To be honest I don’t miss art school. It was mentally and physically draining. Possibly the only thing I miss is having access to a studio space 24/7. As a BFA Drawing & Painting student we had our own studio spaces separate from the rest of the classrooms. It was tight because we were set up basically like cubicles but it was convenient and useful.
Since graduating I’ve been trying to set up a work space within my garage. I have like half of my parents garage to myself. I’ve been constantly reorganizing and fixing things up so that it can be a functional work space. Between this I have been using one wall in my bedroom to paint on unstretched canvas.
This has been somewhat of a struggle because basically every time I want to work on something else I need to move one painting out to the garage. This means moving a painting usually with fresh paint from my bedroom, through my house and in to my garage. Then bringing a new painting in, affixing it to the wall and beginning to paint. When it comes to building stretcher bars and stretching canvases this happens in my backyard patio as well as in my living room. Basically I have been using my whole house for different uses.
I’m almost done putting together my studio space in my garage. The main issue right now is finding storage for old paintings or finished paintings. I’m sure I’ll figure something out. I think having a space to work in is a huge deal. It’s necessary. But I also think that not everyone has the means to a larger space. Or to a workspace outside of their home.
Even though I feel like I could have a better work space I know there’s people with less space than me making it work. Whatever means you have make it work for you. I’ve been painting all my paintings for my solo show using a single wall in my bedroom. It’s frustrating at times to not have the amount of space I wish I could have but it’s not the end of the world. If you have a wall use it, if all you have is a desk use it, if you got a small amount of space on your floor that works too.
Your work doesn’t need to be made in a huge white walled studio space for it to be worth something.