The Tools I Use
A Look Behind the Curtain at How I Work
I have been steadily preparing for my last show of 2024. Every year, I mount a house show at the home of my dear friend Jocelyne in Nashville called the French House. This year, it happens on Sunday, December 1, at 3PM. My full band, Ancestral Tongue, will play, and there will be a special guest performance by Ever Alters.
I love performing in the living room of a home. It is much more intimate than a traditional music venue. This afternoon event will have food, merriment, and the debut of a couple of new songs I have written. For those of you who live in the greater Nashville area, join us for some queer healing and musical magic!
This week, I wanted to share a little bit about the tools I use for my art. I have chosen four instruments that I use daily and weekly. They are invaluable in terms of the quality they enhance in the work I do.
This is gonna get pretty nerdy . . .
BIC Cristal Xtra Smooth Ballpoint Pens
There is an infinite number of options when it comes to ink-writing utensils. I have tried quite a few, but I keep returning to an iconic, tried-and-true pen that is simple and effective. The BIC Cristal Xtra Smooth ballpoint pen has been around for decades and has been touted as the world’s #1 ball pen for good reason. Its action on paper is as smooth as creamy butter, and they last quite a while. It is incredibly lightweight with a bevelled design that makes it easier to hold. Regarding access and affordability, most stores carry them, and I have bought a box of ten for $1.99 at different times. I use blue and red colors for contrast when I take notes.Sony A7iii DSLR Camera
As a filmmaker and photographer, I took my time deciding on a brand of camera to use. When you settle on one brand, you basically commit to its entire family of essential and ancillary products. I went with Sony in this case, and its combinations of cameras and lenses are of the highest quality. I chose the Sony A7iii because even now, years after it first came on the market, it is still competitive with newer digital film technology. At prices ranging from $1500-$2000, you get a beast of a camera at a fraction of what a cinema camera costs (which is about $20,000 and much higher). It performs well in low light and virtually any type of setting with an option for 4K filming.
Here is an excellent example of what this camera can do:
For all you camera nerds, here are some of the specs:
—Advanced 24.2MP BSI full-frame Image sensor w/ 1.8X readout speed advanced 24.2MP back-illuminated 35mm full-frame Image Sensor (35.6×23.8mm), Exmor R CMOS sensor
—15-stop dynamic range, 14-bit uncompressed RAW, ISO 50 to 204,800
—Up to 10fps silent or mechanical shutter with AE/AF tracking—Uses one lithium ion battery
The Pomodoro Timer by Minimal Desk Setup
As someone who has many projects and creative practices, I am a bit obsessive about how I spend my time. Each day, I make time to draw, nap, read books and essays, cuddle with my cats, clean and tidy up my studio, exercise, write, edit video, and play two instruments (piano and ukulele these days).
I time-block sections of my day that need to be focused, and I use a Pomodoro Timer for a lot of it. This device is two timers in one that can be used interchangeably. For my purposes, the first timer (T1) gets me through the actual task for 30 to 45 minutes (depending on the type of work), and the second timer (T2) gets me a 15-minute break.
Of course, I could use my cell phone for this purpose, but I am actively working against using my cell phone as much as possible. Its powers of distraction are far too intoxicating (and toxic) for me to overcome, and I love using this timer.
For the record, not all my day is timed and focused. I need moments for lazy daydreaming and lollygagging too.Global Art Handbook Journals
Readers here at WPR are familiar with my abstract flower drawings in pencil. They are drawn on 5”× 5” handbook journals from Global Art. These journals are hand-bound and cloth-covered in different primary colors. Each journal contains 128 pages of heavyweight, 130 gsm, acid-free, buff drawing paper that works well with pen, ink, pencil, and markers. Its lightly toothed paper is also good for watercolor. An elastic closure keeps the journal closed, and there is a clear plastic envelope on the inside back cover for notes or other odds and ends.
These handbooks are portable, versatile, and come in different sizes, and with prices ranging from $10—$16, they won’t break the bank either. I love how well this paper brings out the texture in my pencil drawings. I will be using these handbooks for a long time to come.There you have it. These are just some of the tools that help me create the quality of work I want for my art. I hope some or all of this might be helpful in what you do.
My timer is beeping. It is time for a nap.
UPCOMING SHOWS FOR FALL 2024:
Click Here to Buy Me a Coffee!
I recently did some filming at a venue in east Nashville called Basement East for the band Bertha. (They are a Grateful Dead cover band that dresses entirely in drag for their shows—challenging Tennessee’s ridiculous drag ban and raising funds for the LGBTQIA+ communities. My husband MaxZine did some onstage juggling for them.) I spent a lot of time at backstage and was tickled pink by all the art people made on the ceiling. It was so inspiring.
Here are some highlights:
