Shot of a ceramic artist using a digital tablet in her workshop
A complete studio inventory includes all your art-making tools, equipment and supplies, artworks, business equipment and supplies and other assets.
Basic Studio Inventory
It’s never too late to start a studio inventory. Thanks to technology, this practice is easy to start, maintain and store.
Include the make and model of any major tools in the narration if using video or in the file name if organizing photos
Business Property
A business asset is a piece of property or equipment purchased exclusively or primarily for business use. Business assets span many categories, such as vehicles, real estate, computers, furniture and other fixtures. Read more.
Add written business property details to your Basic Studio Inventory. For each business asset include:
What’s the Cost?
Take it a step at a time. Finding the value in your work is rewarding.
Be sure to store a copy of the inventory in a Safe Offsite Location
CLICK BELOW FOR “BEST” STUDIO INVENTORY STEPS.
Information about your artwork is critical. For each artwork include details such as:
All Systems Go
Resources
Art Inventory Systems
Art Systems – Manage art information, including artwork and images, editions, contacts, transactions, accounting, images, exhibitions, shipments, sales, consignments, resumes, artwork bibliography, provenance and exhibition citations.
artcloud – Art inventory and e-commerce for the artist.
Artlook Software – Manage artwork and art contacts. An optional application is available to link artwork information to an artist’s website.
artmoi – Art cataloguing software for artists, collectors and galleries.
Artwork Archive – Manage art inventory, images, exhibitions, location & provenance history, clients and sales, and scheduling. Present work with reports, private rooms, web embeds and a discovery profile.
Getting Your Sh*t Together (GYST-Ink) Track artwork, art supplies and exhibitions along with other artist records.
Tessera – Includes artwork, artists and client management features; collections, consignment and sales tracking; reporting capabilities.
Career Documentation – The Joan Mitchell Foundation has a workbook including information on many elements key to career documentation.
CALL Estate Planning Workbook – A guide designed to be a practical tool for artists and/or their supporters to use when carefully assessing and identifying the unique estate planning needs and concerns specific to the visual arts.
Accounting systems that have basic inventory systems
QuickBooks Online – The Plus version has inventory management capabilities or a 3rd party app that integrates with QBO and can be purchased for more advanced inventory and/or fixed asset management.
Xexo – Online accounting system includes inventory and fixed asset management.