I, like many recently-graduated artists, have found myself puzzled by the issue of finding a studio space. They tend to be very expensive to rent and, if you do not have a reliable income, can be a risky purchase. And then there is the logistical problem of transporting canvases and painting materials to and from your studio space on public transport, which can be heavy and cumbersome, especially if you tend to work big.
Thankfully, I have managed to find a solution for myself, which may be useful for others to know, if you find yourself in a similar situation…
Find a spare bit of floor in your house. Obviously the size of your work will have to depend on the space available.
Protect said bit of floor with a waterproof tarpaulin, so that you don’t have to worry about any stray splashes of paint.
Now for the key part: a drip tray! Prices for these will vary depending on the size you want, but they are a great investment because you can paint on top of them and never have to clean them, as the paint and water simply gathers and dries in the bottom of the tray. This one is over a metre square, and means that I can use pouring and dripping techniques on large canvases without worrying about anything spilling onto the carpet. (Very important, as I am in a rented house and clean-ups are expensive!)
I also happened to have a spare table, which is handy for keeping paints on, or for doing detailed work.
This is the finished result: a bit makeshift but certainly functional 🙂
I have already worked on two new canvases, and am hopeful that this new setup will enable me to create lots more work for my solo exhibition in March (more on that later…!)