Creativity at home: Distance learning tips for art/design students

As COVID-19 disrupts life as we know it, faculty and students around the world are settling into the new, sudden routine of distance learning and virtual communication.

Art and design students face additional challenges because the studio environment is a huge part of the "art school experience."

At its core, Herron's culture and creative community is defined by shared studio spaces, frank feedback, critiques, and more. We think about and make work as both peers and collaborators. We solve problems while building relationships. We take coffee breaks together. We motivate each other to do our level best.

Our charge while remote is to band together virtually (and possibly asynchronously) while staying safe at home.

So, whether you're a first-year or graduating student, here are some crowdsourced tips (and resources) from faculty and staff to help your transition and inspire the remainder of your spring 2020 semester. You can do this!

Prepare your off-site work space.

"The modest space I call my 'clean studio' is currently situated in an almost finished walk-out basement in our new house. It is nothing more than a desk and a chair. I bring in a lamp when needed, but this room has great daylight for a basement and it made a good choice for a temporary, clean studio." —Cory Robinson, professor in furniture design

"When working on paintings, lighting is important, and using portable lights will help. The rest will depend on the space and the size of the canvases." —Anita Giddings, senior lecturer of elective arts and foundation studies

"Gather up the tools and materials you have at hand and think about the kind of space you're going to need to use them. You'll want a work surface and a good light source. That could be a window, a clip light, or just a lamp. Figure out what you have and make it work for you." —Katie Hudnall, associate professor of furniture design

"Have a place you go specifically to work. It could be a certain table, chair, or room—some place that's consistently your 'work space.' It will help you get into the right frame of mind. Then, set a schedule for 'work time' so you're not distracted by housework or other things in your space (i.e. video games, Netflix, etc.)." —Pamela Napier, associate professor of visual communication design

Adapt your art/design practice.

"This time of social distancing is a great opportunity to focus on the conceptual legwork of your art practice. Explore options by creating miniatures and making multiples. Tailor your art practice so that it benefits your new setting. Make the work you can make, not the work you wish you could make. Designate a portion of your space as your new studio—be it a desk, a dinner table, or the corner of your bedroom. Being able to leave your project out is a great reminder of the work that needs to get done." —Gustavo Ayala, gallery assistant

"Keep projects small in scale, so lack of space doesn't become an issue. Eventually you will run into clutter sprawl. In limited space, clutter containment is essential. With our newfound home confinement, it's time to dig into our supplies and see what we can put to use. Get outside, too. You can find lots of stuff out there, but wash your hands thoroughly afterwards." —Ray Duffey, director of safety curriculum and shop manager

"This is a very unique time away from school and from the studio as we knew it. I hope you can envision a new way of working with flexibility at its core. As an artist, I am using this time to pivot away from making objects to focus on making images. I think all artist have ways of blending their practices and my image-making started as a way to realize new forms for the sculpture and furniture objects I create. The outcome was a new series of images started in 2019, which have also become a staple for my studio practice. I have called this new work the 'CODEX' series. It uses visual symbols and formal color studies as the foundation for a visual language." —Cory Robinson, professor in furniture design

"Many artists' studios are in garages or basements. Try your best to safely improvise. When the weather is nice, move your work outside. Fresh air is great not only for ventilation but also for your state of mind." —William Potter, associate professor of foundation studies

"You can make models out of all kinds of sheet goods! If you're not able to work in wood, gather paper, mat board, and cardboard. Use a cutting mat or old cutting board, mat knives, box cutters, X-ACTO knives, scissors, and every kind of glue and tape you can think of. Wire, string, cardboard, the backs of sketchbooks, toothpick, foam board – be creative! Save cereal boxes and other thin cardboard boxes that you would normally recycle. Flatten them and turn them into materials. Bass and balsa wood are both very soft and can be cut with a regular knife. Look online for kits and various sizes. You are all magical unicorns. And you can continue to explore what you've been exploring in the wood shop in smaller ways." —Katie Hudnall, associate professor of furniture design

"The power of creativity is unleashed when it meets up with a novel situation, and we certainly have one now. This is a time to be creative—physically, emotionally, and intellectually. And this is a time to be creative together." —Megan Van Meter, visiting assistant professor of art therapy

Be aware of studio hazards.

"Read the safety labels of all the materials that you use. Ventilation is important, which is why most of the Herron studios have a ventilation system installed. I paint either in acrylic or encaustic, and when I work with encaustic materials, I have a fan that I use to direct any fumes away from me. Store used solvents and solvent-soaked rags in an air-tight container. You can purchase a metal paint can with a sealable lid at a local hardware store." —William Potter, associate professor of foundation studies

"Make sure you have good ventilation. Keep any dirty solvent in a separate container outside of your living space, such as a garage, porch, or patio. Dirty solvent can be disposed of at a ToxDrop location in Marion County." —Anita Giddings, senior lecturer of elective arts and foundation studies

"It is difficult not to ruin a tabletop making art, so cover it with paper/cardboard, cloth or plastic if you want to protect it. Don't use solvent based paints or finishes in your temporary set-up. Spray paint outside only. Using water-based paints and finishes requires only water and soap for clean-up. And your empty containers can be disposed of with the rest of your garbage." —Ray Duffey, director of safety curriculum and shop manager

"One important thing to remember is to be careful with your materials around pets and young children. It seems that puppies and children like to chew on paint tubes—and anything else they put their hands on." —Doug Daniel, adjunct instructor of elective arts

Connect virtually and frequently.

"Focus on just getting started rather than trying to learn everything all at once. Rather than trying to master all of the online resources that are being made available, find your way through the first class and then through the first week. Small steps are fine if it helps us connect. After that, we can build on those initial experiences and small but important triumphs." —Greg Hull, interim dean and professor of sculpture

"My goal is to use the positive aspects of correspondence (self-motivation, writing effectively, creating high-quality digital images) rather than try to force a low-quality version of the classroom experience (buggy video-conferencing, holding images up to a webcam, etc.). Let's use distance for what it's good for, rather than treat it as an obstacle." —Lowell Isaac, visiting lecturer of drawing and illustration

"When videoconferencing, blend in academic and social topics. I'm currently teaching an online version of the 'Design Methods for Ideation' course. Our class had a Zoom call a couple weeks ago to discuss concepts, projects, careers, and practical applications. We'll do another Zoom session after the extended spring break for students to get to know each other better. (With a few exceptions, the students have never seen each other in person.) In a Canvas discussion thread, we're building a list of our favorite software for design work. We also recently started using Slack with a partner university to share feedback and suggestions for each other's projects. These tools will help our students thrive in professional roles." —Bryan Richards, adjunct instructor of visual communication design

Stay motivated, be positive.

"The first step, obviously, is to have a mini, awkward dance party. I recommend including your whole family (and pets if you have them). I highly recommend 'Go Where the Love Is' by Edie Brickell and the Gaddabouts. Also, I sing this song to myself pretty much every day. It really helps." —Katie Hudnall, associate professor of furniture design

"Sometimes it can be lonely working in your studio. I listen to live music recordings (there's something about nice about hearing an audience when you are working alone in the studio) and binge watch/listen to Gorky's Granddaughter, a documentary vlog project of studio visits and artist interviews (the added benefit is that you get to see how many different artists set up their studio space)." —William Potter, associate professor of foundation studies

"Two personal productivity tips I like to follow are to make your bed and to change into regular clothes each morning. Get organized by creating a long-term objectives list and a weekly workflow with deadlines. Think about what you can accomplish now that will help you in your next phase. Also, The Art Assignment on YouTube, hosted and created by Sarah Urist Green, is a solid resource for prompts, interviews, and video essays that contextualize art historical movements." —Gustavo Ayala, gallery assistant

"An article titled 'Why We Make Art' from Greater Good Magazine reminds me why I make art and why I became an art therapist in the first place. It shows how art is made for many reasons and purposes that extend beyond product, specifically: giving power to others, expressing emotions, the fun of making things, freedom of personal definition, creating an environment of empathy, the experience of being beyond space and time, and the inner compulsion to create." —Heather Leigh, associate professor of art therapy

Reset your body and mind.

"Take breaks! Check out Aaptiv, an app with quick audio-based fitness workouts to get you up and stretching if you have to be on the computer for long periods of time. You can receive a 50% discount on a subscription as a student." —Pamela Napier, associate professor of visual communication design

"Take time to reflect, sketch, read, and consume some culture. Kanopy is a great resource. Just plug in your student IU login and you can watch at least 10 films per month for free. I believe knowledge of cinema is important for any artist. Films can teach you about storytelling, the power of images, and the ability to transport a viewer to different worlds. I consider the following five films required viewing for any art student: 'Stalker' (1979), 'Ikiru' (1952), 'Eraserhead' (1977), 'The Brood' (1979), and 'M' (1931)." —Lowell Isaac, visiting lecturer of drawing and illustration

"Get up and out of the house for brief outings on your bike or on foot. Take some pictures that visually intrigue you and look at them for visual inspiration. Take a break from your homework and play with your materials with fun little projects that are only for yourself. For book artists, make some miniature books with easy, quick structures using your favorite papers and threads – just for the heck of it." —Karen Baldner, adjunct instructor of printmaking

"Prioritizing your physical, mental, and emotional health will benefit your creative projects. As you develop a work-from-home routine, manage your mood and stress levels through simple acts of self-care, such as reading a book, doodling in your sketchbook, FaceTiming with a friend, and taking naps. Remember to rest your brain and eat well (comfort meals, anyone?)." —Whitney Yoerger, external affairs and content specialist