Flotsam & Jetsam & our benches

Justine

Remember when you set up again to think about what areas are the
ones you work at the most, especially where you are doing important
things, e.g.: soldering, sifting enamels, sawing, and set things up
so that those areas do not have your back to the door into your work
area. This happens to be good “Feng shui” but on also means that if
someone enters the studio, your back is not to the door where you are
more easily startled. Sometimes you don’t have a choice, but you
being lucky enough to have the room to set it up ideally, have much
more flexibility.

Also keep in mind that you need to maintain a good flow between
equipment, such as having your enamels easily in reach of your kiln.,
etc. When I visit other artists studios, which I love to do, I notice
how the studio often gets set up as you add elements to your
knowledge base and that means that there is often chaotic, non-flow
which can slow down your production. Don’t get me wrong, I often
still see a lot of good ideas that I can incorporate into my studio,
but I can also see how certain setups can be causing alot of
unnecessary work and stress. This is something that I am considering
as we plan to build our new net-zero, environmentally-friendly
underground home this spring. I am also working to make my studio, a
separate room in the new house, into an environmentally friendly
studio as I can as well. Also I must keep in mind that as we will be
producing our own power that I do as many things energy efficient as
I can, as for example my kiln is a little bit of a power hog.

Good luck on your new studio.

Karen Bahr - Karen’s Artworx
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
http://karensartworx.ganoksin.com/blogs/