Shaking Things Up
How long is it since you changed either your workspace or the way you organise your materials? My studio has been pretty much the same ever since it was built in 2020, but when I came back from California, I realised it may need to evolve.
If I want to make some larger paintings, I need a different set-up. I need more space for sure. I also need different storage, and I may need to think about changing some of the furniture. But that's not all.... I also need to look at the tools I'm using and the way I mix colours.
Currently I use stay wet palettes made out of plastic dinner trays, but they're not big enough. They soon get covered and then the colours start to get mixed up and muddy. I also tend to work with a few brushes that I keep washing, but often I get impatient, and use the same brush without washing it. This again results in mud. And I NEVER seem to have enough paint mixed, so I'm always having to start again.
In the past I've experimented with pre-mixed colours, but then I slipped back into old ways. Now I'm having another go. I'm using paint buckets from the hardware store because they have a top that seals. I've noticed that the paint stays fresh, but the original colours do tend to separate a little, so I need stirring sticks on hand.
Other changes include:
I've bought a lot of GAC 100 because I want to the paint to flow nicely and this thins it out. I also went and bought some discounted cans of house paint because I enjoyed working with that in California.
I've just ordered more brushes, because I want to be able to use different brushes for different colours, which will hopefully avoid the issues with muddying my colours.
I've changed the way I store my drawing materials, using open tubs instead of having them in drawers. This just makes it easier to grab what I need when I need it.
I'm now looking at my furniture and thinking about how I can rearrange it or replace it to make more painting space. And I'm looking at what I have stored in there, to see what can be moved. For example, I have a lot of art books in my studio but honestly, I never look at them. My hands are always covered in paint and there's nowhere clean or comfy to sit and read. So those need to go into the house, and that will make more storage space for paints, tools etc.
All this to say, I'm evolving my space to suit my work. It occurred to me that this might be a good topic to share with you, because maybe you could also benefit from some changes.
Even if you don't have a dedicated studio space, this applies to you. In fact, maybe it applies to you even more, because space will be even more of an issue for you. We can always get more efficient and organised :)
So, why not check in with yourself to see if your current set up still works for you ... are things easily accessible? Do you only have what you need, or are you hanging on to stuff that just gets in the way? And do you have the tools and systems you need to feed your creativity?
There's nothing worse than letting things get stale, so let's keep shaking them up!