{"id":13975,"date":"2023-07-27T10:19:39","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T16:19:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/evolveartist.com\/blog\/?p=13975"},"modified":"2023-09-12T14:13:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T20:13:23","slug":"ultimate-guide-to-your-home-art-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/evolveartist.com\/blog\/ultimate-guide-to-your-home-art-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Set Up Your Home Art Studio (with tips for your space and budget)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Francis<\/span><\/p>\n

Francis Bacon’s (1902-1992) famously chaotic studio shows there is no one-size-fits-all home art studio. This studio has been painstakingly recreated at the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin.<\/p>\n

As a professional or aspiring artist, you\u2019ll be spending a lot of time in one place – your art studio. If you\u2019re like most artists, your studio is at home. <\/p>\n

How your home art studio is set up depends on a lot of things, like the size of your room, the color of your walls, and your budget. Ideally, it\u2019ll be a space you like to be in too.<\/p>\n

The good news is that only a few things are truly non-negotiable. The key is understanding your space and doing what you can with what you\u2019ve got – and we\u2019re here to help.<\/p>\n

Our students are learning to paint at home, each with their own studios set up in a way that works for them.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve gathered the tips, tricks, and recommendations to create the ultimate guide on how to set up your home studio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

How much space do I really need?<\/h2>\n

The answer is – less than you think, depending on what you\u2019re painting.<\/p>\n

When Kevin Murphy, Evolve Founder, first started working as an artist, his first studio space was a broom closet.<\/p>\n

A small space is OK<\/strong>, if you’re working from a photograph, but you\u2019ll need to be at least 3-4 feet away from a still-life box. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Sheila\u2019s<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheila\u2019s studio has carved out a small space for her home art studio.<\/p>\n

Separate space vs shared space<\/h4>\n

A separate room for your studio might be a luxury. If you are working in a shared space where a door can\u2019t be closed, you\u2019ll need to consider safe storage solutions since you\u2019ll want to clean up your paints, make sure any solvents are safely out of reach, and have a place for artwork to dry (see the Storing paintings<\/strong><\/a> and Standing desks and taborets<\/strong><\/a> section). <\/p>\n

Lighting your home art studio<\/h2>\n

Lighting is a critical factor for your studio. Usually, the existing lighting in a room is not enough to light a painting.<\/p>\n

You need bright and even light to paint under, but not so bright to create glare. This means natural daylight is not enough on its own<\/strong> because it changes throughout the day. <\/p>\n

Exactly what you need has to be assessed based on your room and even the color of your walls,  but the main goal is to have a lighting environment that is controlled. <\/p>\n

Here are the 3 things<\/strong> you need to keep in mind. <\/p>\n

1. <\/span>Light sources <\/h4>\n

You need to consider two light sources. One for the object you\u2019re painting, and one for the painting itself. <\/p>\n

Generally, you want the light source for your painting to be behind and above you<\/strong>, the painter. However, you don\u2019t want this light to interfere with the lighting of the objects you are painting. <\/p>\n

\"Piper's<\/span><\/p>\n

Piper Talladay, Evolve Head Instructor, uses an overhead light that hangs above and behind her to ensure her paintings are well-lit.<\/p>\n

To help create a good lighting environment, you can install a hanging light overhead or a standing tripod light.<\/p>\n

These don\u2019t have to be expensive – for example, a fluorescent tube hanging housing similar to the one Evolve\u2019s Head Instructor Piper uses costs around $30-40 at the hardware shop. <\/p>\n

If you’re in a smaller room<\/strong>, it\u2019s important to separate your light sources. <\/p>\n

You can hang a drape<\/strong> to protect your object from the light used to light your canvas or use a still-life box<\/a> to create a perfect lighting environment.<\/p>\n

\"Building<\/span><\/p>\n

Building a simple still-life box<\/a> is the best way to create a perfect lighting environment in your home art studio.<\/p>\n

If you have a lot of windows<\/strong> that will impact the lighting in your studio as your paint throughout the day, we recommend covering them with blinds or curtains.<\/p>\n

Tip<\/p>\n

Choose a light source that can be switched off\/on easily, otherwise it\u2019s very bright for everyday use. This can be as simple as plugging and unplugging a light. <\/p>\n

2. Lightbulbs<\/h4>\n

We recommend lightbulbs that are at least CRI 90+, and daylight that are approx. 5000 kelvin<\/strong>. Whether it\u2019s LED or fluorescent, both can work depending on your budget. <\/p>\n

For students in smaller spaces<\/strong>, we recommend the GE Refresh 60-Watt EQ A19 Daylight Dimmable LED Light Bulb<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"GE<\/span><\/p>\n

GE Refresh 60-Watt EQ A19 Daylight Dimmable LED Light Bulb is our recommendation for home art studios.<\/p>\n

If you are in a larger space<\/strong>, fluorescent tubes might work better for you. Piper and Kevin both use the tubes linked here<\/a> in their studios. <\/p>\n

Something to keep in mind is that while the fluorescent tubes aren\u2019t expensive, the shipping is (approx $80 for two). We find that they tend to last when only used for lighting while painting. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to consider the size of your space<\/strong> and adjust the brightness of your lighting to suit.<\/p>\n

For example, the light housing that Piper has in her studio can hold two fluorescent tubes, and because her studio is a bit bigger, she uses both. However, if your space is smaller, consider using only one, otherwise, it would be too bright and this can result in glare. <\/p>\n

3. Wall color<\/h4>\n

Wall color does have an impact on your lighting. But this doesn\u2019t mean your studio walls have to be a boring color. <\/p>\n

The key is for the wall color to be neutral <\/strong>(not too cool, and not too warm) so that when light bounces off of it, it doesn\u2019t produce glare which impacts your view of your painting. \"As<\/span><\/p>\n

As long as you choose a neutral shade, the wall color at your home studio doesn\u2019t need to be light grey (The Art Academy, New Jersey).<\/p>\n

Dark colors can work well<\/strong>. The Art Academy Studio (the studio where the Evolve method was developed) is painted neutral navy blue in a satin finish (Night View available at Lowes<\/a>). If you would like a darker color, but not a navy blue, you can ask the paint store to match the value of Night View or ask for a neutral dark color. <\/p>\n

If you choose a light color<\/strong> – like a neutral grey, it can make the room brighter. You\u2019ll need to adjust the lighting in your room to reduce the brightness. However, a lighter color can work well for a smaller room.<\/p>\n

Choosing an easel for your home art studio<\/h2>\n

You spend a lot of time in front of your easel. You\u2019ll want to choose one that fits your space and has the features you need to paint comfortably.<\/p>\n

A standing easel (if you have the space and budget)<\/h4>\n

A standing easel is an excellent investment if you have the money and space. While traditional A-frame easels are perfectly fine, they will not support a really larger canvas, and painting smaller canvases could be hard on your back. <\/p>\n

If you have the space for a standing easel, we recommend an H-frame easel<\/strong>. An H frame means the tray can go up and down, depending on the size of your canvas. Our picks are:<\/p>\n