Do you need a big studio to be successful as an artist?

How much do you need to be successful as an artist? Do you need that big fancy studio? What about that mega gallery for representation? How big should an artist studio be?

To start this story out, we need a little history. This past year I've been dealing with pain in my middle back. It hasn't been getting any better, so my general doctor recommended a physical therapist to help me. 

So I contacted his office and, the physical therapist answered the phone. Not a receptionist or an assistant, but for him. I thought maybe everyone was at lunch, and he was the only one in the office. 

I found his office in a professional building on the edge of suburbia. And upon entering, I found a few other professionals that also shared the building with him. I asked them where his office was. They pointed to a side office.

He must have heard us talking outside his door and, he came out to greet me. I was early and, he was currently with another patient at the time.

He then directed me into a small waiting room which consisted of 2 chairs and a wall display of a local artist selling jewelry.  

When it was my turn, he brought me into his office/therapy room/billing office all in one. The entire setting would easily fit into one of my art studios. And for the most part, my studio areas are not sizable.

It was amazing what he could do with a small-scale therapy office.  ( I need to get my art studio more organized and become more effective)

His office wasn't part of a mega-corporate network.  (Or for the visual artist, the gallery representation)

I found him entirely by word of mouth and not from advertising or other media means. He didn't accept health insurance cards and lowered his billing accordingly. And it was very affordable. (Generally, art galleries need to take 50% of the sale to keep afloat)

We hit it off right away. The therapist first listened to me describing my injury history, from there, he started asking questions. He then asked is what are my goals to achieve from this visit.

Most would say they want the injury to go away. But I also said I wanted to do yoga again and hopefully back into strength training. From that, he learned more about me.

Or for the visual artist, the audience background, hobbies. Knowing your targeted audience will influence your choice about; 

• content
• emphasis 
• system 
• design 
• aspect in social media
• building your website

He didn't have to jump through all the hoops that corporate medical settings like to do and looking for more ways to generate income. He was not trying to sell unneeded additional services and just focused on fixing me. 

After a brief physical therapy session on the table, he gave me some sound advice to get me healed up. He didn't have an assistant to help him, so he set up an appointment through his web platform if I needed one for the future.  (Or for the artist your website or social media account) 

Fortunately, I didn't need the next appointment. And I canceled it using direct messaging on the Physical therapist web platform. (No need to call the office listening to bad elevator music and waste each other precious time)

Because after dealing with this injury for a year working with doctors, the therapist got me healed. And I'm back to doing yoga. 

(Success from a small office environment or possibly your small studio area)

I would highly recommend this physical therapist to other folks. I want to write a review for him and his small business. 

Do you need a large studio as an artist?

The dream of having a large studio is most artist's vision. But I found you don't need a large area to create. Not unless your style of creating requires it.

A small studio does force you to be more organized. Tools need to be put away in drawers. Maybe limit to producing one to two pieces of art at a time.

For me, the issue is more generally the storage of finished artwork. 

A question I pose for you "do you need a large studio to be successful? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Kevin