Add my Blank canvas

[Laurie Rutan]

I am so excited about doing art that I sit down to create and become overloaded with ideas and then my work space becomes crowded....but I do see light at the end of the tunnel. We are taking the bed out of the spare room which leaves me a lot more room for storage and work space....I have bought another table and some more storage bins!!! I can't wait until they pick-up the bed and get it out there!!! I guess when things are a mess your brain is a mess.

If anyone has any recommendations about organization I would sure appreciate any help.

[Laurie Rutan]

Wow such great ideas!!! Yes Dan as always I believe you are right regardless of what my craft space looks like the overwhelming ideas running through my head can be a hinderance. I did sit down the other day and did some art and am signing up for some classess that I think might help. I'm getting excited again and with the ideas (folding table) and (dresser drawers) I believe I might just end up with a good craft room.

[Mary Hicks]

Laurie, an old dresser with some drawer dividers makes a great space for paper, paint, brushes, etc. A silverware organizer is a great space for your brushes. I store my acrylic paints (the crafty king, in little bottles) on their side with the bottom showing. That way, you can see the color without having to shuffle through to find the right one.

You can see them, at the top left of my storage shelf.

Have so much fun creating -- without a bed in your way! XO

[Dan Goodwin]

Try this too:

How To Create When You're Overwhelmed With Creative Options And Ideas

[Dan Goodwin]

Barb the two storage places is a great idea. And the fold up table, I have one myself that I can put out of the way and spend much of my creative time on when it's up, which takes literally about 20 seconds to do.

I too have a block with the whole idea of "maintenance". It's so illogical, ha ha. I'll go into my bathroom and see some dust and think "What? How's that get there? I only cleaned this a month ago!"

Laurie, sounds like there are two issues at work - you being overloaded with physical stuff, and overloaded with ideas. Clutter doesn't help but even with the tidiest workspace if you feel overwhelmed with ideas you're not going to get far.

For some tips on not feeling overwhelmed with ideas, try this article. It's aimed at writers but equally relevant for any creative medium.

How To Cope When You're Overwhelmed With More Ideas Than You Can Handle

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

I found a a great expandable table at a garage sale. I keep it folded up unless I need a bigger work space for a specific project. Use it, then fold it down again (or it will get covered up with clutter ... LOL)

[Laurie Rutan]

Thank-you Barbara......there are shelves but I have clothes and other storage items on them in the closet. I am going to add shelves around the room I think.....Things are still "in work"....Great ideas tho...thank-you

[Barbara Ann Storrier]

I'm realizing more and more what a detrimental effect clutter can have on creativity. Then again, when in the midst of a project, too much focus on keeping things tidy can also hamper me. One thing I have realized (D'uh) is that even with an organized work space, it's up to me to keep it that way and make it comfortable on a regular basis or it will indeed turn into a catch-all spot again ...

I almost have to have two spaces. One for storing all my seldom used stuff and the other where I can create and only keep the stuff I am currently using or that I use often.

Are there shelves in that spare room's closets? If you plan to use it for a permanent art space, that's the first thing I would do to organize, put shelves in the closets ...