Charlie Kirkham

As an artist, your workspace plays a crucial role in your creativity, productivity and artistic growth. Working from home has its perks, but sometimes renting a space can be the ultimate game changer.

Here are three reasons why a dedicated studio space can change your practice.

1. Community: Surround Yourself With Other Artists
   Creativity thrives in community. We all have days where we really need to chat with another artist in order to break through a creative block. Renting a studio alongside other creatives means you have a peer group ready to challenge and support your practice. So many opportunities in my own career have come from other artists, that mythic image of an artist working in total isolation? It really is just a myth!

2. Open Studios and Studio Visits
Often communal spaces hold open studios, exhibitions or pop up events. When you display your work alongside your peers you’ll attract more collectors, curators and interest. Having a dedicated space makes it easier to host studio visits. Sharing the experience with artists at a similar career stage takes the pressure off. You can gain confidence in articulating what your work is about guided by other artists who’ve been there already.

Ceri Hand has explained it better than I ever can in her talk on artist studio visits here Online talks, lectures and webinars for artists and creatives

3. New Environment: Get Out the House!
There are some people who thrive working from home, I am not one of them. Some of us can avoid the incessant call of the fridge or remain unfazed by the isolation. For me, the biggest reason to work out of the house is the change of scene. It’s nice to have a clear split between home and work. You can step out of your regular environment, shift your mindset and engage with others. Personally, walking into the studio gives me chance to re-evaluate current artworks and gain new perspective.

Bonus Reason: You Don’t Need to Move It Each Evening

Working from home, often from the kitchen table or desk in room set up means that the ‘home studio’ often needs to be removed in order to eat, sleep etc. If you’ve a dedicated art studio you can tidy up and walk away, ready to create again next time you’re in.

(Quick aside: Writing takes me hours of research, drafting, and editing each week. If this post made you think please consider buying me a coffee. £3–£5 literally funds another hour of writing so I can keep these coming every week. Totally optional, but hugely appreciated → Buy Me A Virtual Coffee )

Renting an art studio isn’t just about having space, it can be a way to invest in your practice and artistic growth. Whether it’s via networking opportunities or greater mental clarity the benefits of a dedicated space are many.

Would you rent a studio space? Or do you already have one? Share your experiences in the comments below!

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REFERENCE LINKS

Charlie Kirkham

Buy Me A Virtual Coffee 

Online talks, lectures and webinars for artists and creatives

HOLYHEAD STUDIOS – Artist Studios – Coventry

Art Studios London – Artist’s Studio Finder

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