subject: How to Set Up Your Space to Paint [print this page] How to Set Up Your Space to Paint How to Set Up Your Space to Paint
Whether you get your impressions of an artist's studio from old movies about Van Gogh or the set designs for La Boheme, you're probably starting with a romanticized idea of the space you need to paint most people do. A ramshackle room with an easel, a bare window, drapery and other props in the corner, and broken furniture and everything spattered with paint is many people's fantasy of a "real" artist's studio.
If you do have a spare room with some natural light, that's lovely, but you don't need an ideal space to get started. Any space where you have adequate light and ventilation, and are warm or cool enough to work, will do. What follows is a basic set of points to consider when selecting a place to work. We also give you some practical suggestions.
When you start to work, you begin to discover your own priorities for your studio. Some things to consider are:
Ventilation
Size of the space
Attractiveness
Type of light
Noise level
Privacy
Permanence of working area (whether you have to put things away every time)
Cost of rent or cost of remodeling (if applicable)
Ease of use (whether getting to or setting up for your work is difficult)
Make a list of characteristics that you want to see in a studio. Try to keep it down to only what's necessary. Prioritize the list for your own preferences and make adjustments. You may find that after you paint for one or two weeks, your priorities change. Maybe setting up in the family room wasn't such a good idea. Some options around your house are spare rooms, the basement (be sure you have ventilation!), a three-season porch, a little-used dining room (cover the table with a vinyl tablecloth or sheet laminate), or a laundry room, utility room, or mudroom. You can also have a transient or less-permanent space.
