Storage Wars

by Staci Louise Smith

Storage has always been a problem for me, especially in the realm of art supplies and beads.  Over time, the problem has only grown (due to my ever growing collection of supplies- due to my ever growing desire to learn and take on more and more mediums).

Although the pictures may make it look big, my studio is quite cozy.  I can sit at my desk on one wall and reach onto the work bench on the opposite wall.  So efficiency is a must.

When the hubs and I re-did the studio last year, we ripped out the carpet (and I painted my floor- best decision ever) and he built me workbench's I didn't have much $$ to invest into furniture. (below are pictures of the studio after we totally re-did it.  my hubs built the workbenches and I painted the floor).

below is the corner that got the new drawers- the end of my bench here had files and papers and junk all over it- the drawers gave me back the bench)

So I got the plastic drawers from Walmart (the rainbow ones, and the white ones) and went a long my merry way.  Downside, they are flimsy, and the drawers are deep on the white one, which I don't need.  The other one is just tooo flimsy and the drawers don't even stay in the racks. 

These were the ones I replaced

We did build the workbenches so that they were high, this way I could work standing, and I could store beads underneath of it.  At that time, I did invest in these bead cabinets on wheels.  (ripping up the carpet served a couple purposes as well.  1.  I was ruining it anyway 2.  I could now store things on wheels, and wheel them out as I need them...and wheel around in my chair as well)

bead cabinets under the workbench

This winter I started to pull out my old art supplies, and get into painting and mixed media a little bit more.  Then I bought more supplies, and paper, and canvas's.....and once again, I needed more space.  I don't have pics of how cluttered it was.  Let me just tell you, I could barely see that floor.

Thank goodness for Ikea and the Alex collection.  The Alex collection is perfect for arts and crafts rooms and studios.  The drawers are shallow but deep (reach far back) so there is plenty of space, and you can see what is in it at a glance. 

I got two of them, and can't be happier with them.  I was very surprised at how easy they were to assemble, and how sturdy they are.  I marveled at the sheer genius of Ikea- the people who design this furniture, like a puzzle, from the assembly to the packaging.....its pretty cool.

So I organized and cleaned and purged.  The nature of these pieces allowed me to re-arrange many things, and unclutter a bunch of area's.  

These aren't the best pics, but here is the corner that had the rainbow drawers, all re-done.

I not only fit everything from the drawers in there, but I also fit all my spare cards, bags and show supplies that were on a shelf before, and I fit office papers, reciepts and income stuff that used to just pile on my desk.  PLUS- i was able to move the magazines and files from the workbench to the top of the drawers.  

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......that feels so good.  I hate cleaning, but I do love organizing (once in a blue moon).

My beading desk got a tall Alex dresser next to it, and instead of having all my tools on my desk, they fit nicely into the drawers next to it, in perfect grabbing reach.  I was able to not only transfer everything from the plastic white shelves, but I fit all my wire and tools!  Look at all that space!

Now I am ready.  I have a couple really big projects to complete this week /weekend......and then its playtime again.  Nothing like a clean studio to make you want to work!

Here is the link to the Alex collection on the Ikea website.  (I get no money from them to promote it or anything, I just love them)

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=ALEX

No more storage wars in my studio, at least for the rest of this year.



Artist Zen

by Staci L. Smith

 

I have always been an artist, even before I knew what that was.  I was happiest making things, or with a pencil or pen in my hand drawing something.  I used to doodle on everything.  everything.  Nothing was left uncovered.  I drew all over my notebooks, my friends notebooks and when we got older, I drew on my friends with sharpies to make fake tattoos. 

 

 

Bead and jewelry making is something I LOVE, but I do miss drawing and painting.  I love having a brush in my hand, feeling the paint smooth on, layer after layer, stroke after stroke.  I especially like when I can work big.  There is something released when I can use my entire arm, and body to create giant movements that turn to art in front of me. 

 

If you read my personal blog, you will know I am in the middle of a studio re-vamp.  It kinda came out of nowhere, since the hubs was around this week.  So we dove right in.

 

We ripped up the carpet and he built me strong workbenches around two walls.  Due to lack of funds and time, we just left the sub floor as is.  I didn't mind, since I'd be ruining it most likely anyway (I am not a tidy artist).

 

Here it was with the sub floor left as is.

 

 

I am not big into decorating and making things matchy and such things, but it just didn't feel right to me.  So I went to get some black paint to cover the ugly 2x4's we used on the frame of my tables. 

 

I had been thinking of painting the floor.  Wasn't sure how it would work or anything, but thought I'd try it out- I mean, I was surrounded by paint in Lowes, how could I not want to paint more stuff?

 

So I got a nice brown grey, and painted a layer on the sub floor.  But it looked sooooo blah, it was too thin, it still showed all the imperfections.

 

So I doodled it.  I took the leftover black paint and just went to town.  The experience, which I want to share, was wonderful.

 

 

I put on some really good singer songwriter music, and got my paintbrush and paint, and just started doodling.  I loved being able to paint so large, to just go free form, with endless room to  take each new idea and design.  I could have done this endlessly (if my body co-operated more- sitting on the floor hunched over that long took its toll on me). 

 

 

I loved going over the strokes again and again, since the floor is rough, I had to make sure each line was really coated.

 

 

As the floor filled with swirls and squiggles, designs and dots, I felt such a smile inside, no other way to explain it, just happy. 

 

I took time with some area's, letting them design themselves. 

 

 

Others area's got deliberate designs, or symbols, as I thought of people I cared for, or situations that I am going through.

 

 

It was so meditative.  No thought required, no work,.  Unlike with jewelry, there are mechanics to figure out.  This was mind freeing.  It was simple, and pure and I enjoyed it with every ounce of my body and soul.

 

 

I know that there is zentangle now, but they just finally put a name to what so many have been doing forever.  If you like zentangle, I recommend trying it with paint.  It just flows, the brush engages your whole body. 

 

 

Now I hope the floor is not too distracting.  I want to just stare at it.  I hope looking at it proves as meditative as creating it.

 

I also hope it holds up.  I put no finish on it, and it is only latex paint.  But the floor is bumpy, so I hope that helps it to stick.  I didn't want to use any kind of finish in the house- (we have birds and frogs and kids with asthma.)

 

I will let you know in 6 months how it held up. 

 

So there you have it, I did NOT expect to find zen in a studio remodel.