How to Create a Creative Space: 5 Tips for Your Home Art Studio
unpacking at my new office space!
I might as well just come out and say it—I just signed a lease for my dream office space! I now have a public studio in the Arts District at Liberty Station, a location I hand-wrote in my “goals” journal five years ago.
My barn will remain an important part of my creative practice, but it will now become my true sanctuary—where painting remains a ritual, and where my collection of bird feathers, seashells, and cigar boxes won’t interfere with class supplies or product storage.
My creative spaces have gone through many iterations over the years: first a living room easel in our one-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, then a spare bedroom (which felt very exciting) in Redondo Beach—only to be quickly replaced by a nursery, forcing me into the under-stairs space like Harry Potter. With our next move, I regained a spare bedroom, but because it was inside our home, I couldn’t work in oils—the fumes were too harsh.
When we returned to San Diego, I rotated between the dining room table, my old bedroom at my parents’ house, and a shared table at Art on 30th. When we finally bought our first home, after four years of never having a true studio, I knew exactly what I wanted.
shortly after my barn and garden were first built
I had romanticized red barns, and the She Shed phenomenon had just taken off. My first major business purchase was a $5,000 shed installed in the backyard and retrofitted as my workspace—oil paints welcome! I loved that space with my whole heart, but as my business expanded, so did my spatial needs. Slowly, I began to overflow into other areas of our home: shipping supplies in the garage, a work desk in the spare room, packaging note cards at the dining table.
If you’ve picked up art from me over the last seven years, you were likely greeted by barking dogs and curious kids. It was time to find something a little more—shall we say—professional, and also a way for YOU to regularly find my artwork in person.
So here we are: a new illustration studio and office space. You can now find me at 2750 Historic Decatur Road suite 213, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8:30–12, or by appointment.
But enough about me—what about your creative space?
Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about cultivating creative spaces of all sizes. Here are my top five tips for making one of your own, no matter how small or large your setup might be:
1. A clean, flat surface. Whether you’re writing, painting, or sketching, you need a reliable workspace. It’s hard to create when you’re always clearing clutter. If the family dinner table is your only option (I’ve been there too), don’t let it stop you—but when possible, claim even the smallest desk or table as your own.
my not so clean work desk but you can see my supplies organized and enough room for me to work on paper
2. Storage. Keeping your creative tools easy to access makes a world of difference. A tote for your travel palette, a drawer for paints, a wicker basket for brushes—the possibilities are endless (Pinterest is full of inspiration).
color coordinated colored pencils and pens in metal buckets
3. A creative signal. Rituals help mark your creative time. For me, it’s a playlist of my favorite movie scores. For you, it could be lighting a candle, opening a special journal, or taking three deep breaths. Like athletes have pregame rituals, so should artists.
I love lighting a candle and incense before painting
4. Inspiration. Keep at least one source of inspiration nearby—a postcard of your favorite painting, a childhood photo, a beloved book of poetry. It’s not decoration; it’s fuel.
referencing one of my favorite garden books
5. Boundaries. This one is about willpower. The only way to maintain a creative space is to treat it as sacred. Not everyone will understand your need to make the work you’re called to make—but you must. Claim your space like you would claim a dresser for clothes. And if no one else is in your way, try not be the person to do so.
So there you have it—the five things I believe are musts when setting up your own art studio. And for the record, I think a space like this benefits everyone. But we’re all on our own creative timeline. If this post found you at the right moment, take it as your sign: make that space.
And when you do, tag me—I’d love to see it.
Happy art-making, mi amors.