What if I can’t afford a studio space?

I often give aspiring artist the advice to get a studio space with peers, to help boost your creative skills and work ethic. But an office in town is pricey and what if you live in a place where there aren’t really any studios that fit the bill?

Sitting in a room full of people working, is a great way to ensure you get some work done too. And an inspiring work environment with people who are better than you, will certainly make you up your game!

Investing in a studio space is actually an investment in your skills and your productivity, not to mention the network of other artist who may become your job entry. I personally think going all in on a studio space I couldn’t afford at the time absolutely made my career. And remember: it’s tax deductable!

If a studio is still out of reach, see if you can’t find some peers to connect with online. Commiting to post a certain number of pages each week or check in every Friday with a report of your progress and next week’s goals, can easily make up for lack of an actual studio spot. Hold each other accountable and try to be constructive in your critiques.

An online peer group should not be too big or to ambitous in terms of tech solutions. A Facebook group or a Skype call should suffice. Find just a handful of talented and dedicated peers with a common interest and start from there.

A lot of creators make good use of coffee shops or the local library for working, especially in the writing phase. But you can also do rough sketches or character designs in a cafe or the like. For some, the noisy public space is where they do their best work. And experts will tell you, that changing location is a proven way to kick your creative brain into gear.

Hope these few tips to beat the procrastination and gain some momentum without the actual studio space. But if you CAN get a spot, even just for a week or a month, give it a try and see if it doesn’t boost morale and skills tremendously. I know it did for me!

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