Do I need an art studio?
July 9, 2018 11:54 AM Subscribe
I could use your thoughts on the pros and cons of having a dedicated art studio space in your home.
I love painting and mixed media and I spend a lot of time on it, but I should point out that it is a hobby and not a job. I'm debating about whether or not to make my spare room into an art studio. Currently my desk is where I do art, and it is in my dining area. I keep supplies etc in a storage bin and a rolling cart right now. The spare room is pretty much empty.
I worry if make my spare room a studio I will spend all my time in there and start to feel isolated. Currently I spend A LOT of time at my art desk, and it feels out in the open in the dining area.
So Pros: It would be really cool to have my own room for art.
Cons: I worry I would spend all my time in there and start to feel isolated.
Do you have your own studio for a hobby of some kind? What are the benefits and what are the downsides of having one?
I love painting and mixed media and I spend a lot of time on it, but I should point out that it is a hobby and not a job. I'm debating about whether or not to make my spare room into an art studio. Currently my desk is where I do art, and it is in my dining area. I keep supplies etc in a storage bin and a rolling cart right now. The spare room is pretty much empty.
I worry if make my spare room a studio I will spend all my time in there and start to feel isolated. Currently I spend A LOT of time at my art desk, and it feels out in the open in the dining area.
So Pros: It would be really cool to have my own room for art.
Cons: I worry I would spend all my time in there and start to feel isolated.
Do you have your own studio for a hobby of some kind? What are the benefits and what are the downsides of having one?
Is there room to put in a comfy chair or sofa for a guest? If you feel isolated you could invite someone to come hang out and read or play video games or chat with you while you work.
posted by moonmilk at 12:04 PM on July 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by moonmilk at 12:04 PM on July 9, 2018 [2 favorites]
Pro: you don't have to put everything away every day.
Con: If you don't put everything away every day, it can become a big mess that's hard to dig out of.
----------------------------------
Pro: You can customize the space to suit its special purpose.
Con: If you're prone to procrastination, you can find yourself spending a lot of time customizing the space as a way to avoid *using* the space.
posted by jon1270 at 12:06 PM on July 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
Con: If you don't put everything away every day, it can become a big mess that's hard to dig out of.
----------------------------------
Pro: You can customize the space to suit its special purpose.
Con: If you're prone to procrastination, you can find yourself spending a lot of time customizing the space as a way to avoid *using* the space.
posted by jon1270 at 12:06 PM on July 9, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have a dedicated art studio but it has glass doors that open into a common area; so it’s easy for me to not feel too isolated in that situation. However, I like to leave the doors open and walk in and out frequently to interact. As a compromise, I would say go for the dedicated studio room, but maybe choose one type of media/project that you can leave at the other location. Sort of an 80/20 compromise.
posted by nightrecordings at 12:12 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by nightrecordings at 12:12 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
I used to have my own dedicated art space -- it was in my basement. It was great! I could make a big mess and no one hassled me! But, I did feel isolated, and my husband at one point commented on how he didn't get to interact with me much in the evenings because I was always in the basement. So now I have my stuff in portable "kits" that I carry around the house. It's more of a pain for me, but it allows me to interact with him more.
posted by OrangeDisk at 12:15 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by OrangeDisk at 12:15 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Clarifying point that may shift things: I live alone. So there is no one person I'm worried I'd be isolated from, just worried about a general feeling.
posted by aclevername at 12:18 PM on July 9, 2018
posted by aclevername at 12:18 PM on July 9, 2018
Throughout my life, I have had and haven't had a dedicated art space. For years, I dreamed of a sewing room/art room and then I finally got it. Which was awesome, until the winter came and I discovered that the sun porch/extra room space I chose for it was not well insulated and therefore I had no desire to work there. So I stopped painting/quilting.
The next place had no room, but the place after had a great huge basement that I could use. Which I loved!! But, it was separate from the husband and the dog hated going downstairs. So I mostly didn't do stuff down there unless everybody was out of town.
Now, I have no dedicated space and I have to tidy everything up when I'm done. I don't like it but there's no space in our house. However, I do get to sit with the dog and husband and interact while I work. Not so good for painting, but great for quilting or sewing.
Next house, I promise you there will be a dedicated craft room. Because the advantages of being able to leave work in progress and have all my things in one place out weighs all the other stuff.
posted by teleri025 at 12:31 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
The next place had no room, but the place after had a great huge basement that I could use. Which I loved!! But, it was separate from the husband and the dog hated going downstairs. So I mostly didn't do stuff down there unless everybody was out of town.
Now, I have no dedicated space and I have to tidy everything up when I'm done. I don't like it but there's no space in our house. However, I do get to sit with the dog and husband and interact while I work. Not so good for painting, but great for quilting or sewing.
Next house, I promise you there will be a dedicated craft room. Because the advantages of being able to leave work in progress and have all my things in one place out weighs all the other stuff.
posted by teleri025 at 12:31 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
If your worry proves well-founded, switch back.
It's worth a try. A dedicated room can mean space for larger, more involved projects, the ability to leave projects in progress (so you can jump right back in), more storage for supplies, better organization options, and more positives I'm not remembering now.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:34 PM on July 9, 2018
It's worth a try. A dedicated room can mean space for larger, more involved projects, the ability to leave projects in progress (so you can jump right back in), more storage for supplies, better organization options, and more positives I'm not remembering now.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:34 PM on July 9, 2018
I have a studio space in my home and I LOVE IT. I have a 1930's home with a tiny ass garage that I refinished into a small studio space for myself. Similar to you, I don't *really* make money doing my art things, but it makes me genuinely happy and I have dreams of making money from them someday. My studio was set up over a year ago, I put up some happy things on the walls, cute curtains and have a huge shelf system for all my art supplies that make me happy to see out and about. Just walking in there I feel good and I particularly love when I clean up before a long trip and come home to my genius former self cleaning up for me b/c as great as it is to never be forced to clean up, it does feel super great to walk into a clean happy space after a while away and start to art. Now that I've "lived" in it for a while and feel committed, I'm actually investing in a better set up. So, I'm pretty committed to my studio from home set up.
To your question - I often times do feel isolated while arting, but I think I would no matter where I was working in my home. The feeling (for me) is less from location within my home and more from just working alone. Often I wonder if I would be happy getting an actual studio space somewhere, so I could talk/collaborate/find opportunities with other artists. So if that is in your means, it maybe worth considering? But then there's the whole commute to studio bit too, which is nice when its only 30 seconds and I can do it in my PJ's.
posted by vividvoltage at 12:36 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
To your question - I often times do feel isolated while arting, but I think I would no matter where I was working in my home. The feeling (for me) is less from location within my home and more from just working alone. Often I wonder if I would be happy getting an actual studio space somewhere, so I could talk/collaborate/find opportunities with other artists. So if that is in your means, it maybe worth considering? But then there's the whole commute to studio bit too, which is nice when its only 30 seconds and I can do it in my PJ's.
posted by vividvoltage at 12:36 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't have an art studio but I do have a dedicated space for my hobbies. I gotta tell you, it is SO NICE to just be able to walk into my area and do my thing without having to pull stuff out of a bin or out of a closet. I just walk in and everything is right where I left it. It lets me focus on my hobby rather than setting up for the hobby.
Then when I'm finished I walk away and leave everything until the next time I'm inspired, and then when I come back everything is right there.
Also setting up and occasionally reorganizing the space to make it more perfect is basically a hobby in itself.
If it's a hobby that you love, then do it.
posted by bondcliff at 12:36 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Then when I'm finished I walk away and leave everything until the next time I'm inspired, and then when I come back everything is right there.
Also setting up and occasionally reorganizing the space to make it more perfect is basically a hobby in itself.
If it's a hobby that you love, then do it.
posted by bondcliff at 12:36 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
I say "go for it!" Since there is no concern about isolating yourself from people in your house, then it's really about making the space feel less isolating. Perhaps you can take the door off the hinges or position your space so that it's easy for you to look out the window as you work. Anything you can do to make it feel more open might help you to feel less isolated and trapped.
Since it's a room you're not using anyway, there is absolutely no harm in trying it. You can use timers that go off at intervals which encourage you to take a break and go for a walk or something of that nature which is useful no matter where you're working.
posted by acidnova at 12:49 PM on July 9, 2018
Since it's a room you're not using anyway, there is absolutely no harm in trying it. You can use timers that go off at intervals which encourage you to take a break and go for a walk or something of that nature which is useful no matter where you're working.
posted by acidnova at 12:49 PM on July 9, 2018
Do it. You may find that your studio space becomes filled with more fascinating beings than you ever thought possible.
posted by overeducated_alligator at 12:59 PM on July 9, 2018
posted by overeducated_alligator at 12:59 PM on July 9, 2018
If your concern isn't around isolating yourself from people, I would just put the things in the dedicated space that help you feel connected - whether that's music, a small TV, access to drinks, orient your desk toward a window or the door, things like that.
posted by ersatzkat at 1:00 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ersatzkat at 1:00 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
My writing space, most of the time, is in our primary common area. That's not great in terms of distractions and my ability to concentrate, but it's the space I prefer to be in so I deal with that.
However, that space is a bit of a three-season room, in that it's not very usable for some stretches at the peak of winter and summer. I move into a spare room for that (I also have a home office because I work from home, but really dislike doing anything in there outside of office hours), and in a lot of ways it's far better-suited. I can leave my stuff where it is, I can close the door and concentrate deeply or open it and let the dogs wander in and out, and I'm generally a LOT less inclined to taskcrastinate (in my normal space, I'm likely to get more gardening, cooking, cleaning, pool care, and dog-petting done during my writing time than writing).
If you live alone, you're free to configure your space howeeeeeeeeever you like it, and if that means you set up the spare room for a specific subset of tasks but do other tasks in other places, that's fine. If you have a place to work in every room of the house, that's fine. Do what works for you, and evolve it over time.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:39 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
However, that space is a bit of a three-season room, in that it's not very usable for some stretches at the peak of winter and summer. I move into a spare room for that (I also have a home office because I work from home, but really dislike doing anything in there outside of office hours), and in a lot of ways it's far better-suited. I can leave my stuff where it is, I can close the door and concentrate deeply or open it and let the dogs wander in and out, and I'm generally a LOT less inclined to taskcrastinate (in my normal space, I'm likely to get more gardening, cooking, cleaning, pool care, and dog-petting done during my writing time than writing).
If you live alone, you're free to configure your space howeeeeeeeeever you like it, and if that means you set up the spare room for a specific subset of tasks but do other tasks in other places, that's fine. If you have a place to work in every room of the house, that's fine. Do what works for you, and evolve it over time.
posted by Lyn Never at 1:39 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes.
In addition to our jobs, my wife does many different arts and crafts, and I am a fine art photographer. We're fortunate that our home is big enough to allow us each to have our own studio spaces. (Being empty-nesters helps as well!)
One benefit is that you can feel free to leave your in-progress projects and supplies out in your work area without worrying about having to move them from the main living area for guests or your own sense of organization. (You may not worry about that anyway, but it's still a good feature.)
Another benefit is that moving to a physically different space can be a trigger for creativity and concentration.
Also, it can be good to leave projects out of sight so you can come back to them fresh. Anything creative, whether visual or writing, benefits from being able to take a break from it, and not have it in your vision.
I can't really think of any down sides other than making sure you don't let the "out of sight, out of mind" theory let you become lax. But in my experience, it's just as easy to be lazy when something is right underfoot as it is when it's in another room.
posted by The Deej at 2:25 PM on July 9, 2018
In addition to our jobs, my wife does many different arts and crafts, and I am a fine art photographer. We're fortunate that our home is big enough to allow us each to have our own studio spaces. (Being empty-nesters helps as well!)
One benefit is that you can feel free to leave your in-progress projects and supplies out in your work area without worrying about having to move them from the main living area for guests or your own sense of organization. (You may not worry about that anyway, but it's still a good feature.)
Another benefit is that moving to a physically different space can be a trigger for creativity and concentration.
Also, it can be good to leave projects out of sight so you can come back to them fresh. Anything creative, whether visual or writing, benefits from being able to take a break from it, and not have it in your vision.
I can't really think of any down sides other than making sure you don't let the "out of sight, out of mind" theory let you become lax. But in my experience, it's just as easy to be lazy when something is right underfoot as it is when it's in another room.
posted by The Deej at 2:25 PM on July 9, 2018
I mean, why not? Really. I don't see a downside to trying it work in there for a bit and see how you feel before you move everything in. If you feel isolated just move it back.
For myself I couldn't have a dedicated separate space for art - I enjoy having podcasts and TV and such and being in the shared space with my spouse. I currently have a tucked away built-in computer nook that I use but otherwise would use a roll top desk in the main living space.
posted by Crystalinne at 4:13 PM on July 9, 2018
For myself I couldn't have a dedicated separate space for art - I enjoy having podcasts and TV and such and being in the shared space with my spouse. I currently have a tucked away built-in computer nook that I use but otherwise would use a roll top desk in the main living space.
posted by Crystalinne at 4:13 PM on July 9, 2018
Without a dedicated studio how would your family know when to leave you alone?
Um...asking for a friend.
posted by Construction Concern at 4:25 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Um...asking for a friend.
posted by Construction Concern at 4:25 PM on July 9, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I went ahead and did it! Thanks folks for all your thoughts. It helped a great deal!
posted by aclevername at 6:20 AM on July 10, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by aclevername at 6:20 AM on July 10, 2018 [5 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by vegartanipla at 12:01 PM on July 9, 2018 [3 favorites]