10 cool things about my artist cupboard
I’m a huge believer in sharing some of the behind the scenes of my studio and my process of making art. Today, I want to share my cupboard.
For a long while, my paint tubes were all over my desk, brushes were… somewhere… and general organization was lacking. So, I designed this cupboard to house all of my stuff in. Although it looks like a plywood box, I wanted to share some of the thought that went into it.
Here’s the 10 key features of this really simple artist cupboard.
1. Solid glass top
I find glass to be the perfect material to use as a palette. Plastic/acrylic palettes tend to discolor and generally tarnish. Glass ones are pretty resilient. Even when you leave oil paint on them for months (and I have) you can still scrape it off with a blade.
I found an old window at a junk yard, removed the glass and cut it to the size of the top. I used sandpaper to smooth the edges of it before sticking it to the top using liquid nails.
2. Simple, lightweight construction
The entire unit is made from 0.5-inch plywood board which you can get from hardware stores for pretty cheap or even get some used. It doesn’t need to be clean or fancy, it just needs to do the job - it’s going to get messy.
3. A door (duh!)
This stops all my stuff falling out and hides my clutter hides from view. Which is good if you’re easily distracted like me.
4. Deep top shelf
This shelf is deep enough to fit my tray of paint tubes so they don’t roll around. Paint tubes are prone to leaking and even puncturing. So, I have mine stored in a metal tray which I think is an old enameled roasting tray.
5. Quick access to gloves so I can get started without having to search for them.
6. Tall top shelf
I made sure that the top shelf could store my smallest canvases. I sometimes use smaller canvases for sketches or quick paintings where I want to try something. This shelf lets me hide these canvases away without cluttering up the studio.
7. Quick access to citrus cleaner
This is my paint thinner of choice. It smells like oranges and is a little softer on the environment. Having quick access is important for those “oh, crap!” moments.
8. Taller base shelf
The base shelf allows for my taller containers and long handled paint brushes to be stored plus lots of jars! You never know when you’re going to need an empty jar.
9. Wheels
These heavy-duty wheels just slip right onto the unit and they allow me to move the unit out of the way when needed. Plus, they keep it up off the floor.
10. It’s mine!
The best thing about this unit is that I designed it based on my needs. It’s simple to build but is so useful in the studio.
Make yourself one!
Dan Howard is an up and coming artist from Viroqua, Wisconsin. Visit The Art of Dan Howard or visit him on Facebook .
