How to keep my art studio clean

Lisa Bodkin
by Lisa Bodkin
So, I have decided to clean my studio...but need help! I am always working on pretty big projects, and I never get chance to clean. I would like to come to a place where things go back where they came from in an easy fashion, where cans of paint are not on top of one anther and then three rows back!
too many cans of paint!
Hopefully I will get this figured out and post the afters!
  11 answers
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Oct 11, 2014
    It looks like you work on some large pieces in a variety of ways. I think your answer is going to be more shelving and then categorize by product...paints in one section, stains in another, brushes in another, cleaner over there, etc. Then you can further categorize...i.e., by color & type of paint...once you have everything categorized. Move misc items out of your supplies area. Then make a rolling table with a tub(s) on it...this could be an old dresser with casters on it with tub(s) attached to the top. When you start a project, put the supplies and paints you are going to use in these tubs, then once you are through with the project, roll it around and put them back in place. Actually the drawers in a dresser would be great to put plastic boxes like those you keep shoes in to keep the different size brushes, small hand tools sorted. Sandpaper, wiping clothes, etc. could also be stored there.
  • Liliana Wells Liliana Wells on Oct 11, 2014
    I like to say that when yourun out of horizontal space, go vertical. Jeanette's ideas are great. You need more shelves. You can either make your own or purchase. When you have deep shelves, as you indicated, put the different shadesof the same color one in front of the others. For example, if you havethree shades of blue, line them up one in front/behind one another. Whenyou see blue, you know the ones behind are also blue, just different shades. Stack you wood on one sideof your work area. I see what look likeframes. Those can be hung from thesealing or large racks, like large rugs at Home Depot where you can swing thedifferent rungs as if they were book pages. When you start a project,get the things you need lined up. Whenyou are finished put them back. Browse through HomeTalk to wee what otherpeople have done to organize. You mayfind an idea that will work for you. Good luck. Please post pictures when done.
  • Darla Darla on Oct 11, 2014
    When your paint cans are partly empty, you can pour the paint into repurposed glass jars, which will take up less shelf space and you can see what color they are at a glance. Some people line the jars with ziploc bags for extra protection so the paint doesn't dry out. Once you have everything sorted out, just take 10 minutes to put it back when you're done with a project. I need to take my own advice!
  • Lisa Bodkin Lisa Bodkin on Oct 11, 2014
    Ha ha, great advice, yes putting back after I have used it does not come naturally to me. And a good idea for those half used cans, Mason jars here I come!
    • Shirley Kalinosky Shirley Kalinosky on Oct 12, 2014
      @Lisa Bodkin Just cut the label off the paint can and tape it to the jar. I have a notebook with for each room in our house with the name of store I bought the paint, color # and name, and how many cans purchased for each room. Always label whatever you change over and keep records so if you run about of even a tube of paint, you'll know right away where to replenish your supply. I like the idea of going higher, just make sure you at least have a stool or ladder if you do. Oh, and I alphabetize everything especially on the shelves and put things in rainbow colors starting with white, pink red...to purple, brown, gray, black...You get the idea. It really works.
  • Leanne Franson Leanne Franson on Oct 12, 2014
    You could have long narrow shelves so your paints are only one can deep, ie long planks directly on the wall. They could be held onto the wall, or they could stack up (ie with bricks). One thing is to perhaps put things by project. My brain works like that. I work in illustration (and my studio is a mess which is why I clicked on this!) but I find that instead of "by colour" my brain works a lot by association. So I keep things together by project, ie all my reference material together with the sketches, trials etc in a big envelope. i repurpose big envelopes people mail me books in, write on the date and project and put them in order in big boxes, so I can flip through them like cards in a card library. I am more likely to find a picture of a bear, or the sample texture I did for the father's sweater, by project cuz I think "oh yeah, I drew bears/did texture trials for Book X!" than have all the animal pics together, all the texture books together. Ditto for tools. I put the paints, brushes, paper samples, pencils, erasers etc together that I use let's say, for large scale work, small watercolor work, acrylic work, murals. That way, I don't have to run around putting brushes with brushes, colours with colours etc... I keep them together (see plastic bin idea above!) and then the next time I work large scale in acrylics, or small scale in watercolor, I have all the materials and tools already grouped together that I need. That might work better for you if you, like many of us, don't take the time after a project to "reshelf" everything. And that also works with the project association thing: "I need that big brush I worked with for mural X when I was painting with flat latex colours"... and there it is, all in a box, the flat latex colours, the big brush, the muffin tin I used for my colors, the roller for the primer etc. One final thing, I tend to keep a big paint can of each color, and then a small jar or yogourt container of the same color for small work and touchups. I put a dab of the paint inside, on the top of the can and the top of the small jar, to easily see the color, and then I store the small container on top of the big can. Looking forward to seeing photos!
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Oct 12, 2014
    Go with more shelving - right to the ceiling. The top shelves can be used to store items that are only used occasionally. You could also have a wall with a peg board on it and a shelf under it so that you can hang your larger brushes one to a peg, and the smaller ones on the ledge.
  • Lisa Bodkin Lisa Bodkin on Nov 30, 2014
    Ok, so work in the studio to clean up has been slow, only because of projects that keep coming up! Thank you @Darla for the suggestion of jars gives me more space, and looks pretty!
    • Mary McDonnell Mary McDonnell on Jan 03, 2015
      Awesome job, Lisa! Baby steps.... Those of us not born with the organization gene have to be patient with the changes that we do make - I know that I'm often so excited to go on to something else, I don't take the time needed to put stuff away. This is one of my goals for the year - practice making time for putting stuff away and being patient enough to finish one activity before going on to the next 😊. Sounds so obvious and yet I'm still trying to perfect it!!
  • Pam Perkins Zirbel Pam Perkins Zirbel on Nov 30, 2014
    Great space!! I have a tiny area. I make cards and am such a PAPER hoarder !!! I need sooo much storage and wall space...I only have 2 1/2walls. It is a breezeway between the house and our garage...anyways..i love the rooms that people paint in as the walls and floors look awesome!!! Good luck cleaning/rearranging!! I should take a pic of my small place. I have BOXES of flowers [While Orchid Craft flowers] all over, dressers, yes DRESSERS of my patterned paper !! Ugh!!! I work on a huge desk but only actually USE like a 8X8 square on my desk to make my cards!! Uh!!! If someone would START me in the direction...I would DEFINITELY keep it!! Good luck, I personally LIKE your spot...verrrry atsy !!....Pam
    • @Pam Perkins Zirbel ..I also make my own handmade cards, and I found that ' snaptop' boxes, in all sizes , helped me organize my card supplies. I also got a tall craft cart , with drawers, for all my papers, and they are all sorted and alphabetized, with dividers between the sheets of cardstock/ vellum, etc. Scout Craigslist for the craft cart, and even storage boxes that you might use. The craft carts will take up less space than a dresser ( they are narrow and tall ) and you could get two if needed. I hope this helps, :)
  • Mary Ker Mary Ker on Apr 07, 2015
    I use boxes for color groups within a medium.
  • Ellen mcmillin Ellen mcmillin on Sep 08, 2016
    I bought tool chests to put all my stamps and card supplies in, file cabinets with many drawers also hold supplies, plastic bins that can be organized on shelves . It is sorted as to my craft interests, Quilting in one area, Cards and Scrapbooks in another and garden supplies in another area. Catalogs are also in specific areas, so I know where to look for what I am currently doing. - toni