
When I first started on this journey, I didn’t find one artist discussing their minimalist lifestyle. Although I haven’t seen too many artists writing about their journey, I do think that many artists can be minimalists. As an artist you may not be as extreme as only owning 100 personal items, but you can pare down so that you are able to focus more on creating versus unnecessary clutter.
As an artist, I need to have color and art around me as they influence my mood and keep me motivated to create more art. My minimalism has nothing to do with living in a home only decorated in neutrals, owning only 100 items (although that is great if you can), or having a wardrobe consisting of predominately black basics unless you want to. It does however focus on minimalism in terms of your environmental footprint, being a conscious consumer, and paring down excess possessions and clothing, minimizing the to-do list, using chemical-free beauty products, being vegetarian, and buying organic, vintage, fair trade, and handmade clothing and items when you do shop.
I believe that minimalism can actually create a clear focus for an artist. By getting rid of clutter, maximizing your money, and organizing your art supplies, you are allowing more space and time to devote to your art.
1. Give your art a home.
Decide which room in your home, or what area of that room you will use as your studio. Now decide how you would love for it to look even before you start the process of decluttering and reorganizing.
2. Take out all of your supplies.
Look through everything that you own and toss what is old, broken, crusted and dried up, and no longer inspiring. Give away any supplies that you are no longer interested in and recycle and toss the rest.
3. Determine your focus.
With what you have left, decide what area of creativity you are most interested in doing. If five years ago you thought you’d be interested in scrap booking, but never started and still haven’t thought once about it, give those supplies to someone who currently is.
4. Create with what you have.
Decide at this moment you will design, paint, draw, knit, etc. with your current supplies. This forces you to be more innovative and you will most likely surprise yourself.
5. Organize.
This is one of the most helpful tasks. You may need to buy something if you don’t already have it, but it will save so much time and energy finding the supplies that you need. Check your local thift shops for the perfect organizational tool for your supplies.
Use items that you already have such as glass jars to organize smaller arts and craft items. You can even label them with 70% recycled printed paper and cardstock, or you could use the scrapbooking paper you haven’t tossed out yet.
To read more about decluttering go here.
(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)
TheSimplePoppy says
Just wanted to say thanks for writing this. I’m an artist and giving that up (though it’s sporadic now with the children!) isn’t an option despite my minimalist leanings. They can coexist peacefully and you have some great ideas for implementing that. I’ve been weeding out my supplies also – it’s actually good to have it concentrated, I find it helps my creativity. You have a lovely blog!
Dawn Michelle says
I’m so glad that the ideas here were helpful to you. I am also glad that you are still creating even with the busy schedule of motherhood. Best wishes always!
di says
I store crafts in white file boxes with covers. They are sturdy, nondescript and easy to move around.
Some are stored in the closet and several are stacked along a short wall for quick access. The top of the stack creates a convenient shelf for sorting.
Individual items are sorted by color or style.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Di,
Thanks for sharing your organization with art/craft supplies. White boxes seem perfect. Every other month I am reorganizing and consolidating my supplies. Staying organized is extremely helpful for me. I hope that you are having a beautiful day!
Dawn Michelle
Lilah says
I am into mixed-media so I have lots of bits and pieces that can be difficult to organize. I am also a minimalist. I use hanging travel toiletry bags and packing cubes for most of it. I created some travel art kits complete with everything I need to art journal that I use constantly. They include colored pencils, metallic and solid markers, watercolors (dry so I can carry it on easily) and brushes, sketchbook, paper ephemera, scissors, a small tin with wire beads, pliers, and scissors, a tin with sandpaper, sharpener, and eraser, and an empty tin for anything I might find along the way. Though it is not the lightest, I use it constantly at home and when I travel. I use the larger size of the L.L. Beane hanging toiletry bag so it tucks right into my rolling carry-on. It is more important to have agents of creativity than clothes I won’t wear!
Loved this post…
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks so much for sharing this Lilah!
Kara says
I went for having an entire room of craft stuff to a closet full and then now to 2 x2 cube a small drawer set and a photo box. It has been a work in progress over two years. It is my goal to use up the photos in the photo box and use up enough fabric and supplies in the next 6 months to have only the 2×2 cube left. I find keeping three main craft mediums and then the tools for nor more than three others gives enough room for creativity to strike and not spend a fortune rebuying. I am working on a blanket from baby clothing and the baby scrapbook for dd. She is 1. I don’t know that I would say I am a minimalist. But I do try to keep out any extra crap that would waste my time!
Dawn Michelle says
That’s amazing Kara! It is a really big deal to downsize craft supplies for artisans! It does take time. My journey continues yet I am so proud of the progress that I have made. I don’t think this journey is about extreme minimalism, yet more about knowing that the things you do have are important to you, have true use and meaning, are not taking up unnecessary time and space, and make you feel happy. Best wishes!
Naomi says
I’m so glad to have found your blog but also this post. I’ve only just started my journey to a minimalist lifestyle and this is one topic that I need to address. Your blog as a whole is very inspiring to me and I feel like I can keep on track until I downsize to only what I need.
Dawn Michelle says
Naomi, That’s awesome! I’m so glad to inspire and I’m happy that you are enjoying my blog. Best wishes with everything!
Preeti Pathak says
Great article Dawn Michelle! There aren’t enough artists writing about this topic…you’ve inspired me:) I too am a minimalist artist, and really resonated with all you said, especially the points about creating our own personal definition of minimalism (“not neutral/100 items”). I started my journey of minimalism in 2009 when I was hit with life circumstances that forced it. It changed my life. It also changed my art. I see materials and their possible uses so differently…just like you talk about with “creating clear focus.” Awesome blog!
Dawn Michelle says
Thanks so much Preeti. Minimalism definitely changes how you see life and everything in it.