How to Set Up an Artist’s Studio

Step 1: Set up fans for ventilation Set up fans in doorways and windows to ventilate your studio, pumping clean air in and blowing dust and fumes out.
Step 2: Make a work space Pick an area in the studio to work, ideally someplace well-lit. Defining a workspace will help keep your private and professional lives separate.
Step 3: Set up lights Set up additional lights around the studio to make sure that your workspace will always have consistent and controllable lighting conditions.
TIP: If you’re a painter, avoid setting up your workspace near a window, as changing light throughout the day can affect the appearance of colors and shades.
Step 4: Paint the walls white Paint the walls white. Not only will the color make the space look open and clean for viewing art, but white has a soothing emotional effect.
Step 5: Organize your materials Organize your materials and keep them that way. Obviously a painter and a sculptor will have different tools and resources, but the appeal and accessibility of a neat studio is universal.
TIP: Keep backup supplies of popular items. This way you won’t have to interrupt your creative mood if you run out of spray paint or misplace your welding goggles.
Step 6: Plug in your stereo Plug in your stereo. Even if you typically work in silence, background music can be a good way to clear your mind, cover other noise, or get over a creative block.
FACT: Salvador Dalí made more than 1,500 paintings in his career.

Lessons in this Guide