My 2022 Studio

I’m going to take you on a virtual walkthrough of my studio. This is just to give you some insight into how I paint and what goes on behind the scenes. I do not suggest you try and copy my studio or practices. Your studio needs to feel like your studio.

Below is a panoramic photo of my studio. I’ll then discuss each area from left to right.

Drawing Corner

This is my drawing corner. At the moment, I’m going through the Jeff Watts Atelier (highly recommended if you can afford it). This area includes:

Standard desk with a storage cabinet on top to extend the height. These are secured together with wiring.
Mont Marte drawing easel, also secured with wiring.
Clipboard held up by a flexible camera stand.
Newsprint drawing pad, pencils, and rubbers.

Work Corner

This is where I do my work, writing, studying, gaming, etc. Having this area in the studio means I can keep the rest of the house work-free.

Painting Workstation

We converted an old desk with in-built cabinets into a painting workstation. It has wheels and additional storage at the bottom.

On top I have:

Paints.
Palette (after a painting session).
Brushes in solvent.
Palette knives.
Paper towel.

(I provide specific details about the brushes, paints, and other supplies I use on the supplies page.)

Painting Corner

My painting corner has:

H-Frame easel.
Tablet connected to a power point (you don’t want the tablet shutting down midway through a painting). This is connected to a tablet holder and camera stand.
Black curtain backdrop (for minimizing reflected light).
Two light stands (the overhead lights are too weak and warm in color temperature).
Camera with tripod that extends horizontally.

Storage Area

The final corner of the studio is for storage and cleaning. It has:

Sink.
Skeleton model (for drawing practice).
Paintings and studies.
Backup supplies.
French easel (for smaller works).
Rubbish bag.

Key Takeaways

What works for me might not work for you. Your studio needs to feel like your studio.
You probably won’t be able to find everything you need at your local art store. You’ll need to get creative. For my drawing desk, I had to wire together a small table, a storage cabinet, and a drawing easel.
There are no rules stating how you should paint, only guidelines. I prefer to be messy in the studio. I tried being clean, but it doesn’t work for me. Don’t force yourself to paint like someone you are not.