New Oregon Home New Studio in Process

[Chris Saper]

Hi ReNae,

I've moved your topic to the Studio & Equipment area, where it will hopefully get attention.

[ReNae Stueve]

Thanks Cris

[Steven Sweeney]

Congratulations on getting to "the fun part."

Though I have a couple of taboret wannabes, small particle-board cabinets on casters that I think I found at Target, I tend to use them "merely" for storage, for which a wall-mounted cabinet would have served as well. Because I don't have the need for mobility -- not moving from one drawing space to another -- I'm tending to prefer larger, fixed tables for not only the brushes, solvents, paint tubes and such, but for the palette itself. I began to have problems with nerve damage in my palette-clenching hand and with muscle stiffness in my shoulder after the isometric hours' worth of holding the position, so for the most part I went to a glass palette on a natural wood architect's table (also from Target, I think), which is sometimes placed next to me and sometimes between me and the easel (a la, say, Scott Christensen's set-up -- without his results, unfortunately.)

I also found that the small area of the taboret top lent itself to things always residing there precariously.

Of course, if you need to clear your stuff out of that room from time to time, then mobility is back in play.

If you want a showcase model stand, then, sure, Pergo or the like would be attractive. But you can probably find a very nice neutral-color carpet remnant for less, and you wouldn't get the glare of light reflecting back up onto the model. Casters (lockable) on the model stand would probably be very useful.

Just musings -- we all come up with the designs that best suit us.

[Debra Norton]

I use an old hospital tray table my husband customized for me. I don't have a photo handy, but if you'd like I can take one and post it. The top is 40 x 20 with ledges around it. It has two shelves underneath that hold all my stuff. It works great for school since I can roll it around to the figure room or where ever I happen to be painting. Unfortunately it belongs to the school and I am going to have to replace it when I leave. I have a similar cart at my home studio, also customized by my husband, made from a printer cart. And I have another cart in my husband's workshop that will someday become or trade places with the cart I use at school - it is now doing duty in my husband's woodshop, holding parts for several still life stands. He seems to like it, I hope he doesn't "forget" why I bought it!