Last summer I started what I have been calling “Operation Basement and Studio Clean Out.” All of this started because I was chatting with a friend about local studio spaces and how for much of my life having a studio outside of my house was a “life goal.” The art association I belong to started to rent out spaces in their basement and the cost wasn’t cheap but was affordable.

I took a look at the studio space at the art association and it was smaller than my home studio. It was however, totally ready to use and empty of all stuff.

I came home and immediately started to clean out my basement and art studio. Through COVID and WFH the studio AND basement in general had become a dumping ground for all manner of art supplies, tools, and stuff we didn’t know what to do with.

This summer I made a HUGE dent in the shear amount of crap. I bought storage totes and waterproof bins. I organized and I made the studio into a useable space, mostly again. The rest of the basement still needs more work. I still have to get rid of all those beer and wine brewing supplies. But again, more totes, more bins. Tools are in one location (mostly) and I’ve got some tool boxes to help me further organize them.

I removed many many bags of trash and recycling. I painfully witnessed why you’ve got to use those art supplies- I had so much paper that was moisture damaged and supplies that had dried out and been ruined through disuse.

I’m at the point where I need a few more bins and I need to do some more labeling. The work bench needs to be cleared. But the studio is almost ready for new lighting to be installed and for me to start the office clean out.

This post brough to you by the fact that I renewed my cleanout effort because I have been looking for a small plastic clamshell box that contains my dry point and etching tools. I cannot find it. I know it was on the work bench while I was first starting the organizing. I know I moved it. I know I thought, “Hey this should go with the printmaking supplies.” I have since looked in all the bins of printmaking supplies. It’s not there. I have looked in ALL of the bins. It’s not there. I even went so far as to look in my supplies at work.

It’s not there either.

I have looked on my desk in my office. Not there.

I have no idea where this small plastic container full of my collection of etching needles, scribes, and various other printing tools might be. I am lamenting my loss and considering purchasing some replacement tools.

I suspect that the moment the replacements arrive on my doorstep the little clamshell container with my collection of tolls will make an appearance.