How Shinn Uchida built a living room studio for an art-first daily routine is nothing short of inspiring. Her space, a 1LDK apartment, has been transformed into a multifunctional workspace with three distinct 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 natural light is abundant, she works on her expansive drawings. As dusk falls, she shifts to her computer desk, continuing her creative journey into the night. Her previous life was vastly different; living in a tiny Tokyo apartment meant renting gallery space just to create big pieces. Now, she relishes working from home.

Shinn’s studio is meticulously designed for efficiency and inspiration. The kitchen stands as a mere 180-degree turn away, allowing her to return to work seamlessly after meals. She has eliminated any ‘relaxation space’ in favour of uninterrupted creation. Her aspirations include reigniting her manga dreams with monthly themed artworks.

Her tools are simple yet indispensable: an adjustable drawing desk, a MacBook Air, and a Wacom pen tablet that’s lasted over ten years. A camera stand with ring light and a collection of soothing houseplants complete the scene, each piece serving its purpose in this artist’s sanctuary.