How to Plan a Home Art Gallery and Workplace
PLANNING A HOME GALLERY AND WORKPLACE NEED NOT BE A DAUNTING EXPERIENCE. THE FOLLOWING STEPS WILL HELP YOU TO DECIDE, DESIGN AND BUILD A GREAT PLACE FOR YOUR ART WORK AND A PLACE TO WORK.
Things You Will Need
The most important thing you will need is the place for the gallery and a list of needed materials to make it what you desire. An existing room, a summer house, or even a section of the garage are excellent places to showcase your work. Creating this gallery can over time be added to and revised so the space available can be maximized. As you work on the project new ideas will come to you, and some of your original ones may seem out of place as you see your project nearing a completion.
Tools Needed: Paint trays and rollers and some various size brushes. A foam brush is easy to cut in corners and edges near wood trim.
Measuring tape to make sure the area will fit the plan you draw up.
Arrange large items first to see if they work out before finalizing the colors and places of things that won't get moved often.
Step 1
The best example for this project is what I am doing to make my gallery-workplace.
The garage was my least used area that wouldn't take away living space in the home. Putting up new sheetrock was a necessity. You may have a room that just needs a paint job for a facelift.
I chose one corner to start, knowing the workbench would fit there easily, and I could have natural light to the area during the time of year the large door can be opened.
The paint I chose is a warm mellow gold color, since we have pale gray sand here on the desert. If you live in a wooded area or seaside, then lighter and cool colors will make a good choice. That decision is up to you, and the type of art you plan to show off
Step 2
If you decide you need more space than the floor plan will allow, plan to go up. Storage cabinets, or shelving will solve a lot of space requirements.
Remember to allow enough work and display space. For my purposes, I need a tall storage cabinet. The cabinet we will build with salvaged shutters, tall enough to make the doors the size I need, and add ventilation to the cabinet. The base of the cabinet will be made from 1x4 inch lumber.
Ultimately it will hold spray cans, bottles of paint, brushes, beads, shells and broken antique glass for my projects.
The work bench is purchased and has drawers and shelves for other large items and tools.
Lighting will be added over the work area, with some natural light from windows and overhead lamps. This garage gallery is minimal and made for my pleasure of working and a place to show what I have done. I chose a painting that matches the wall color to get started, since I don't paint. The wall area extends about 6 ft. along one wall where the cabinet will be built, and leave room to display. The project is being done in spare time with as little out of pocket cost as possible.
Watching for sales and deals on salvage materials will greatly impact the over all cost. Leaving cash for some extras you might want at completion, such as comfortable floor mats or added art supplies.
Deciding to make your own gallery is fun and you can feel like a pro in the end. It doesn't take an expert to do most of what I described. If you need help with major items like lighting and wall prep then ask around and see who can be enlisted.
I needed help with the sheetrock, and a painter for high areas. But the general plan can be done even if you have to purchase the other items, like shelves and cabinets, or a work table. Enjoy the process and your new gallery.
Tips & Warnings
Install heat or air conditioning first so the overall plan isn't compromised, and you loose a piece of wall to the air conditioner or heater.
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