Our favourite tools are things of beauty in and of themselves. Loved into “real” like the Velveteen Rabbit, with layers of paint, bent back bristles, and the knocks and scuffs, visible scars (so to speak) of creating art.
Our favourite tools are obviously not those pristine looking ones on the sidelines, the ones we thought would be the thing when we bought them full of promise yet never reached for. Our favourite tools are the ones that show the gorgeous signs of being reached for again and again as we dance with the muses. They are not always obvious and they are often discovered in play and experimentation- but that is the way of creativity right.
Here are a few of our favourite tools, things we just can’t (creatively speaking) live without …
Perhaps there is something here that you’ve never considered an art making tool ...
Galia Alena: Hands Eyes Heart Mind Spirit…
I thought my answer for this was easy- my hands, but then Fonda pipped me (see below) so I had to dig deeper. My eyes came to mind. So much of the creative process is about looking, seeing, paying close attention. However, only some of that looking is external, most of the looking, the paying deep attention is internal- with our minds, our hearts, our spirit. That is where true art originates from- the intersection between hands, eyes, mind, heart and spirit. So my metaphorical, and physical, eyes are my favourite tools.
Natalie Eslick: Erasers and Subtraction Tools
Erasers and subtraction tools are a pencil artist's best friend! My absolute-cannot-do-without is a kneadable eraser. It is wonderful to use both as an eraser to completely remove a mark, but also as a subtraction tool - that is, to lift up part of the pigment paid down or make marks with by partially removing marks. It can be used as a wide surface shape, or moulded to a small point and everything in between. It can be rolled over a surface, swiped over a surface, or dabbed on a surface - it is the Swiss Army Knife of art tools!
I also use a few other subtraction tools, including the Tombow mono eraser, the Slice tool, and Scotch Magic Tape. They all have different usages, and can be used in combination with the kneadable eraser and each other. The Tombow Mono eraser is a fine plastic eraser perfect for scrubbing out hard to remove lines/areas or making tiny highlight marks. The Slice tool is a ceramic blade that allows me to lift up a layer or two of pigment without damaging the paper - it is a wonder, and I love it for fine hair details. They are really inexpensive for what they are and how useful they have proven to be! The other is good old Scotch Magic Tape - you will see me use it in some tutorials, though I admit we aren't fast friends yet. After taking off some of the tack, you can lay it on your work, draw over it with a pencil and lift up some pigment underneath. I can see it's usefulness, and I have had varying levels of success. More practice required for me with this one!
Fonda Clark Haight: Hands
If you had asked me five years ago about my favorite tools I would have gone on and on with a long list lol. These days I feel that “all the things” get in the way of my creativity. I mean I have allll the tools but they just sit in bins for the most part. I rarely pull them out. So now my list is much shorter. My #1 favorite tool are my hands. I just sit in wonder of all the things they can do on a daily basis.
The list after that is even shorter…I love my Pentel waterbrush for moving neocolors 11’s around the page, cheap flat acrylic brushes, my bondo scrapers for putting down collage….and last but not least my faber-castell 3-n-1 pencil sharpener. These are the tools I reach for every day. With my wonderful hands. Because really if your hands are working then you have all you need!!!
Robin Sturis: Catalyst Wedge
My catalyst wedge fits into my hand like it belongs there. It allows me to cover large or small areas quickly. Sometimes with a brush I find myself choking down on it, holding it close to the bristles and making tiny controlled strokes, my nose nearly in the paint. That is simply not possible with a wedge. It keeps me loose and focused on the big picture, using my whole arm to make free, gestural marks. I’ll give up my brushes long before I’ll give up my wedge.
Jenny Grant: Palette Knife
I use my palette knife all the time… when doing the collage and applying my paint.
I love to not have full control when I paint and with my palette knife I paint Perfectly Imperfect.
Emma Petitt: Brayer
When I work I love to move the paint around in different ways, rather than just relying on brushes. A brayer allows my to build up layers of colour and texture to create depth and more interest. They help me to break up outlines, blur the background and the subject matter.
Do tell us, what tools you just can not live without?
What tools have you worn into beauty?
Let us know in the comments…
