Artists often struggle with finding a proper space to practice their craftsman and when I realized my daughter was really interested in becoming one, I wanted to do whatever I could to encourage her. One thing I’m glad I did was turn our garage into an art studio. Depending on your particular art, there are a lot of variables. Nonetheless, here’s a brief guideline anyone can follow. Note that you can do this in a basement, or any other appropriate room as well.
You’ll Probably Need A Clean Up Area
Art is messy. My daughter is really into painting, so she needs to regularly wash her paintbrushes. So, I made sure to get the best utility sink I can find. The deep dimensions are perfect for most jobs and she has access to water for any clean up she needs to do. Some of her friends (who are into other types of art) have told me that a utility sink is useful for most art forms.
Make Sure There Are Appropriate Work Stations Available
If you were building a carpenter’s workshop, you would add a workbench. Naturally, as an artist, you’ll need an appropriate station (or several) to work from. Make sure there is appropriate seating as well, because artists tend to “get lost” in their work and it’s best to make things more comfortable.
Lighting Is Important In All Forms Of Art
Regardless of the type of art, lighting is an important factor. That is why, when building an art studio, you need to consider multiple lighting options. Natural light (from the sun) and a variety of artificial lighting is the ideal combination. Make sure that the artist has control over the different options to light up or dim down the room. This means installing black-out blinds on the windows and adding a lot of different lights from different angles.
Organization Is Still Important
Although artists are known for their haphazard nature, it is still important to have the options of organization. Make sure there is ample storage space that is appropriate for the art form. It should be easy for the artist to access their supplies, and they should have space for long-term supplies (such as spare paint brushes, extra paints, etc).
Make Sure To Consult With The Artist
Art studios are not purely about interior design. You will want to consult with the artist because the work process of every artist is different. What might seem practical and reasonable from an interior design or architectural point of view, might not be the most functional solution for the artist. At the end of day, you’ll want the art studio to make the artist’s life easier and not more difficult. Ask them how their normal process is, and what things they wish they had in other studios they worked in. A simple conversation could help bring your renovation to a much more functional level.
After the extensive renovations, my daughter was extremely happy with the results. I believe that the key to success here was communication. Good luck building your own art studio!
