Do You Use the Best Creative Tools?
What tools do you need for your creativity?
Do you already have them? If not, how come?
If you do have them, are they quality tools? Professional? Do they function properly?
I thought I’d post about this, because it’s a factor for a lot of creative people, including myself.
Sometimes I’m guilty of not owning the best tools. Tools that will make my creative journey easier, maybe even earn me more money.
Ironically, money is often the reason - or the excuse - why we don’t buy the best tools.
I have a talented musician friend who sometimes asks to borrow my microphone whenever he performs live. This guy writes songs as good as Kurt Cobain for godsake. He needs to buy his own damn mic! He’s worth it!
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Maybe that’s another reason we don’t get proper tools. We don’t take our creativity, our talent, our passion, our calling, seriously enough.
Whenever I deliberate about buying a new computer, my buddy John says, “It’s an investment, man…an investment in your art and your business!”
He’s right. We owe it to ourselves to paint with the best brushes we can afford.
I’m so glad my novelist buddy has a new computer, because for months he wrote his stories on a laptop that took 15 minutes just to boot up. When it finally did, typing on it was like…oh I don’t know…using spraypaint to do calligraphy. It was torture. There’s no excuse for suffering like this when you’re a creative genius!
Let’s think about it:
~ Did Babe Ruth step up to the plate with a broken bat?
~ Did Hemingway write A Moveable Feast (which you should read by the way) with a shoddy pen?
~ Does The Iron Chef buy woks at Walmart?
Nope!
Don’t misunderstand. Maybe you only need Photoshop 3 to achieve your goals like illustrator Bob Staake. Or maybe, like Willie Nelson, you play an acoustic guitar with a dozen holes in it but it still sounds fantastic.
The question is, do you have tools that enable you to do your creative magic and perform at your best, smoothly and easily?
Maybe you can make a list right now. Call it Dream Tools for My Creativity.
Make the list…then save up and get what you need.
‘Cause you’re talented.
And you’re worth it.
What quality tools do you use for your trade? Care to share? Leave a comment!
[I’d like to thank Lucie’s Weddings & Events for sending me a donation. I appreciate it!]
I feel like there’s almost always something else out there to get. But right now, I’m pretty happy with my tools, even the stuff i have that’s not the best. Do i really need new woodcarving tools when I only use them once in a long while? It’s learning to sharpen them properly that’s the key. There’s a spectrum I think. I spoke with a high school classmate once, during a period when I was painting a lot, using cheap materials and paper and just making images. I asked him if he was still painting and he said, ‘no’ becasue he couldn’t afford the fine materials and he ‘only liked to paint with good materials’. I thought it sounded like a cop-out to me.
Along the lines of Bob Staak or Willie Nelson, I just read a wonderful book about Jack ‘King’ Kirby > http://www.amazon.com/Kirby-Ki.....081099447X
The author kept talking about how Kirby’s drawing table was the most beat up thing ever. It’s a great book for fans and I recommend it highly. Moving. Inspirational. Just great.
I use Tombow dual paint pens and Bienfang watercolor paint pens. Because my creative space is so small in my home, I’m finding a good solution for storing my supplies is very critical. I have all of my art supplies in a fun vibrant tote that provides easy access and a fast clean up.
Hi Mark,
Gosh, this is true whether we’re talking about tools for our creative endeavors or anything in our real life. I think we often get what we pay for, so when I’m looking for something that will make my creative life or real life easier, I do my research.
Right now I’m okay with what I have. Someday I’ll upgrade my computer, but for now it does fine.
Writing - a laptop that allows me to write in whichever room in the house that moves me at the time. What I need is a screen cover to reduce glare so I can write outside or on the boat.
Artwork - FINALLY a dedicated organized spot in the house with all my tools. This has made a huge difference, and has encouraged me to buy all the proper supplies because I have a place to house them that puts them at my fingertips.
Music - need new strings on the guitar…BADLY
Well, the most important creative tool I have is my brain. I used to try to buy the most sought-after art supplies until I realized that no matter what I was working on, it didn’t matter what materials I used–somehow I always excelled if my thoughts were clear. Right now I am trying to tap into that resource again by truly focusing on what I want to do and taking baby steps to get things done.
Just my two cents.
Hi everyone - thank you for your comments. I apologize for not acknowledging them sooner! Great stuff, all.
TOOLKIT FOR CREATIVITY
Silence.
Coffee.
Ginger - my golden retriever and her amazing affection.
Listening Ears
Seeing Eyes
Then I can create anywhere…with anything.
PS..Coffee not an absolute, but certainly enjoyed. :-)))))