Artist Tips Archives - Painting In Watercolor

Learn the best way to document your paintings to preserve and showcase your artwork… even if you’ve never documented your paintings before!

The Problem: Your Watercolor Art is Slipping Away Unrecorded

You’ve poured hours into creating a beautiful watercolor painting—the delicate washes of color, the careful brushstrokes, the emotion infused into every detail. But once the painting is complete, what happens next?

Many artists find themselves without any record of their work. Once a painting is sold, gifted, or stored away, it’s gone—no archive, no digital copy, no way to revisit or showcase the piece. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you want to build a portfolio, share your work online, or even reproduce prints.

And what if your original paintings get damaged over time? Watercolors are delicate and vulnerable to moisture, light, and accidental spills. Without proper documentation, your artistic legacy could fade—literally.

The Solution: Digitizing Your Watercolor Artwork with a Color Image Scanner

The best way to ensure that your artwork is never lost is to digitize it. Scanning your watercolor paintings with a high-quality color image scanner allows you to create professional-grade digital copies that can be used for portfolios, online sharing, prints, and more.

Let’s walk through how to properly document your watercolor artwork step by step.

How to Digitize Your Watercolor Paintings

Step 1: Prepare Your Artwork

Before scanning, make sure your watercolor painting is completely dry and free from dust or smudges. Flatten any curled edges with a clean, heavy book.

Step 2: Choose the Right Scanner

For high-resolution, true-to-color scans, a flatbed scanner is the best option. One of the top choices for artists is the Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner—a highly rated, professional-quality scanner that captures vibrant details and accurate colors.

Step 3: Scan Your Artwork

Place your painting face down on the scanner bed, ensuring it is centered and aligned.
Select a resolution of at least 600 DPI (dots per inch) for high-quality results. If you plan to print enlargements, consider 1200 DPI.
Adjust the color settings to “Professional Mode” to get the most accurate reproduction of your watercolor hues.
Scan and save your artwork as a TIFF or PNG file for best quality, or JPEG for smaller file sizes.

Step 4: Edit and Store Your Digital Files

Use software like Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Lightroom to make minor adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance if needed.
Organize your files with clear naming conventions, such as Title_Date_ScanResolution (e.g., SunsetLake_2025_600DPI).
Back up your digital archive using external hard drives or cloud storage to keep your records safe.

Review: Epson Perfection V600 Photo Scanner

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7/5) – Highly Recommended for Artists

The Epson Perfection V600 is a top-rated scanner for watercolor artists. It captures fine details with stunning clarity, accurately reproduces color, and supports high-resolution scanning up to 6400 DPI. Artists appreciate its easy-to-use software, fast scanning speeds, and ability to handle different paper textures without distortion.

👉 Get it on Amazon: Epson Perfection V600 Scanner

The Benefits of Digitizing Your Watercolor Art

✅ Build a Professional Portfolio

Having a digital record of your artwork allows you to showcase your skills, apply for art shows, and create an online presence with ease.

✅ Create High-Quality Prints

Turn your watercolor originals into beautiful fine art prints that can be sold or gifted without losing the original piece.

✅ Protect Your Artistic Legacy

By archiving your paintings digitally, you ensure that your artwork lives on—even if the physical copy is lost or damaged.

Don’t Let Your Artwork Disappear—Start Documenting Today!

Digitizing your watercolor paintings is one of the most important steps you can take as an artist. Whether you’re looking to preserve, share, or reproduce your work, investing in a high-quality scanner like the Epson Perfection V600 is the easiest and most effective way to get started.

👉 Order your Epson Perfection V600 scanner today and start building your professional digital archive now! Buy on Amazon

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Discover how to carve out the perfect creative art workspace in a small apartment—even if you don’t have an extra room!

The Problem: No Dedicated Art Space in Your Home

You love creating art, but your living space is limited. Whether you’re in a small apartment or a house without a spare room, finding a place to work on your artwork feels impossible.

You might be using your kitchen table, only to pack everything away before dinner. Maybe your supplies are scattered in different areas, making it hard to get into a creative flow. The frustration of constantly setting up and breaking down your art station can drain your inspiration before you even begin.

The Solution: Design a Functional Art Space Within Your Existing Home

The good news? You don’t need an entire room to have a dedicated art workspace. With a little creativity, you can transform a corner, closet, or small area into a functional, inspiring studio.

Here’s how to create a personal art space—no matter how small your home is.

Step 1: Choose Your Art Space

Even without a separate room, you can still establish a defined art zone. Consider these options:

✅ A Corner of a Room

Pick a low-traffic area in your living room, bedroom, or hallway.
Use a folding drafting table or a compact tabletop easel to maximize space.
A rolling storage cart keeps supplies organized and easy to tuck away.

✅ A Walk-In Closet or Nook

If you have a large closet, convert it into a mini art studio.
Use wall-mounted shelves or a folding storage rack to store supplies.
Install a clip-on light for extra brightness.

✅ A Multi-Use Workspace

If your space serves multiple purposes, choose furniture that folds or rolls away.
Use a storage tote or case to keep your materials mobile.

Step 2: Choose the Right Art Furniture & Storage

Creating art in a small space is all about smart furniture choices. Here are the best options for compact art desks, easels, and storage solutions.

🎨 Drafting Tables

1. Folding Drafting Table – A collapsible desk that provides a sturdy surface and can be folded away when not in use.
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2. Drafting Table with Stool & Storage Drawers – Perfect for small spaces, this set includes a comfortable stool and built-in drawers for easy access to supplies.
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🖌️ Easels

1. Floor Easel with Drawer – A classic wooden easel with a built-in drawer for supplies, great for standing work.
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2. French Easel – A portable, foldable easel with drawer storage for paints and brushes—perfect for working indoors or outdoors.
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3. Deluxe French Easel – A portable, foldable easel with metal side tray, metal-lined drawer storage for paints and brushes—perfect for working indoors or outdoors.
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4. X-Large Tabletop Easel – A compact solution that sits on your desk. It’s adjustable wooden drawing board has a ledge to hold watercolor paper, paper blocks, etc.
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5. Large Tabletop Easel – A compact solution that sits on your desk. It’s adjustable wooden drawing board has a ledge to hold watercolor paper, paper blocks, etc.
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6. Sketchbox Tabletop Easel – A compact solution that sits on your desk. It’s inner compartment provides space to organize, store and carry colored pencils, pens, markers, paintbrushes, and other tools. The wooden drawing board is adjustable and includes a ledge.
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📦 Storage Solutions for Small Spaces

1. Wooden Storage Box with 3 Drawers – Keeps paints, brushes, and tools organized in a stylish, compact box. Also available in a variety of sizes: 4, 6, 10, or 12 drawers. Great for storing and organizing supplies on top of a table, desk or shelf.
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2. Rolling Storage Cart with Metal Tabletop, Side Pockets & 12 Drawers – Ideal for small apartments, these carts can be rolled away when not in use. The drawers are metal and the side pockets are made of fabric.
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3. Rolling Storage Cart with 5 Drawers – Ideal for small apartments, these carts can be rolled away when not in use. The drawers are clear plastic.
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4. Rolling Storage Cart with Wooden Tabletop & 8 Drawers – Ideal for small apartments, these carts can be rolled away when not in use. Available with multiple drawer color options.
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5. Rolling Storage Cart with Metal Tabletop & 12 Drawers – Ideal for small apartments, these carts can be rolled away when not in use. Available with multiple drawer color options.
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6. Folding Storage Rack – A collapsible storage solution to store canvases, sketchbooks, and supplies neatly. The storage basin is made of sturdy canvas fabric.
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7. Tote Bag Art Supply Organizer Caddy – Perfect for artists who need a portable option for carrying their materials. The tote bag is made of nylon fabric and comes in a variety of color options.
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Step 3: Keep Your Art Space Organized & Inspiring

Once you’ve set up your workspace, keep it functional with these tips:

Use vertical space – Install shelves or pegboards to store supplies off the table.
Label storage bins – Keep brushes, paints, and tools neatly categorized.
Keep it flexible – Choose furniture that folds, rolls, or stacks for easy storage.
Personalize your space – Add small decorations, inspiration boards, or plants to make your studio feel inviting.

Start Creating in Your Perfect Art Space Today!

You don’t need a massive studio to create beautiful artwork. With the right space-saving furniture and organization, you can turn any small area into an inspiring art workspace.

👉 Upgrade your creative space today! Browse the best compact art desks, easels, and storage solutions using my Amazon affiliate links above. For additional art studio furniture ideas, see more recommendations here.

👉 Are you documenting your artwork? Learn the best way to digitize your art to preserve and showcase your paintings. Read More…