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I used to think that if my creative area was tidy, that it would free me up to be more efficient and eventually produce more art.  It’s true that creating art does take space and for painting larger paintings, I appreciate having a large clear space.  But there are times that the mess feels more comfortable.  I’ve also noticed that if I’m struggling to come up with a unique and dynamic design for my paintings having interesting things out and about my studio can sometimes help.  Am I fooling myself?  Do I need a crash course in KonMari Cleaning or am I on to something?

After reading Kathleen Vohs study (University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management) I learned that a cluttered area can help increase creativity AND efficiency!  I couldn’t believe it!  Was this actually true?

 Vohs says: “Being in a messy room led to something that firms, industries and societies want more of: Creativity.  Disorderly environments seem to inspire breaking free of tradition, which can produce fresh insights.  Orderly environments, in contrast, encourage convention and playing it safe.”

As an artist I need more fresh insight.  This kind of creativity can give my art that extra pop– just what it needs.  Can I reject the societal pressure to minimalistic straight-laced order and embrace my own style of unstructured, chaotic order?   

After thinking about it for a while, I figured that even when it looks messy, there are some forms of organization that do appear.  For example, I store all of my colored pencils, PITT pens, Charcoal sets, and watercolor crayons in one drawer.  The contents of the drawer are messy but still my favorite pencils are at the top of the drawer.  I know where to find them when I need them.

Another way I do this is to stack my paintings in a certain order, using giant sheets of cardboard or foam core to separate them.  I keep them in groups of 10 – one bunch is waiting to be framed, another group in near completion but I am holding them for a short period of time to see if they truly are “ready” – I may do just a little bit more work on them.  Another bunch of paintings are partially completed and need a very large dose of TLC before I can go any further.   This is my messy way of organizing.

Contrary to the popular minimalism ideals, embracing the mess can help the creative person’s mind come up with new ideas and increase creativity.  Seeing items out of place, books piled around, art supplies sitting at the ready – it’s all so inviting to me.  I’m comfortable and I love it.  Although I still believe each person has their own level of mess which they can tolerate – the perfect place of inspiration for them. 

Have you found your perfect level of organizational balance?  I’d love it if you share with me.

APS Article: https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/tidy-desk-or-messy-desk-each-has-its-benefits.html#.WWJ_j9PyuWY