Dear easyStorage

My place is pretty hectic because I’m an artist. I constantly paint and sculpt new pieces to sell. I don’t sell my items often but, luckily, they are high value so when I do make a sale (roughly five times a year), it pays me enough to keep doing what I do best!

But because the paintings and sculptures are so large, they take up my living space. It’s hard enough to separate myself from my work but even more so when I’m surrounded by it!

Thank you in advance

Rose

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Wow, Rose. I’m dying to see some of your sculptures. Making a living as an artist is incredibly hard - well done.

So, how do you create space for living AND for your art?

The first thing to do is organise your art things, asking yourself questions along the lines of:

·         Are you earning enough to rent a studio?

·         Do you have a spare room you could convert into a studio?

·         Do you have a garden that you could put a studio ‘shed’ in?

If the answer to any of these is yes, go Rose! You have the answer in your hands.

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If not, we need to make the most of the space you have.

So firstly, finished sculptures can be put into storage. This is probably cheaper than you think, and you can always discuss your needs with an easyStorage specialist using these details: CONTACT (On that page you can request a call back, speak to someone in person or even get an online quote – all with no obligation.)

Secondly rooms can be divided to create a workspace. This can be done simply with the use of a screen, or by painting the two halves of the room different colours, one for living, one for working. You’ll need a little self-discipline to start and finish work in that space and not spill out, but with your artistic talent, I’m certain you can create something lovely – even create a sculpted divider, something most of us unartistic folk can’t even dream of without commissioning it.

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And then look at what else needs decluttering and/or storing away. Tidying materials and tools that you regularly need into boxes or drawers is a good start. You’ll know where things are and can even label them up - make sure you store by category, not randomly, or all you are doing is shifting the problem, not solving it.

Treat the tidying as an art project - could things be hung artistically on a wall, for example?

And can anything be thrown out?

Like me, you obviously don’t currently have a ‘show home’. Researching with colleagues for this blog, I found a some Marie Kondo tips that may well resonate: Tips for Decluttering.

I hope you’ll find them useful, and that the extra space and clarity of mind that having a clearer space brings will help you become even more creative and successful.

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By the way, it’s cheeky, but we’d like an invite when you open your gallery!

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Previous ‘Ask the Experts’ questions have included:

·         The children had too much for Christmas

·         Moving back to the UK

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To have your own storage or life organisation question answered by easyStorage experts and their professional colleagues send your question to Alex Fulcher who’ll pick questions for the team to answer each month: Alex.Fulcher@easystorage.com or use #AskeasyStorage and tag us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.