Studio Tour: Mid 2019

Hard to imagine, but it has been almost a year and a half since my last studio tour. In an effort to get back to a regular habit of writing blog posts, the time seems right to share where things are at in mid 2019. I’ll focus on what’s changed and let the pictures do the talking.

The studio bookshelf, which occupies my room closet, has seen very little in the way of change. Perhaps the biggest change is that I’ve rearranged and eliminated some of the items on the top display shelf.

On the left of my main desk setup is an old filing cabinet, with a LEGO model and Iron Man guarding on top. If you look closely, On the corner is a photo taken with Weird Al Yankovic, when he performed in Tampa this June.

The main desk is no longer a standing desk. I’ve removed the LiftYourTable risers due to the fact that drawing while standing up means I’m leaning more. Sitting down feels more comfortable to me now. To avoid being sedentary for long periods of time, I incorporate frequent stretch breaks.

I’m still using the mid-2014 MacBook Pro. These days, it doesn’t really leave my desk unless I’m bringing it to campus. I run it in clamshell mode, with a Dell 2515H display attached to it. I frequently have videos or streaming content running on this display while I work.

I’m still using the Cintiq 27QHD and Daskeyboard Pro 4 with brown cherry keys. I’ve reverted back to the Kensington Trackball due to comfort. My gaming mouse stays plugged in when I have need of it (primarily for using Autodesk Maya).

The main rig I’m using is a 2018 Mac Mini with 32GB of RAM, a Sonnet eGPU enclosure with Radeon 580x GPU. An OWC Thunderbay 4 is also employed for extra data storage. This gives me a decent “Mac Pro mini” experience. The NewerTech Mini Stack sits under the Mac Mini but is only occasionally connected as needed.

The Mac Mini has all ports connected, save for one USB-A port. I have an Anker USB 3.0 hub that drives nearly all my USB connections.

Behind my desk is a lot of cable clutter. One of these days, I’ll properly sort everything out, but outside of its slightly untidy appearance, I don’t mind it.

To maximize the empty corner adjacent to my main desk, I’ve added two floating shelves, holding a few LEGO models. Above the unplugged G4 Tower (purchased in 2000!) are all my network doodads (eero router, cable modem, Netgear switch). I purchased some small Ethernet cables to miminize the clutter around this area.

The other large desk in my studio has been rearranged to make better use of the desk space. The latest addition is a printer riser that keeps my reliable Brother laser printer some clearance, to where I can put my iPad Pro underneath. To the left of the printer is my Kodak Scanza, which I reviewed earlier.

The printer stand was a very recent purchase (received and installed earlier in the day). It retails for $16.99 and is made of durable metal, with durable metal legs to support the base. It comes with a 5 year warranty. The base has a perforated mesh to provide adequate airflow.

My former Hackintosh (aka MacBeast) is now exclusively a 100% Windows 10 machine. This is the machine my daughter uses for her homework and crafts. The PC sits above two forlorn Woz edition Apple IIGS computers.

I have a light rig set up in the back. I bought it with the intent of making videos for YouTube. I’ve since realized that I’m better off using screen capturing software for my videos. You can check out my new YT channel, which focuses on digital art tips and tricks.

The back corner still features a CD rack and my Fender electric guitar. The only big change here is that I bought myself a new guitar strap, as the old one was on the verge of disintegration. (26 years of service isn’t too shabby for a guitar strap, right?)

My animation desk is rarely used for its intended purpose these days. It now holds assorted pens and the like. The Iron Fist statue is new and was given to me as a Father’s Day gift this year.

So, there you have it. This is my latest configuration. I’m sure it will change over the next year or so. With desk setups (at least for me), the only constant is change.

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-Krishna

Krishna June 29, 2019 artist studio, desk setup, Mac mini 2018, studio tour 2019, Wacom Cintiq