How do I set up a work space?: Art
We know that finding inspiration might be challenging, but having the right work space will make it much easier to start off with your creation process! To do so, here are some tips that will help you set up the perfect work space.
Don’t panic if you don’t have a proper work stand
To create a work space, you don’t necessarily need to have a room apart from the rest of the home to get inspired. You just need to set up a table and have space for your working materials! If you work with an easel, put beneath the table a nice carpet that can get dirty, listen to music that will help you focus and have a chair close to you for your breaks.
In general, you want to make it a pleasant space to focus on your work and let yourself go creatively!
2. Find the correct posture to work
If you sit while creating your piece of art, it is very important to watch out your posture to prevent future aches. You need to find the right height of your chair and make sure that your feet touch the floor and your arms rest on the table top. If you don’t have a chair that guarantees the right height, you can put a pillow and sit on it. If your feet dangle, get a tiny step stool to correct your posture.
You want to have a general vision of what you’re creating, so don’t be too close or too far from it. It is important that you avoid hunching and leaning over your artwork. It might seem comfortable but it’s not! Your back will very much appreciate the effort you put into.
If you work with an easel, try to look at the piece of art always at the same height as you. It is okay to raise your head when working on the top of your piece of art, but you should avoid looking up for a long time as it might hurt your neck. Try, once in a while, to distance yourself from the artwork to see the whole picture and then go back to the piece.
When painting, your elbow should point to the ground, but if you need to raise your arm to finish some details, try to do it just momentarily to prevent shoulder pains.
3. Set breaks in your working schedule
Once you find the inspiration it is very usual to work for hours as you don’t want to lose the momentum. However, make sure you set breaks during your working hours to prevent back aches as it is very common after a long time sitting or standing.
Take the time to go for a walk, read a book on the sofa, make a cup of tea or just stretch your arms and legs!
4. Let the nature get in
Try to get natural light in, as it helps you be in a good mood, and will make the work space more positive and satisfactory. However, you might not want to have much direct light because it can damage the artworks and the materials!
Try to have a window that you can open once in a while, so you can let fresh air in. Fresh air gets rid of the bad energy and provides you with the vitality you need to create the perfect artwork! Renewing the air also improves your air quality and avoids humidity.
Putting some houseplants will help purify the environment, they improve productivity and wellbeing, and you can even use them as models to practice on your sketches!
5. Make the workspace inspire you
Whether you like the landscapes of John Constable or the sculptures of Henry Moore, having photos of their artworks will help you get the inspiration you need to work on your pieces of art. Keep on the table those images and objects that inspire you while you are working, as well as your own sketches, notes and artworks so they will remind you what path you want to follow in the creation process.
6. Show your personality
You want to feel the workspace as yours, so what’s better than decorating it with those objects that reflect your preferences and hobbies? It can be a record you love, an object from a movie you loved, a photo of your beloved ones, a ceramic of your favorite color, or any item that makes you feel yourself!
This blog post was written by Cristina Centelles Villanueva, an artist and volunteer for the King Lear Prizes.
What next?
If you’re ready to enter your art into the King Lear Prizes you can do so here.
If you want to read more posts about the art category, check out our Hints & Tips blog here!
If you want to know more about the King Lear Prizes generally, please go here.
If you have any feedback on this post, or any other ideas of what hints & tips could be useful to you in your short stories, please email me (Matilda!) on matilda@kinglearprizes.org. I’d be delighted to hear from you.
