Originally published July 12, 2019 / Updated October 21, 2022 / Updated October 26, 2025
People ask in Facebook groups for advice on organizing their art studio. In this post, I explain how I organize my workspace.
Tips & Tools for organizing your art studio
In my art studio, I have a tool chest to organize my paints and tools. It also serves as a workbench. I regularly stand paintings on the top of it, leaning against the wall as I work.
Storing Encaustic Paints
I bought these Wooden Cubby boxes on Amazon. They are nice for holding encaustic paints. At first, I hung them from my grid with S-hooks, but I found that if the cubes were too full, the paints could fall out. Now they are in the top drawer of my tool chest.
Drawer Insert Organizers:
I organized the drawers of my tool chest with plastic drawer organizers that snap together. I use these for scraping tools, pigment sticks, brushes, and encaustic paints.
Metal Grid:
Above my work table is a metal grid affixed to the wall. I used a wire cube set that I was about to donate to a charity shop. S-hooks and magnets are used to hang things from the grid. Magnets can hold inspirational quotes and works on paper, and S-hooks hang tools.
Pegboard Hooks:
Some of my brushes hang on a pegboard multi-hook, others are in a drawer of my tool chest.
Magnetic Knife Strips:
Encaustic paints in tins can be hung vertically on magnetic knife strips. Don’t leave the brush in the wax as it cools. It takes longer to melt encaustic paints with a brush in the tin. Metal tools can also hang on the knife strips. Encaustic paint tins also fit in the drawers of the tool chest.
Bike Water Bottle Holder:
Attaching a water bottle holder to the side of my table provides a stable, handy place to put my torch when not in use. I store it away at the end of the day in a fire-safe cabinet.
Power Strip with separate switches:
I have a PowerBar with individual switches. I like to be able to selectively turn on power just to the tools that are in use. Labels help me know which tool I’m turning on.
Clamp for Power Strip:
I really didn’t need this clamp mount for my power strip, but it does hold my electrical power bar securely on the edge of my table at a nice angle.
Label Maker:
I used a label maker to label the drawers of the tool chest and the power strip. Now it is fast and easy to find everything I need. Masking tape labels work fine, too.
Tool Caddy:
Old tea tins in wooden toolboxes make a perfect tool caddy. I use these for mark-making tools and paint brushes (not used for wax). I can pick up a caddy and easily move all my tools to wherever I’m working in the studio.
Rolling Metal Cart:
I also picked up one of the ubiquitous 3-tier metal rolling carts that no art studio is complete without. At the moment, it’s home to my R&F encaustic gesso, Kama Aqua Dispersion Pigments and other encaustic underpainting materials
Paper Station:
I have a separate area for working with paper. This is a no-wax zone so I always have a clean cutting surface. I have a large self-healing cutting pad on a table and a paper slicer. I store collage materials in plastic project boxes sorted by colour.
Binders:
I’ve previously talked about using binders and binder sheets for organizing dried flowers for collage. They work well to store stencils too.
Panel Storage:
I have dowel panel stands to hold panels. These fit underneath my tables and hold the panels up off the cement floor. Larger panels slide in under the basement stairs.
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How do you organize your art studio?
I’m sure there is always room for improvement. Please add a comment below to share your best tips for organizing your art studio supplies and tools.
I’ve seen both pastel and encaustic artists organize their colors like you do: all shades of one color together. How do you keep track of what to reorder when you run out? Do you mark each on a labeled color chart before unwrapping?
I keep the wrapper loose with the encaustic paint in the cubby.
OH, Ruth……Ruth, Ruth, Ruth….
If there was an art supply “organizer” in all the world, who could get me to “organize” my lil’ studio?…….I would pay them – –
well, $100, hahahaha! Cuz that’s all I can afford from my art sales right now. (sigh)
But seriously – – you could take videos of my “Michaels-on-steroids” studio, and use it for your ads! (ie. think, hoarding shows…)
Call me – seriously – call me!
Oh, and did I mention that, besides the oils, and acrylics, and collage etc. I do, I love doing encaustics, but have nowhere to do them except for my kitchen counter with the ceiling fan on high, and the slider WIDE open….not happening in the winter here with heating gas as high as it is….jus sayin.
AAAUGH! Would you consider doing a feature on ART STUDIO ORGANIZAION EXPERTS?
Big hug for your story, Cat Insley
😉
Hello Ruth Maude,
Your organization is an inspiration. Thanks for sharing. Who is the manufacturer of your venting system? It looks like you had to make a hole in the wall for installation.
Thanks! I am strategically pointing the camera in a direction that shows great organization. I have more work to do.
The ventilation is Vent-A-Fume
Hi Ruth,
I notice you have your hot box separate from your vent a fume. I have a vent a fume next to my palettes as you have. Do you move the hot box near the vent a fume when using it? is it ok to leave it where it is and work from it?
Hanks in advance/
Marcia Miele Branca
Hi Marcia,
You are using it correctly. I will turn my vent-a-fume when I’m using the hotbox. This is the advantage of a portable venting system
If you’re still looking for a panel storage solution, I bought a couple of “map/poster” cabinets at an auction a couple of years ago. I put them on their side, on top of one another and store my panels/canvases in one and my frames in another (I buy vintage frames for most of my paintings). I kept the shelves in to divide the different sizes, and removed the doors so that I can store a variety of widths and it keeps everything neat and tidy.
I’d love to see a photo of that!
Mariane, I’d love to see a photo of your map/poster cabinet storage!
if you’re doing an encaustic on canvas, can you roll that painting for storage or will the wax start cracking?
If you are using beeswax then canvas isn’t recommended unless it is stretched first over a hard substrate. If you are using microcrystalline, then you may be able to as I believe Tony Scherman does http://www.tonyscherman.com/
I like the idea of utilizing a metal grid with S-hooks to organize your paints. Earlier this year, I started taking freelance painting work. Since it used to be a simple hobby, I don’t have a very good system of organization. I think I am going to invest in some good portable and home office storage solutions so I can keep my art supplies organized.
Ruth (or anyone else), I would love to see photos of your studio. I have an empty room to use and a low budget:)
Hi Deb I updated the post with a picture.
I am using old wooden bottle crates 12-24 “squares” hanging on the wall next to my hot box that holds all of my encaustic paint blocks and circles. I organized them by color… they are perfect cubbies but now I have so many I need to find another one. I find them in flee markets and antique malls! I also like to use old baskets that I label and keep on shelves. I like the grid idea!!!
Thanks for adding this Tracy. I’m all about reusing old things whenever possible.