photography

Built, Not Bought: A Vintage Hanger Turned Studio Tool

Art workshops, Artist, ArtTravel, illustration

17 years of art experience and a pile of degrees, yet here I am at London Art College, sitting like a total freshman. (Honestly, that’s a ready-made punchline.)

It’s a generational engineering trauma: my family is physically incapable of simply buying a ready-made product. Fellow cheapskate artists will appreciate this 10/10.

Welcome to my mini-series, where I’m transforming a heavy oak hanger into a custom studio storyboard panel. Armed with an engineering degree, an illustrator’s eye, and a few everyday items, I’m building a creative workspace from scratch—one detail, texture, and sketch at a time.

Skipping boring, ready-made store options to flex my own designer storyboard…

So, it’s an old coat rack instead of the big online retail giants, turned into a storyboard that works like a puppet theater where you can slide frames up and down.

Creating StoryBoard Panel

I was not sure how to name this old-fashioned hanger, forgotten part of previous owners of my apartment. Maybe the Brief Hanger? Or the Draft Board? Finally the name was chosen as StoryBoard Panel because I am going to create new stories about my friends, characters and maybe animals…

Welcome – StoryBoard Panel

And to wrap it up: who’s with me on this crazy ride? Who else feels that urgent, genetic need to look at a piece of useless junk laying around the house and think: “Yeah, I can definitely build something out of that”? What about you?

Well, I do have a Vintage coat rack / Wooden base. Then what do I need else?

Handwritten list of art supplies and a sketch of a vintage coat rack with notes about placement of wine corks, sketchbooks, magnets, and wooden pegs
My plan

Spiral sketchbook: This is where the magic (and the chaos) starts before I tear it apart.

Structural engineering, but make it wine.

Three wine corks on a textured fabric surface with the word Diamante printed on two of them

3-color sketchbook & black paper: For when regular white paper is just too mainstream and boring.

Fluorescent paints: To make my ideas literally glow in the dark and pop off the page.

Wooden pegs: My tiny wooden assistants doing the heavy lifting of holding the story together.

A clear container filled with small wooden clothespins on a textured fabric surface with two larger clothespins beside it

Linen strings: The tightropes my characters walk on while I figure out the plot twist.

Super magnets: For snaps, rapid changes, and maximum satisfying clicks.

Transparent elements:** Now you see it, now you don’t—pure layout wizardry.

The real joke: Designer storyboard

Picture a professional designer with fancy degrees hanging out in a store, aggressively clicking tiny magnets together to test their power. Right after that, I was stress-testing a roll of linen string to see if it would survive being wrapped around an old coat rack, while the staff slowly backed away.

What about you, fellow artists and illustrators? What do you use to keep your storyboards and ideas organized? Share your favorite studio hacks below!

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

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Golden hour magic and wildlife art imagination. Watercolor Clausura technique.

Art workshops, Artist, ArtTravel

For my artist colleagues. Workshops. Holidays spirit for creative community.


Feeling stuck? Try a 2-brush, 2-paint challenge! You might surprise yourself with the beauty you uncover. and please share your creations!

Let’s continue to learn about clausura: where creativity meets tradition

Clausura: A History of Creativity.  In the 16th century, the first academies of architecture and art in Europe set the groundwork for student evaluations. They assessed true knowledge and skills in a rather unusual way.

At the end of the semester, students entered separate rooms where they were locked up. This process, known as clausura, tested their creativity and abilities in drawing, painting, and sculpture. This system led to the creation of graphic images and layouts known as clauses. These clauses became the visual representation of a student’s creativity and talents. Today, clausura legacy continues through practical assessments. It also persists in creative evaluations in art and architecture schools globally.

Before and after images of a watercolor painting showcasing vibrant colors and palm trees, with the words 'Before' and 'After' labeled.
Before and After. Wildlife, sunset and palms.
Transformation of a watercolor painting, showcasing the evolution from ‘Before’ to ‘After’ with vibrant colors and artistic techniques.

Let your imagination run wild! What creatures do you see in this piece? Tell me in the comments:)

This is what I see: Golden hour magic. Two cheeky monkeys are totally captivated by the evening twilight! Painted with watercolor and the *clausura* technique, this piece captures the serenity and vibrancy of the sunset. What’s your favorite part of the day? What’s your favorite thing about sunsets? Mine is definitely the way they paint the sky! This palm tree art perfectly captures that feeling.

This painting just *happened*. It is a spontaneous explosion of color and emotion. The artwork captures more than just a scene. It conveys the pure, awe-inspiring feeling of being there.

Bringing the wild to life, one brushstroke at a time. The process of creating this piece is truly inspiring me.

The clausura history highlights how important practical assessments are. Hands-on evaluations are crucial to accurately gauge a student’s skills and abilities.

The next time you see a stunning painting, remember that it might be the result of a tradition. A breathtaking sculpture or an awe-inspiring building might also have origins in tradition. This tradition dates back to the 16th century.

A vibrant watercolor painting featuring a sunset scene with palm trees, displayed in a modern interior setting.
Relaxing place in a home with sunset and wildlife painting

Thank you for reading the post. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. These actions will bring you more captivating content about the history of art and architecture.

#watercolorpainting #sunset #monkeys #wildlifeart #clausura #watercolor #painting #goldenhour #animalart #artisticclausura #painting #art #instaart #risovatmogutvse

The magic of the holidays is in the making! ✨ Join me on this artistic adventure as I explore the captivating world of #TravelVibes #ArtAdventure

All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.

You are welcome to visit my personal website pages. There, you can find out more about the artwork I am offering in oil and watercolor paintings. You can buy canvas prints, framed prints, and more artwork.

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Thank you for your response. ✨