I usually do the studio spring clean in January but brought it forward and started in December this year because I wanted to get to the exciting stuff of the 100 Days Project in January!

It helped me unwind in December prior to Christmas when fairs were finished and it was satisfying to have started it --less intimidating perhaps.

Everyone has a different way of tackling tasks so this is not a blue print! Do your own thing but you might get some ideas.

This is the first time I have taken a checklist I had in my head and put it down.

Prior to Christmas

1.All art fair boxes emptied and products returned to storage or returned to main art fair boxes so I have a start on selections for next art fairs.

2.Storage area reorganised with labelled storage boxes to reflect Spring/Summer/Autumn. Christmas storage boxes (bigger amount)put away in a dedicated cupboard in the studio.

3.Storage area -old end of range frames boxed for charity shop

4.Dry workstation(old table and bookshelf!)All items not required recycled where possible or turfed if necessary. Tidied up.

5.All previous work still in portfolio case rechecked, some mounted, some recycled for cards or collage materials. I like to make decisions on each piece

but still return some to the portfolio case if not sure yet. Decisions are usually easier when I put the artwork away for a while. Maybe I am less precious about it and can be ruthless when needed.

Post Christmas

6.All Christmas Decorations taken down in the art studio ,boxed and stored.

7.Products in the studio assessed: stored, upgraded or recycled.

8.Specific Christmas art stored and some Spring Art hung.(More will go up later)

9.All art materials checked

#Brushes

#Paints

#Art Mediums

#Paper/Boards/Canvasses

Stored in boxes or on trays ready for use

it is amazing what you find when you do this .Loads I do not need to buy !

10.Tidy up of book resources and some decanted into the store.

11.All last years sketchbooks stored together ready for inspiring new work.

12.Website check. Christmas items taken down and some spring items loaded up.



This checklist will give me a start for next year. Won't be trying to keep it in my head.

Now I can start work on new art without being distracted by basic tidy up requirements or wasting time trying to find stuff.

It all sounds quite organised on paper .I know I didn't do all of this last year and I wish I had.

Less clutter ,especially in the store area would have helped enormously. But most of all it now feels more stress free-at least for now.

Hope I can keep it tidy .Wish me luck because I am not the tidiest of people !