Creative Savers Can Get Overwhelmed In Their Mixed Media Art Studios Which Can Be Packed With Artsy Treasures Waiting To Be Re-Purposed Or Used As Art Tools

Downsizing Your Art Studio

I'm about to "downsize" my art studio which has become packed with really fabulous STUFF but is starting to cramp my style. I just know that so many of you who are reading this post understand the mind of the creative saver. I can remember thinking about the concept of re-purposing useful items way before the phrase got catchy. Let's be honest, it is hard for some of us to simply let go of potential art and craft treasures. We look at the world differently that other people. I can fondly remember strolling through Provincetown and seeing broken ceramic tiles being used as the ground cover in a trendly grocery store. I picked up a handful of these very interesting tileswith textured backs to stamp or print with in my Mixed Media work. Who am I kidding. I know that after I thin our some of my collections of artsy treasures, I will just replace them with new ones!  Feel free to comment on this post and share our experiences.

Visit my art website  http://www.cdiannezweig.com/     

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Decorating Your Art Studio With Mid Century Collectibles And Furnishings

Organizing Your Art Studio With  A Mid Century Theme

My art studio at The Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT  reflects the Mid Century themes which inspire my Mixed Media abstract  collages and paintings. I like to surround myself with objects from the 1950s which carry through the design elements that I integrate into my work (hopefully).

Hunting For Collectibles For Your Art Studio

I hunt for collectibles in all the wrong (and right places).  I have my favorite Antique Malls and Junk shops that I periodically visit as well as snooping around Craigslist and other online sources.








Finding Bargains For Your Art Studio

The best place to find bargains is in a place that doesn't care to be sellling what you are looking for. For example, let's say a shop specializes in Victorian antiques but dabbles in a few other odds and ends. This might just be the place that you  actually find a quirky piece of pottery or decorative item  (which is out of place with the other itmes for sale)  but is just what you want and is not priced too high.

Look For Furnishings And Decor In Unexpected Places

Now it isn't always the case, but when a dealer comes across vintage items that they are not fond of or well versed on, they generally are happy to unload those items quicker. So you may actually do better finding what you are looking for in unexpected or even odd places. Some of my best finds arrived  this way.

The dealers who mostly carries collectibles with a Country kitchen theme may just have a funky vase  mixed in among the baskets. A collectibles dealer in Vermont who like Primitives is probably going to part with an Atomic era lamp for a better price  than the Mid Century dealer who has a shop in New York City.

There are no hard and fast rules here, but be open to finding what you are looking for all kinds of places and travel off the beaten path for real bargains.

Reader Input: Tell us what you have found in an unexpected place?  I  welcome your comments and feedback.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists