by Kat McD.
A few years ago my studio table started to shrink. My accumulation of
art supplies was overwhelming my space to make stuff.. I am guilty of having a lot of different artistic interests. Instead of ignoring my muses I decided to organize my space so that I can “round robin” from one inspiration to another. If you are an artist who travels in a single lane or a multi lane highway like me, taking the time to inventory and organize your space can save you money, and time in the long run.
First I needed to inventory my supplies and group my materials. I admit this was daunting, but worth the time. While some supplies cross over, I chose to group mine by interest. Clear plastic bins and a label maker are a must. The following are the categories I needed to consider.
Block Printing, Beading, Bookmaking, Drawing, Painting, Collage, Sewing, Knitting, Clay, Wood, and Concrete.
Office Supplies, Completed Art Pieces, Fair/Shows Materials.
Not all of my materials fit in my studio. So I also created a map of each bin and it's contents. For example, my fair materials and finished items don’t need to be at my fingertips on a daily basis, so they are kept in my hall closet and a storage cabinet in my living room. My knitting supplies are kept in my storage footstool but my yarn stash is under my bed.
Fading inspiration or growing frustration does not lead to great art making. To keep my creative output flowing, knowing what I own and where it is kept is pretty obviously a good place to start. But hey, just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean we bite the bullet and go for it. Taking inventory of my “stuff” was a bit overwhelming. But now I know what I own and where I keep it.. Whom of us hasn’t purchased doubles of supplies? Or let a project fade because procrastination was less overwhelming than searching for materials? Have your stash ready and accessible when you want to start that project.
I drive a twelve lane highway of creativity. The school of YouTube is always in session and I love taking classes. As my interests expand, I follow the philosophy of “use what you’ve got.” Now If I add to my stash it’s cuz I really really needed too. :) I can move from one creative lane to another smoothly. When the inspiration taps me on the shoulder, I’m ready.
Save money, save time, save space, save an idea before it slips away.
Kat McD >’y’<
See more of my art in the links below.
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