An art studio can easily get messy. Over the years, I've found that art storage supplies are key to a clean studio. However, art supply stores are not the best source for either art supplies or art supply storage…
Depending on your art media (paint, wood, textile, etc.), art supply stores are often much pricier than stores that cater to non-artists. Here is my short list of handy art studio storage items and sources:
• Painting rags, large brushes, buckets, and tools are well-priced at hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowes.
• Inexpensive kitchen carts make for handy art tables.
• Matching bins and containers are great for organizing art materials. I prefer the clear kind so I can see inside. See this post on Sources for Matching Containers.
• Cutlery trays from the dollar store are an easy way to store brushes, paint tubes, nails and other small materials.
• Glass food jars are great for storing mixed paint and brushes.
• For storing paper, flat files and cabinets are best. See this extensive list of options.
Mat recently shared Sources for Online Art Supplies: New & Used. I would also recommend Jerry's Artarama and Dick Blick, both of which offer frequent discounts and sales for new supplies.
What are your favorite art supply stores and storage ideas?
Image: Before & After: A Cluttered to Clean Art Studio Overhaul
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I second the utility of a flat file. It has changed the way I store my paper, both new material and finished works.
New ones are really expensive; I was lucky to snag a steel flat file on Craigslist from some architecture students who were moving. I really would recommend a used one since they are much cheaper, and often the only thing wrong with them is a few scratches. Libraries, art schools, law firms, architecture studios, and contractors' offices are other good places to look.
In addition to glass jars I also save yogurt cups, coffee cans, and really any container that could be repurposed to hold rags, brushes, water, paint tubes, pushpins, etc.
Painting rags : ratty old clothing and sheets cut up.
Best stuff for cleaning oil paint brushes: Natural pine soap (I don't know if this is widely available? )
Agreed about the kitchen cart, I use a big one as a pallette table and store my paints and stuff on the shelves below. Great because it has wheels and can be moved easily.
I'm looking for a used flat file for a studio I'm setting up in my home. I can't wait to have one place to organize all my work! And I also reuse Tupperware, egg cartons, empty jars, etc. for storing supplies.
I hear "storage is key" a lot, which makes me think maybe it ISN'T key at all! I've got organizers and my desk is crazy messy right now. I think "organized person" might be the key in this situation lol.
I will never, ever forgive myself for passing on a free vintage metal flat file. There were 20 of them just sitting there, looking for a new home.
That $1 cutlery tray idea is very good, putting it on my list. There are often listings for baby jars on Craigslist, do a search before you buy new.
The key isn't just having appropriate storage for everything. It's having *enough* storage for everything. Something I'm still working on.
Please help: I can't for the life of me figure out what the lower left drawer unit is called! I need one for my studio to hold art pads and watercolor paintings! Can you tell me what they are called, and/or where you found that one?