Part of growing as an artist is gaining experience and learning from others. I have always been intrigued by the creative process. Everyone has a different way of organizing their business and getting their creative juices flowing. With that said, I have been thinking about other creative’s and what tools it takes to do what they do. One of my ideas was to feature different artists and display what’s in their “Creative Toolbox” here on the blog.
I thought I would start us off by sharing a few items from my personal creative toolbox….ya know…. things, products, apps, inspiration, programs, companies, and supplies that help me do what I do best. Sound interesting? I hope so. I couldn’t include all of them, obviously… but I thought I would share a few.
1 // FANCY MOUSE PAD
It’s the little things that sometimes make a difference. I love my computer set up even down to the little touch of my RAD mouse PAD. It keeps the office clean, dynamic, and inspiring.
2 // LOCAL NATIVE SOUNDTRACK
Keep changing the music up. For me, music creates energy and excitement. I get MOVED by music. A great staple for me has been Local Natives station on Pandora.
3 // CMYK MAGAZINE
In a digital world I feel refreshed when I open and flip through print. CMYK Magazine is a favorite of mine.
4 // TO-DO DRY ERASE BOARDS
In design and business I try to bring in elements that are NOT on the computer as much as I can. I am a BIG TIME notes and lists girl. These dry erase boards have been AMAZING! I love them because I can just glance over my shoulder to see what my next to-do is. I don’t need to look for that lost note or interrupt what I am doing on my computer in order to find my TO-DO list.
5 // MARGARITA
When it’s a long day it’s nice to have a sweet drink to enjoy! It makes my current project feel like a special project. I guess that would make the Margarita my special drink of choice. Believe it or not Costco’s Premix (Kirkland Golden Margarita) is off the hook.
6 // SHOWIT SOFTWARE + SITEHOUSE
Along with Photoshop, Illustrator, and Indesign, ShowIt ROCKS MY WORLD. The drag and drop Website creating software gave me the ability to start my web design shop called Site House Designs. I use ShowIt EVERYDAY.
7 // CANON 5D MARK II DIGITAL CAMERA
Having a background in photography has helped me GREATLY as it relates to my design, portfolio, business, blogging, and capturing of all things creative. A lot of things need to be documented when you have your own business and I could NOT live without my Canon 5D Mark II.
8 // APPLE THUNDERBOLT DISPLAY
The 27in Apple Thunderblot display has absolutely changed the game for me and my office life! I travel a bunch so I use my MacBook Pro a lot, but I’ve always wanted a desktop set up. So, I got the best of both worlds – laptop AND desktop – with the Apple Thunderbolt display. I just plug in, work on the large screen, unplug, and head on out to my next trip with my laptop in hand. It’s absolutely fabulous and SOO fast.
So, would you like to see other artist’s Creative Toolbox’s featured here? I know I would like hear about other new companies, different programs, and learn the tools behind some of my favorite creatives. Thoughts? In the meantime, what are 5 items in your creative toolbox? The items that help you do what you do.
+ - 16 comments
A.J. Dunlap - Promise, I love this! What a fun idea to think about what I use daily to keep my juices flowing! Ok, so let’s see for me I’d say: 1-My lime green calendar 2-My 4 x 6 photo printer (I’m in love with sending clients thank you notes with their photo on the front) 3-My handmade window frame bulletin board 4-The pups. Playing with them for a few minutes is always enough of a break to get going again. 5-Gotta have music. Currently it’s Eric Hutchinson’s & Jason Mraz’s new albums.
Ashley Ottinger - ummmmm. LOVE THIS. There’s a blog I follow called the Setup. It’s basically this, but they feature all kinds of people…and in my opinion just not enough visual artists. So please please please make this a regular thing. k thanks.
Jamie | Julia's Poppies Design - This series is fab!! I would love to get a behind the scene look at other designers/creatives…I find it very inspiring. Thanks for sharing!!
Cameron Smith - Ahh, good stuff!
Local Natives became an instant favorite after I watched this video a while back: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hhE_sqJG3g
Incredible, right?!!
Saraj - This series is a great idea! I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing with my laptop. I mostly work from my couch, but sometimes it would be nice to have a giant desktop screen for more layered projects.
Sarah - This series is a great idea! I’ve been thinking of doing the same thing with my laptop. I mostly work from my couch, but sometimes it would be nice to have a giant desktop screen for more layered projects.
Mailinh - Would LOVE to see what other artists have in their Creative Toolbox! How fun!
Hmmm….my 5 items would have to be…
1. Post-its for my to do lists/brainstorming — I love color coding
2. Pilot’s Hi-Tec-C pens in 0.5 point to write with.
3. For editing photos, I usually use Lightroom more than PS. I only use PS when I really have to.
4. Sour Patch Kids’ Watermelon to give me that sugar boost when it’s needed.
5. Fashion magazine to keep my mind reeling with ideas. I’m more visual thinker, so it helps to have visuals.
One more would be my floor: because I’m a visual person, I like to lay everything out
and see how things are put into place.
Hope you’re having an AWESOME Wednesday!
Laura - I would love to peek inside more toolboxes! Keep em coming!
Kelsey - Love this post!! I’m still working on how to make my office cool, so I can’t really respond just yet on that side of things.
But I’d love to hear one day more about your computer setup — as in, do you calibrate your monitors? Do you have any “Go To” software other than the Adobe Suite? (ie-font software, project management)
Eva - LOVE THIS!
Thanks for sharing. Can’t wait to see others.
shaina longstreet - Local Natives Pandora station now up and running. thanks for the inspiration!!
yvette gioia - Great Idea! Promise you are always including your readers and drawing us out…especially creatively…Its what keeps me coming back…ok my favs are:
1. My inspiration wall…not an idea wall..this wall is above my desk with photos that represent why I exist…my three son’s accomplishments…my grandparents and I finally took the perfect photo of my hubby so that is going up soon.
2. My husband…he sits in an identical desk within arms reach. We work together everyday and actually love it.
3. My set of mini notebooks full of ideas…all categorized.
4. My to-do notebook…its a master list…everything goes in there in the order I get it…then each day we pull out the top five and put those on the dry erase board.
5. This adorable mini easel I paid $1 at the SPCA today…Im thrilled thinking of what I am going to put inside it.
Nubbytwiglet.com » Blog Archive » Link Love: 6.28.12 - [...] • I always like to hear what tools other designers and artists consider to be their must-haves. Promise Tangeman shares hers. [...]
Friday Finds :: Weekly Inspiration Roundup - Green Vintage Photography - [...] world right now? Promise Tangeman is someone I’m way inspired by, and she wrote about her creative toolbox this week. I’d love to put together one of these when I’m done decorating my office. If [...]
Amber Rich - LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! I always wonder what things other designers use or what gets them thinking the way they do…LOVE!
My top 5 toolbox items are:
1. my sketchbook
2. fun colorful pencils
3. google/pinterest
4.Spotify electronic/indie radio
5. Wunderlist (i make lists too)
02 INSIDE THE CREATIVE TOOLBOX » PROMISE TANGEMAN ART & DESIGN - [...] artists and the tools in their creative toolbox. I started it off a couple of weeks ago sharing my MUST HAVES for doing what I do. And I am pretty excited to have Shauna Haider from NubbyTwiglet.com here today [...]