How Shinn Uchida built a living room studio for an art-first daily routine

My studio has three areas: a wall for drawing large-scale artworks, a height adjustable desk for analogue illustration, and a PC desk for video editing and digital work. During the day, when there is plenty of light, I work on the large drawings on the wall.

As it gets darker, I move to the desk for PC work. I moved into this place last September. It’s a 1LDK apartment [One room with a living room, dining area, and kitchen], and I use the entire living room as my studio. Because it’s a south-facing corner unit, it gets lots of natural light during the day, which I really love

Before moving here, I lived in a very small apartment (Japanese rental apartments are really tiny!). Whenever I needed to create large-scale works, I rented a gallery in Harajuku, Tokyo, to use as a workspace. Being able to finally create big pieces at home makes me incredibly happy.

The kitchen is directly across from the studio area, which is convenient because I can get back to work immediately after eating. Although a living room is usually a place to relax, I intentionally didn’t put in a sofa or anything like that.

I eliminated any kind of ‘relaxation space’. Eight years have passed since I quit my office job, and I’ve finally been able to get my own studio. While I currently work as a performer, I want to start drawing manga again to fulfill my dream of publishing my own book.

I turned an entire living room wall into a giant drawing space by taping paper directly onto it. So yes, there’s no sofa, TV or table! But this is exactly what I wanted, and I love it.

I’m getting ready for an event in Hong Kong this January, so I’m working on a large illustration inspired by Hong Kong vibes and the New Year. I plan to create one big piece each month themed around that time of year, and I film the whole process to post making-of videos on social media.

A friend who came to help with the photos brought this tea set. She’s really into tea. This time, we had matcha with roasted rice. Enjoying tea while looking at my own artwork is a wonderful experience.

Above is my PC desk and drawing desk. In my previous place, I only had one desk, so setting up and putting away paints every time was a hassle. Now I finally have them separated. Since I tend to sit too long, my drawing desk is height-adjustable, and I often draw while standing.

My main workhorse is a 13-in MacBook Air. I usually connect it to an external monitor and mainly use it for video editing and final illustration tweaks. I also love its clean, simple design

Then there's my Wacom pen tablet. I bought it almost ten years ago, and it’s still simple, reliable and easy to use. Since digital drawing has become the norm, I’d love to add a display tablet to my studio some day.

I have a camera stand with a ring light. This is a must when I livestream on YouTube while drawing and filming my hands! The built-in light also works as a desk lamp, which makes it super convenient.

After moving, the desk no longer matched the colour of the floor, so I remodelled the tabletop myself. I’ve only just moved in and don’t have many items yet, so that’s about it for now.

My alcohol marker colour charts. I build colour combinations in my head while looking at these, so I would be lost without them. I rarely do test swatches – I usually just colour based on my instinct in the moment.

I mostly use alcohol markers (OLO and Ohuhu) because they’re easy to handle and don’t drip on the floor. That said, the ink runs out quickly, so not many people use them for large-scale works.

These are some of my favorite things, including an Akira poster and art books by Katsuhiro Otomo.

My collection of soothing houseplants. They moved with me from my previous home. I found the moss ball by chance at a shopping mall and couldn’t resist buying it. I’d love to add some bigger plants once the weather gets warmer.

A glass ornament from Niijima. I bought it while travelling alone after quitting my job to pursue becoming a professional artist. I was still nobody back then, but this piece reminds me of the moment my life truly changed.

A dip pen and pen holder that I’ve been using since my aspiring manga artist days. Although I work digitally more often now, I want to continue drawing analogue line art as well.

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