I posted a poll earlier today, somewhat tongue in cheek, about how organized is your work area?
I seem to fight this ongoing battle with myself, trying to keep my studio neat, clean, and de-cluttered. Yet I lose this battle almost every time after I get things organized.
What is your approach? Maybe it's dependent on our personality? Am I just a messy artists wishing I was more organized?
I find I drag things out as I work on them and sometimes they get put back, sometimes they don't. I've known another glass artist that was always able to keep her workspace almost immaculate. I marveled at this ability.
Maybe I'm just more creative when I work in chaos?
I guess I'm looking for any insight, constructive help. Is the clutter/mess just a by-product of the creative process? I find once I finish a project, I can reclaim the space. But while I'm working on something, there seems to be little or no hope of keeping things neat and tidy. Course I have a 40 hour a week day job and do art in my 'free time' on nights and weekends. It's probably just a combination of things.
Now I've rambled. I'd love to hear how some of the rest of you manage your workspaces/studios.
My "studio" also doubles as my computer room and office, so I do much the same as you. When I am working on a painting (usually pastel), I leave everything out and the room looks cluttered and messy. Once done, I pack everything back neatly. I can let the clutter go as long as it is neat when done working. I would not like it cluttered all the time. Within the clutter, I know where everything is, so it does not inhibit the process while painting. If someone were to walk in and look at the mess, however, I don't think they'd see any sort of order. So the messiness does not bother me while working on a painting, but it bothers me when I am not working on a painting. It works for me, but I am a "Type B" type person. In other words, my house is not the place I'd welcome the white glove.
My studio is a very small room, I don't have a lot of accessible storage, so when I start working on something, I usually leave it all out, and as a results my studio is (almost) always very cluttered and messy. I think it depends a lot on your creative process, I usually start a couple of projects at a time and sometimes even take out old stuff and start "playing" with it, creating even more clutter. I usually have to reorganize it once a week, just to be able to sit down at my work table!.
I've never met an organized artist while they're working (after the piece is done, that's another story), I know in my case, I find it distracting to think of putting everything back and organize the place while I'm working. Sometimes, organizing my studio becomes an excuse not to work!, so I usually leave messy and cluttered until I finish my project (my husband is always giving me a hard time about it, but it's just the way I am: messy)
I often paint after work, usually until I HAVE to go to bed. And I am too tired to clean. Of course, I take care of my brushes and close tubes of paint and such, but things get cluttered quickly.
I go on cleaning spurts, but I simply can't keep up, and put quality time into the art... at least that is my excuse.
being an "A" type art and art teacher it is difficult to work and have to stop and look for stuff....i do find myself doing that alot....
in my classroom which is so differnet from my studio i have everything that belongs together for quick access. which works great for the most part....if i remember to put stuff back when we are done the assignment. hahaha (as time permits)
in my studio ...i have so much stuff...i am such a pack rat and work in so many different media that it is almost impossible to not have to stop and look for something at any time....
however,,,i have just moved into my daughter's room finally as she had moved out. it is the largest bedroom with great light...
i am still working out the bugs as to how to store everything but it is getting there slowly....i work much better with just a little chaos...
