too!
Easels and center work table are great! I still can’t believe how prolific you are. Keep it up!
Thank you!
I don’t have a creative space despite my creative juices and desires. If I make the time to create, I typically find myself at the kitchen table or on our back screened-in porch. Someday when my children, ages 14, 5, 2 and 10 weeks, are older I’ll have more time to spare. Until then I’ll curate my dreams on Pinterest. I love your space, and inspiration! I think if I weren’t so much myself, I’d be a lot like you.:)
I think when the kiddos are little the kitchen table is the best place! I do have a little desk in our living room where I do some projects just so I’m around when my daughter gets home after school.
I am crazy about your studio! I don’t paint but I do sew, quilt and embroider and I’m sure I would have a space like yours filled with all of my happy stitching. Thanks for sharing!
Oooh! Thank you for sharing the step-by-step transformation! I love how a space takes on a personality as you use it and really settle in.
One of the main reasons we bought our current house 2.5 years ago is a 12’x24′ shed in the back–on a slab and already with electricity! The Hubs and my dad were so supportive to help me finish it out and add AC. However, life got in the way, and it’s not done yet. ???? And now, the Hubs unexpectedly got a job in another state, and we have to move!! I’m so sad to leave my Makershed! We won’t be able to afford quite as big a space where we’re headed, but seeing your basement gives me hope!
My main concern is the lighting. Do you miss the natural light? Did y’all add any additional light fixtures or task lighting? Anything I should look out for as we house hunt?