Welcome to Day Five of Art Supply Organization Week! Links to all of the “Organization Week” posts are available HERE.
One of the things that clogs up a lot of people’s studios is their finished or half-finished artwork. About a month ago I wrote about how I helped my friend Nat organize her studio. She had a lot of finished artwork sitting around: scrapbook layouts that needed to be put into albums, canvases, 3-D art, lots of stuff. Some of it was piled up and some of it was displayed. But the pieces that were displayed were placed so that they blocked access to the supplies behind them.
It can look very pretty (and a canvas can hide a ton of mess behind it), but access is one of the most important things about a working studio.
Think of it this way:
You are a chef.
You open your refrigerator and in order to get out the eggs and the milk, you have to take out a wedding cake. And then put it back. And then take it out so you can put the eggs and milk away. And then put it back.
Bad planning, right?
If you want to have your artwork around you, I suggest a gallery wall, like the one we created for Nat:
It’s a great way to be inspired and yet keep your studio functional. If you don’t have the wall space (I don’t) for a gallery like that, just try a single piece or two hanging up. And simply rotate new pieces in and old pieces out.
As for those pesky unfinished projects, Noell Hyman has some fantastic ideas to share!
What to Do With Unfinished Art Projects by Noell Hyman
A couple of years ago I decided to embrace that fact that I always have a lot of unfinished projects.
Instead of making it a goal to get my projects finished, I decided to reorganize my space to accommodate my madness. As a result I found that…
- There is a way to feel calm and happy, even with lots of unfinished projects.
- Having a number of unfinished projects has huge benefits!
The first step to clarity is categorizing your unfinished art projects.
Categories of Unfinished Art Projects
There is an important difference between various unfinished projects . . .
- Projects you’ve lost interest in (give them up, steal components, and throw away the rest). Store away any projects you’ve lost interest in, but can’t manage to throw out. Store them out of sight in plastic bins or drawers in a closet or out of your way.
- Projects on hold – Some projects are just waiting for the right size book binding rings, or for one last printed picture. Create a shelf (mine is in my closet) for those projects to sit on so they’re visible. Projects that have a lot of parts and pieces, embellishments, papers, etc, go in the white boxes on the two lower shelves.
- Intentionally on-going projects (these projects need a permanent home).
You can read more about the benefits of starting and not finishing, plus my system for storing unfinished projects at Paperclipping.com, in this article: How to Be Organized When You Have 29 Unfinished Projects
Your Art Organization Assignment
It’s time to create a system for all of that finished and unfinished artwork in your art studio. Here’s your assignment:
- Divide your unfinished artwork into the three categories that Noell presented above (lost interest, missing something, ongoing). Keeping your master plan in mind, find a home for the projects in the last two categories.
- I would suggest that you put a sticky note on any unfinished projects in the “missing something” category that states exactly what they’re missing. That way when you have some time to pick the project up, you don’t have to remember what you have to do to get it done!
- If you’ve got scrapbook layouts that need to go into albums, box them up, order the albums and page protectors, and put the box aside.
- If you’ve got albums galore taking up valuable real estate, consider moving them to a book shelf elsewhere in your home. Perhaps where someone might take them out and look at them?
- If you have the space to hang your artwork (in your studio, or elsewhere) grab a hammer and some nails and put it up today! Don’t wait. You can do it!
- As for the rest of your artwork, invest in some bags, boxes, and/or shelves. Like any museum, wrap the art that can’t be put on display and put it away (preferably outside of your studio).
You’ll notice that I keep telling you to store your artwork outside of your studio. This is because I think it’s vitally important that your crafty space (whether it’s an abandoned factory or a corner of the living room) be a working space and not a storage space.
I took some open shelves we had in our living room and covered them with inexpensive lace curtain panels:
It looks neat enough until you pull back the curtain and see the canvases, albums, mini books, and boxes of supplies:
I can’t imagine what I would do if I had all those albums and canvases filling my studio. There’d be no room to make anything new!
Thanks for stopping by!
About Today’s Contributor, Noell Hyman
Bio: Noell is the host of Paperclipping.com where she teaches scrapbooking through video tutorials. She also hosts the popular talk show called, the Paperclipping Roundtable with well-loved regular guests like Stacy Julian, Ali Edwards, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer, and many others.
Blog: http://www.paperclipping.com
Thanks for stopping by!
Julie – I love this week of organizing! I have blogged up the first 4 days at my art blog http://www.keepanartjournal.com. I have an away weekend starting today so I was moaning that I couldn’t continue in the studio. Then today I see the subject and I am at least 2/3 of the way there! I must have read Nat’s post. Thanks for this. Lori W at Art Camp for Women
Julie – I love this week of organizing! I have blogged up the first 4 days at my art blog http://www.keepanartjournal.com. I have an away weekend starting today so I was moaning that I couldn’t continue in the studio. Then today I see the subject and I am at least 2/3 of the way there! I must have read Nat’s post. Thanks for this. Lori W at Art Camp for Women
Julie – I love this week of organizing! I have blogged up the first 4 days at my art blog http://www.keepanartjournal.com. I have an away weekend starting today so I was moaning that I couldn’t continue in the studio. Then today I see the subject and I am at least 2/3 of the way there! I must have read Nat’s post. Thanks for this. Lori W at Art Camp for Women
Julie – I love this week of organizing! I have blogged up the first 4 days at my art blog http://www.keepanartjournal.com. I have an away weekend starting today so I was moaning that I couldn’t continue in the studio. Then today I see the subject and I am at least 2/3 of the way there! I must have read Nat’s post. Thanks for this. Lori W at Art Camp for Women
Julie – I love this week of organizing! I have blogged up the first 4 days at my art blog http://www.keepanartjournal.com. I have an away weekend starting today so I was moaning that I couldn’t continue in the studio. Then today I see the subject and I am at least 2/3 of the way there! I must have read Nat’s post. Thanks for this. Lori W at Art Camp for Women
Great ideas. I have a shelf dedicated to albums in progress. Here I collect all the pictures, papers, stickers and things that I want to go in that album. I can just pick it all up from one place and scrap.
Great ideas. I have a shelf dedicated to albums in progress. Here I collect all the pictures, papers, stickers and things that I want to go in that album. I can just pick it all up from one place and scrap.
Great ideas. I have a shelf dedicated to albums in progress. Here I collect all the pictures, papers, stickers and things that I want to go in that album. I can just pick it all up from one place and scrap.
Great ideas. I have a shelf dedicated to albums in progress. Here I collect all the pictures, papers, stickers and things that I want to go in that album. I can just pick it all up from one place and scrap.
Great ideas. I have a shelf dedicated to albums in progress. Here I collect all the pictures, papers, stickers and things that I want to go in that album. I can just pick it all up from one place and scrap.
My finished albums take up 2 huge shelves in my craft room. Now to find a place for them to free up the shelves for supplies that are currently on the floor! Thanks for this week Julie et al.
My finished albums take up 2 huge shelves in my craft room. Now to find a place for them to free up the shelves for supplies that are currently on the floor! Thanks for this week Julie et al.
My finished albums take up 2 huge shelves in my craft room. Now to find a place for them to free up the shelves for supplies that are currently on the floor! Thanks for this week Julie et al.
My finished albums take up 2 huge shelves in my craft room. Now to find a place for them to free up the shelves for supplies that are currently on the floor! Thanks for this week Julie et al.
My finished albums take up 2 huge shelves in my craft room. Now to find a place for them to free up the shelves for supplies that are currently on the floor! Thanks for this week Julie et al.
Thank you for this week of posts – I found you through Craftzine. Each person’s ideas have been inspiring and a jump start of action for me. Thank you, thank you!!
Thank you for this week of posts – I found you through Craftzine. Each person’s ideas have been inspiring and a jump start of action for me. Thank you, thank you!!
Thank you for this week of posts – I found you through Craftzine. Each person’s ideas have been inspiring and a jump start of action for me. Thank you, thank you!!
Thank you for this week of posts – I found you through Craftzine. Each person’s ideas have been inspiring and a jump start of action for me. Thank you, thank you!!
Thank you for this week of posts – I found you through Craftzine. Each person’s ideas have been inspiring and a jump start of action for me. Thank you, thank you!!
Thank you for Organization week ~ as it is exactly what I need. I especially like how you were gentle and sympathetic with understanding how I hate to give up all the Wonderful Stuff I’ve paid good money for and managed to accrue ~ yet you very firmly advise that craft space needs to be functional and not turn into merely a storage room! That’s what happened to me, but I am working on getting it back to a space to create. And today’s advise (ala Noel Hyman) on storage my Unfinished Projects is great. Thanks so much Julie.
Thank you for Organization week ~ as it is exactly what I need. I especially like how you were gentle and sympathetic with understanding how I hate to give up all the Wonderful Stuff I’ve paid good money for and managed to accrue ~ yet you very firmly advise that craft space needs to be functional and not turn into merely a storage room! That’s what happened to me, but I am working on getting it back to a space to create. And today’s advise (ala Noel Hyman) on storage my Unfinished Projects is great. Thanks so much Julie.
Thank you for Organization week ~ as it is exactly what I need. I especially like how you were gentle and sympathetic with understanding how I hate to give up all the Wonderful Stuff I’ve paid good money for and managed to accrue ~ yet you very firmly advise that craft space needs to be functional and not turn into merely a storage room! That’s what happened to me, but I am working on getting it back to a space to create. And today’s advise (ala Noel Hyman) on storage my Unfinished Projects is great. Thanks so much Julie.
Thank you for Organization week ~ as it is exactly what I need. I especially like how you were gentle and sympathetic with understanding how I hate to give up all the Wonderful Stuff I’ve paid good money for and managed to accrue ~ yet you very firmly advise that craft space needs to be functional and not turn into merely a storage room! That’s what happened to me, but I am working on getting it back to a space to create. And today’s advise (ala Noel Hyman) on storage my Unfinished Projects is great. Thanks so much Julie.
Thank you for Organization week ~ as it is exactly what I need. I especially like how you were gentle and sympathetic with understanding how I hate to give up all the Wonderful Stuff I’ve paid good money for and managed to accrue ~ yet you very firmly advise that craft space needs to be functional and not turn into merely a storage room! That’s what happened to me, but I am working on getting it back to a space to create. And today’s advise (ala Noel Hyman) on storage my Unfinished Projects is great. Thanks so much Julie.