Where in your home or studio do you feel your most creative when making art? What items do you always keep close by to make your process easier? What’s something you absolutely can’t work without? Continuing the conversation from Part 1, members of the Threadless Artist Shops Community showed us their creative workspace and talked about their preferences.
You’ll notice some recurring themes here—natural light, coffee, pets for moral support. But you’ll also read about unique features like a hiding spot for chocolate bars. (Not a bad idea!) Seeing how and where other artists make their art may inspire you to make changes or additions to your own creative workspace. Let’s take a look.
Barlena (Germany)
About Their Creative Workspace
“I like to create art in my home. Since I started drawing, I’ve always had the same art process. I created my drawings traditionally, with paper and pen, and scanned them. In Photoshop, I edited my artworks and added colors. But in December 2020, when I got my first iPad, my whole art process changed. I fell in love with Procreate and digital drawing. At first, I was worried that it might take really long for me to get used to it, but I was actually surprised how easy it was to switch to drawing digitally.”
What They Like About It
“I love that it’s so bright because there’s a big window right next to my desk. And I do also love to have plants around.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“Always keep your devices charged! Nothing worse than being super motivated to start a new drawing on the iPad only to find out it’s running out of battery.”
Sue Krizman, Blue Bee Studios (Cleveland, Ohio)
About Their Creative Workspace
“I converted my sunroom into my studio. I love the light and being able to work from home!”
What They Like About It
“I love the light and the open working space, room for everything!”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“My second large monitor! I have many applications open at once and it really helps to see what all is going on. I wish for a third! LOL.”
Bluey Boronia (Adelaide, Australia)
About Their Creative Workspace
“Working from home, I have a sun-filled office nook just off a hallway and a larger studio outside. The nook is utilized for screen-based and admin tasks, journaling, and sketching with the studio for larger 3D projects and object collection and storage.”
What They Like About It
“The nook has a great garden view, is in the core of my home, a neat space; The studio provides room for storage, multiple works in progress, and mess.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“My scanner.”
Nic Squirrell (Kent, England)
About Their Creative Workspace
“My studio is a very small room at the top of our house which I share with my cat.”
What They Like About It
“Although itʼs small, itʼs bright and sunny and never fails to inspire new ideas. Plus, there are plenty of places to hide a bar of chocolate in case of artistʼs block.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“Coffee.”
Dominique Vari (London, England)
About Their Creative Workspace
“Most of the time, Iʼm based in central London and create from my ‘home officeʼ using an iPad and/or a MacBook Pro or an iMac. I always carry a sketchbook so I can draw on the go, and whenever possible, I take my iPad. During the summer, I also run an Airbnb from Sardinia, a beautiful Italian island, and therefore, I work from my village house in the center of the island. This seasonal dynamic has inspired and influenced my work as Iʼm surrounded by beautiful nature and the sun is shining most of the time. ☀️”
What They Like About It
“I can work from anywhere as long as I have access to good WiFi. I love my space in Sardinia, which comes with a great lifestyle and a beautiful view, and I love working from my small London home, as I’m a few minutes away from Portobello market where I walk every morning to get my cappuccino. It’s not so much the space l work from that matters, but what I have access to so I feel free to take mini or longer breaks whenever I need to.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“I guess all my tech gear and the internet connection!”
Eddie Fieg (Chicago, Illinois)
About Their Creative Workspace
“I’m a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, working from my home workspace in Chicago, Illinois. I specialize in artfully crafted, illustrative design for clients like Spotify and the Chicago Tribune. My home office is homey and colorfully decorated, but it’s also designed to facilitate my creative productivity.”
What They Like About It
“I love to be surrounded by framed art, vintage toys, and special collectibles from the illustrators, cartoonists, musicians, and comics artists who inspire me. I also have a cremation box on my desk that memorializes my cat Walter, who was my office colleague and best friend for many years.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“While I primarily work digitally, my trusty drafting table is always nearby for sketching, drawing, and scribbling by hand.”
Christine Williams, Lil Willʼs Inspirations (Michigan)
About Their Creative Workspace
“I work from home in beautiful Northern Michigan, and love to create new and engaging digital artwork of all sorts. I find a lot of inspiration in the animals and nature surrounding me.”
What They Like About It
“I love drawing digitally for two reasons. I donʼt have to pay for expensive artwork materials to make my creations. Sure, I pay for my iPad and Adobe programs, but Iʼm not going out to buy canvases every week. The second reason digital art makes me happy is that I can create a new custom piece of artwork and print it out as many times as I like on many various items. I like having t-shirts, tapestries, stickers, and much more available for all customers.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“My iPad Pro is a lifesaver. And I also love the Adobe Fresco programs to draw and create on. Also, my couch is a favorite item because itʼs where I sit and draw everything.”
Maureen Claffy (Hinsdale, Illinois)
About Their Creative Workspace
“My home, my garage, and my garden are my studio spaces. I also have an art academy with a studio space.”
What They Like About It
“I love that I live where I work and it’s a fluid life where art and life easily blend. I can make art and be present to those I love and my animals, and I love the access to the outdoors and natural light.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“I love access to the outdoors, my yard, and to technology where I feel connected to the world at large.”
むは muha {belonging to no party or school of thought} (Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina)
About Their Creative Workspace
“I have a small studio.”
What They Like About It
“Small and modular, I can paint but I can also have guests who can stay for a few days.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“Beautiful view of the Old City on one side and soothing, village-like view from the kitchen.”
Lucas Carmona, toastdesign (Toronto, Canada)
About Their Creative Workspace
“Love working in my basement, where I have lots of reading materials and a stack of my kid’s drawings to inspire new collections. Also like to reference my old design books and be inspired by all printing techniques.”
What They Like About It
“Love that I have everything that I need to get the creative juices running, including a super comfy chair :)”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“I don’t know if it is old school but the scanner is a lifesaver because I like sketching my ideas first and then bringing them to life.”
Vincent Trinidad Art (Philippines)
About Their Creative Workspace
“[It’s] in my office at home.”
What They Like About It
“My toys and nostalgia takes me back to being a creative kid again.”
A Lifesaver They Always Keep Close By
“Multiple computer screens.”
Once again, thanks to all of the artists and shop owners who let us peek into their creative workspace and learn more about how they make art. Come back to Creative Resources for more creative inspiration and insights from our artist community.