Artist remarks compiled by Erin Barach, Development Associate

After what can only be described as the strangest year in Make Studio’s history, we’re looking forward to soon easing back into in-person operations this spring. In the meantime, we’re celebrating a special time for us every year, our annual anniversary extravaganza. This year we’re turning things up to 11!

Recent times have proven more than ever that variety, in the right doses, is the spice of life, so instead of one party we’re hosting a week of festivities online, including this three-part blog series 11 Ways to Make an Art Studio! We asked our artists what were the essential, and somewhat quirky, ingredients that make a fabulous art studio, well, fabulous.

Part Two: Nuts & Bolts (The Necessities)

5. Art Materials

Everyone knows that you can’t have a top-notch art studio without plenty of art materials. In pre-pandemic times, Make Studio artists had access to every paint, marker, pencil, and pen under the sun, as well as a variety of other media like fabrics and clay. For the time being, we’ve set up a delivery system, bringing artists the materials of their choice to their home studios.

Kareem says that he especially loves the wide-array of watercolors that he can choose from for his mixed-media artwork. He is an expert in doing portraits of himself, friends and family, celebrities, and superheroes, both of his own creation and otherwise.

2. Work and Exhibition Space

All of the artists agree that a physical space to make art and a gallery where their art gets sold is essential to making a great art studio. Dasha also mentioned, “good lighting, good working conditions, and a welcoming space.” Louis is a big fan of the small details. He remarked we need to have a doorbell, because “it lets us know when the people come.”

3. Lunch (and food in general)

In order to be at their best, our artists need the proper fuel to make it through the day at the studio. Lunch time is a big deal, giving the artists a respite from their creative quandaries and a chance to unwind.

Dasha was happy to mention her favorite snacks from near-by 7-11, “nachos… pizza… cheeseburger dogs…” The list goes on! In her work, Dasha has developed many original characters and the worlds they live in using a comic-inspired style, as well as expressive non-representational work. 

4. Routine (But Also Lots of Random Stuff!)

In order to get focused and down to work, our artists said they need daily routines, along with lots of fun interludes to break up the day. From making a border on a new drawing, to signing your finished artwork, to daily walks to the aforementioned 7/11, routines keep artists moving and motivated.

The namesake of this blog is a long-standing routine at Make Studio, where artists “save their faves” for a special sharing session at the end of the studio day.

That’s it for Part Two! Stay tuned for the third installment of 11 Ways to Make an Art Studio!