Before we moved, my studio was a finished one car garage. Lots of space with my drawing table at one end and my computer desk at the other. I also had enough room for a TV, a couch, and a piano. I had grand visions of expanding to maybe a full basement or something when we moved.
Life, of course, happens.
When we moved to our current house I had half the space I was used to. No more couch or piano. But as it turned out, I’m way more productive in this space than my last. For one, I can just spin my chair from my computer desk to face my drawing table. I no longer have to get up and walk across a room to scan things in. Those little details actually make a difference.
For those of you who like how other people set up their work spaces, here’s the current state of my studio.
- A red circle. If you watch my show Pair-O-Normals you get it.
- The command center. XP-Pen Artist Pro 15.6 tablet for digital art. My mic and preamp that I got for making music (but now just makes me sound like an NPR host on livestreams), and a vast amount of stuff I need to clear off.
- The drawing table. It’s at critical mass. I just ordered a standing desk converter because I sit too much. I’m drawing standing up from here on out! (maybe)
- Every plant I have dies. And this was a cactus, so that’s an achievement.
- The deck where I livestream amongst the birds
- An original Spider-man newspaper strip, written by Stan Lee, art by Alex Saviuk. Also a clock that’s stuck at 11:49. And above the door a Doctor Who print (with a hand-drawn 11th Doctor) by Mad Magazine artist Tom Richmond.
- My chair. It’s falling apart and I have two pillows to make it more comfortable. I need to splurge for a better one.
- My bookshelf of most recently read books. Next to my dad’s old recliner.
- Guitars I haven’t played in a while.
- The art book shelf. Instruction books, and photo reference.
- Old art books my dad had from the 50s. Plus a Star Trek storybook record!
- My Krav Maga Blackbelt challenge coins and bronze medal from a kickboxing tournament.
- Midi Keyboard for composing that awesome Gunship Thunderpunch Synthwave Album!
- the warehouse where I store my books before shipping. AKA the laundry room.
- My Dad’s old 1970s-era recliner that I read and take naps in.
- My guitars and mandolin. I need to restring all of them and get my chops back
- Fireplace. My studio is the den off the back of the house
- Treadmill. Just to get some extra exercise in on rainy days.
- I have my desk lamps pointed at the ceiling so it doesn’t cast shadows when I draw.
- All my old Transformers and a few Masterpiece editions.
- The shipping table. There’s a stack of my Art book ready to be shipped and some returns from a previous campaign.
- Brother 11×17 printer/scanner. It’s almost 10 years old now.
- A painting that’s been sitting there for months waiting for me to finish it.
- Old star wars toys from my childhood along with Omega Supreme and other misc figures.
- Original comic art. Conan/Red Sonja, GI Joe, Spider-man, Wizard of Oz among others.
- I hung a swing for my son. This is leftover rope. It shouldn’t be here.
- A big stack of things I don’t know where to put. Including: A box of old toys, a box of cassette tapes I can’t bring myself to throw out, lighting equipment I need to return to a friend, a green screen, and a boxing helmet.
Well, there it is. The tide of clutter comes and goes as I get motivated to periodically clean.
