NEW Studio Tools: Offering Framing Services

I will now be offering framing services to my art collectors. 

Framing is something I wanted to do for a long time, but I had to invest in some stock and more equipment. I made the commitment and can cut glass and mats to fit frames. I do not MAKE the frames yet, but can order them already made or use any customer's frames.

Upon entering my studio space, I have Ziggy as my doorbell and greeter.
This is his chair & his blanket, just in case you needed to know!

Designing a creative 400 sq. ft. space that is useful for various artistic activities and storage types presents several challenges, including creating a large, accessible area clear for using the mat/glass cutter, providing safe storage for large sheets of glass, and allocating wall space for stacking mat board. I also store some frames for art shows and for the commissioned pet portraits, which take up a lot of space. Now, add all the other goodies, and it could all end up being a disorganized nightmare if I didn't take the time to figure out how I need to work in this space.

On the wooden table are my new Logan Artists Elite Mat and glass cutter.

I discovered bolt-less metal shelving at www.gorillarack.com, a local building supply store. I assembled it by myself without the help of burly men and their power tools! The metal shelving came with wood shelves and two design options: stacked like a tall bookcase or divided into two lower shelving units, which are functional as a working cabinet top and also feature corner clip attachments for L-shaping and added stability.

Gorilla Rack metal & wood shelving for storage of large frames. 

In this section of the studio, I used the Gorilla Rack metal shelving, 
divided into two  parts and made them into an L shape 
for accessible storage and lots of valuable counter space, just my height.

The shelves helped to define my main room into two functional spaces. One side is focused on painting and creative assembly, and the other side is an industrial sewing machine and storage. 

Standing halfway into the studio space, facing towards the open doorway, the precious pooch Ziggy waits for me to head back to the kitchen to make DINNER!

Here is my drawing & painting corner with framing glass up
against the wall & close to the cutting table.

I have dragged around this big, heavy industrial sewing machine for nearly 25 years.

What was once roadside garbage, posing as an old bathroom mirror cabinet, is now my new sewing machine stuff shelf. I painted over the mirror and scratched "ART" and "STUDIO" into the paint duct-taped clip hooks on the two end mirrors. I left the middle mirror for hanging drawings with DUCT taped clip hooks...it works!

I found the 3-drawer child's dresser on the side of the road, frozen into a snowbank. I chipped it out and found it to be the perfect size cabinet for storing all my soft pastels, organized by value. I divided the drawers with cardboard dividers and placed them near my painting section.

Having the art studio space is a dream come true, and now I can frame for myself and my customers. It's time to get in there and PAINT! Minaz