The Art Biz ep. 10: Creative Organizing with Heather K. Powers

I used to teach an online class called Organize Your Art Biz. I quit teaching it when I realized that there’s no such thing as the right way to get organized.

My guest for this episode of the Art Biz Podcast, Heather K. Powers, figured it out long before I did. As the founder of Creatively Organized Spaces, Heather customizes solutions for organizing systems and storage for her creative clients.

Artist studio creatively organized by Heather K. Powers. Photo courtesy Heather K. Powers.

In this interview, Heather and I discuss:

  • The stereotype that artists are inherently disorganized.
  • Her philosophy for helping artists get organized.
  • The biggest pain point artists have when it comes to organizing.
Artist space transformed by Heather K. Powers. Photo courtesy Heather K. Powers.

Heather also shares a number of tips, including:

  • Know what you want before you start organizing.
  • Schedule time for organizing (3-4 hours at a time seems to be a sweet spot).
  • Make a plan before you go buy a lot of containers.
  • Create work zones.

LISTEN NOW

Music: Keep It Simple by Wildermiss.
Listen to or subscribe on iTunes
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Related

A Year of Cleaning with Daryl Johnson  (#49)

5 Simple Steps to an Organized Studio with Fiona Valentine (#38)

About My Guest

Heather is known as the creative organizer because two of her passions, organizing and design, collided when she launched her organizing business after a 15-year career as a textile designer. She says:

Curiosity and passion inspire me to find creative and customized solutions for organizing systems and storage. Form + function are the common threads woven throughout the process and I don’t believe that one must be sacrificed for the other.

Please visit her website to find out how she works with her clients in person and online and follow her on Instagram @Heather_K_Powers.

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13 thoughts on “The Art Biz ep. 10: Creative Organizing with Heather K. Powers”

  1. Thanks, Alyson. This is just what I need today.
    I feel like for me organization is a method of control – I use it to regain control when nothing is working, and if I have it I always feel like I’m in control and can deal with everything better.
    Definitely bookmarking this to re-listen when I need it.

    1. Hi Alyson,
      Your Organizing Your Art Biz was the BEST class! It went beyond just cleaning your studio… I learned techniques in digital file and image maintenence that I continue to use two years later. When I fall off the wagon, so to speak, I go back to my notes and get back on board. Thanks Alyson!

  2. There may be no right way to get organized, but your Organize Your Art Biz class helped me so much! I took it the first time when I was writing my doctoral dissertation, which took a lot of creative energy. The suggestions you made helped me immensely, and not because you prescribed certain things, but because you challenged us to think about organizational strategies in a way that worked for our creative goals. I took the class a second time a few years later because it was so motivational. I still use most everything that developed for me from that class. I just had to let you know that it was a wonderful class and not nearly as prescriptive as you might have thought or implied in your comment!

    1. Leslie: I’m so happy to hear this. Yes! I had lots of repeaters for that class. We “get” organized and then fall off the wagon. Nothing like a class you pay for to get you reorganized.

  3. I appreciate your sharing this information with us. My weakness is purging–I’m always thinking “Perhaps I can use that later.” It doesn’t have to be expensive, it’s just the idea that it is useful until it disintegrates into a fine powder (i.g. “Oh, wait, I can use that powder as texture in that picture!”) Lol! See it rarely ends for this creative mind. It’s a continuous battle between being resourceful and KISS (keeping it simple, sweetie) which has its’ rewards too.

  4. Thank you Alyson, I’ve created organized chaos in my studio. I’ve avoided dealing with it at all. I now feel I could tackle. And tame that monster and reclaim my space. Small chunks of time will be my implementation of my plan. The podcast was great!

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