Artists are notoriously messy because they are too creative to deal with the squareness of staying organized.An organized artist is able to spend more time working and less time searching for paint, as well as figuring out how to sell their work.
Step 1: Supplies should be kept in the same area.
If you're a photographer, it's a good idea to keep your gear in the same area of your home or studio.Paints should be kept with brushes, cleaner, canvas, and print supplies.Limit your search to a much smaller area if you want your supplies to be easier to find.The essential supplies area is one of the ideas.There is an inspiration and reference area.There is a dedicated work area.It's tucked out of the way.
Step 2: After every session, make an effort to clean the workspace.
Keeping the area immediately around the desk, easel, pottery wheel, and other objects is what this means.Clean every night.If you want to clean up dirty surfaces, discard trash or unnecessary materials.If you leave the workspace in a way that you can sit down the next day and start working, you won't have to do anything.Even if the rest of your studio is disorganized, an organized workspace will allow you to concentrate on making art.
Step 3: Large, clearly visible containers are where loose supplies should be placed.
A lot of artist clutter is due to a desire to keep track of supplies visually instead of tucked out of sight.By using jars, old glasses, vases, and cheap, clear plastic drawers, you can keep things in sight.Wine rack with cups in each slot to hold pens/pencils is one of the ideas beyond those mentioned.Plastic bottles are used for paint.
Step 4: Hang sketches, photos, and reference material using clotheslines and clips.
Simply string up the wires across a wall or along the ceiling and use them to hold essential papers that you don't want to cut or ruin with tape or tacks.Cheap and easy, this is a good way to handle papers and ideas you touch regularly or need to pin up and down for inspiration.
Step 5: Use every inch of the room for storage.
Shelving is a cheap and easy way to get more space in your studio or art space.Don't be afraid to get up high.The upper reaches of the room provide a lot of space for your tools and materials.
Step 6: If you want to draft ideas on the wall, use chalkboard paint.
It is possible to turn one wall into a chalkboard without the need for additional equipment or space.It can be used for smaller areas.As your needs change, paint over jars or storage equipment with chalk.
Step 7: Purchase a label maker to make your strategy permanent.
When you keep moving the location of things, you end up with disorganized space.This usually leads to lost items and uncertainty when cleaning, but an afternoon with a label maker can help.If you follow the labels, you can think about art instead of looking for things.
Step 8: It's a good idea to throw out old, excess, or useless stuff every month.
Do a purge of your studio once a month.Throw it out or file it away if it isn't essential or part of the project.Artists make new things and make a mess.This is a good thing, but only if you have time to clear your head.It isn't fun at the moment, but it is more enjoyable than spending 30 minutes looking for the right paint or sketch.Don't be emotional here.It is unlikely that you will use it in the next six months.Throw it.
Step 9: References, sketches, articles, photos, etc.
It's easy to find place.As you begin to plan for a project or work, you will most likely be gathering scraps of inspiration and test sketches.There is nothing more frustrating than looking through a book or the internet to find the cool idea you saw three months ago.Try to keep 1 notebook for each project.You can easily make a bookmarks folder for each project on your internet browser.There is a cork board near your workspace.
Step 10: To organize effectively for larger projects, make studies and practice sketches.
Most artists don't dive right into large projects.Almost 100% of the time they work on smaller studies to prepare for the larger work.You could make a vulnerable or difficult part of a sculpture, sketch different composition ideas, or practice the face of the portrait you're making.The skills, ideas, and supplies needed for the final project can be prepared by keeping these organized.
Step 11: You should limit the supplies you leave out.
At the end of the day, artists are visual people, and if you put everything away neatly and cleanly, it may not be compatible with the artistic process.It is not losing or misplacing essential supplies.It is possible to find a compromise by packing away supplies that are not currently used.If you need inspiration for the current project, make sure it's around the studio.It's not an excuse to not make an attempt.There is a middle ground, so don't feel like the only options are perfect.
Step 12: Keep an updated list of the necessary supplies.
It's terrible to spend a long night on a painting only to realize you've run out of white paint halfway through the section.If you can, you should check in on the quantities of your supplies at least once a week.A simple spreadsheet or notebook, marked at the end of each artistic session, is a quick and easy way to keep tabs on your stuff.
Step 13: Bigger works should be broken down into simpler parts.
It's a huge undertaking to paint a mural.Four separate and more manageable projects include sketching the idea, transposing the image onto the wall, painting the basic colors, and adding shading/detail.Even if it feels like training to your creativity, organization is key to big projects.If you organize your work and progress you can be more creative.To tackle each part of the project at once, you need to figure out the building blocks.Don't get carried away by the whole project.
Step 14: All of your past work should be accessible.
When you finish a project, don't just put it away in a drawer.You never know when you'll want to revisit and idea or when interest in your current work will drive up interest from past projects.It's a good idea to back up electronic work on a dedicated hard drive.Accidents destroy all of your old projects.
Step 15: You can record all of your artistic contacts in one place.
Successful artists need a diverse network of other artists, curators, instructors, and gallery assistants to be successful.You never know when someone will hit it big and provide a helping hand, or when you'll have some work you want to place in a friend's art show.Don't leave meetings and connections up to chance, organize and put your contact information in one place for later.Write down your phone number, email location, and role in the art world.
Step 16: You can log the costs of supplies for each project.
If you want to make a living off art, you need to treat it like a business.This doesn't need to affect your creative process.Writing your receipts down in one sheet is a great first step towards financial security.Most of these receipts can be written off on your taxes, as they are private business expenses.Saving money is what keeping expenses organized is all about.
Step 17: You can find out how much it costs to make and sell each piece.
If you divide the cost of supplies by the number of pieces you make, you can figure out how much each piece costs.If 10 wood sculptures cost you $100 each, each sculpture costs you $10 to make.If you want to make money off your work, you need to have a complete picture of your finances.Ensure that you don't lose money on each piece.
Step 18: Look at what other works of art are selling for.
If you want a productive artistic practice, you need to know the trends around your work.Keeping organized is more than just your studio, it's about understanding the art market you're a part of.Follow art blogs and news to keep up with the latest developments and prices.
Step 19: When pricing work, consider the cost of your time.
It doesn't have a dollar value, but you should value your time and materials.It cost more than $10 to make the sculpture in the earlier example.If it takes you a week to make the piece, don't sell it for $20 because your hours of work and experience are essential.Not everyone can do what you do, and people are paying for your talent and experience, so don't berate the high prices you see other artists selling for.Consider what you'd be paid if you didn't use your time.A twenty hour painting job could be worth fifteen dollars an hour.When pricing work, you should consider missed money.If you want to make a living out of art, you need to be willing to pay high enough to take care of yourself.Careful financial organization is needed to pull this off.