Sharing a studio with kids
Do your kids love making art?
When our house had to undergo some renovations due to water damage, that included the studio space too. Now that we are back in, the kids keep asking when they can paint again. They share a painting wall with me (hint: it's a piece of plywood, so our walls are protected!) and we can all paint together on it at the same time. I love that I can share my creative process with my kids, and nurture a love of creativity with them. I like to build the studio with not only my process in mind, but including space for the boys too.
How can I possibly share a studio space with kids?
Well, to start, create your space with them in mind. For me, that meant a wall ‘easel’, which is just a plywood sheet painted my wall colour, and some screws for hanging my pieces while I work on them. Then I added screws at my kids height for their canvases as well. Painters tape works great for hanging paper for them to work on. The plywood protects the wall from flyaway paint, and allows me to have multiple canvases on the go.
Be ok with a mess.
Admit it, you’re not a tidy person 100% of the time. Ok, if you are, you are a special person and I commend you. But for most of us, a small amount of mess is probable whenever we get into a project, whether it’s making art, baking, plumbing, or even taxes. The plywood protects the wall, and a shower curtain protects my floor. I added an anti-fatigue mat as a cushion for all of us. You’ll see in some of these photos that I had my colour charts on the wall beside our shared painting area. Unfortunately, these got some added colours to them, thanks to my youngest, so they were moved up higher, and replaced with kraft paper taped up to protect the wall. Now that the kids’ art desires have grown, their supplies have too. Sorry, I don’t love sharing my nice brushes and professional paints with my kids, so they get their own. They now also have a little cart with all their supplies on it, which they are free to access whenever they want. (Painting supplies just need to be asked about first, for obvious reasons).
Painting with pets
My cat (and other cats we’ve had in the past) has always been interested in our creative process. Mostly, for this guy at least, I think it’s because he wants to be with us all the time. Yes, he even walks with us to the mail box or around the block. Unfortunately though, we have learned that whenever we set up for a project, he likes to be really close. Like ON the project. So tips to keep fur off your work: close the door, put the pet outside (if that’s an option), or work in dry medium. It seems that whenever my sketchbook is out, this guy wants my full attention. So usually I’ll give in, share some cuddles, and then set him in another cozy spot. Most of the time, it works, and then I don’t have to always be kicking him out of my space.
Work alongside your kids
One thing that I have found that allows me to be productive while with my kids, as well as get them into creative practice, is to create together. If it’s not working on the same project together, we at least like to work side by side. This means that they can stand and paint on their canvases while I’m working above them on the wall on mine. We have similar supplies out at the same time, which helps from their brushes wandering over to my paint (yes, I have a complex about sharing my supplies). I also have two desks which face each other in my studio. I can be working at one, and the boys can be working at the other. Lately, this looks like colouring with their new markers from Nana or sculpting play dough. (SO easy to make your own too!) Yes, I get interrupted once in a while, usually to make a carrot nose for their snowmen (these boys want some snow so badly…how do I tell them that even come winter, we aren’t going to see any snow in Florida), or “super long snakes, but not too long” haha. Those are interruptions I’ll take, since we are all getting time together, and I can feel productive in my work at the same time.
I encourage you to get creative with your kids. You don’t need to be an artist, or even have messy supplies. Sit and colour with them with crayons. Get on the ground and sidewalk chalk with them. Get creative with what you can build with play dough. Or pull out aprons and paints. Do it outside if you want to protect your house. My friend just uses a simple pencil and paper and has monster drawing contests with his nephews. You’ll feel the sense of joy that they are feeling, some bonding time, imagination growth and have a great time connecting with your inner child too.
