Must-Have Tools for a Creative Business

Resources
Written By Katie Simmons

Here we go. I'm sharing all my favorite things for creating art and running a business!

I have been running my business and creating online for the past three years. I'm part of incredible support groups and have had an amazing mentor. Below you'll find some of my favorite items for creating art and running my business. They're my top go-to’s when I create and work just about every day.

{The list below includes links to affiliate websites. I may receive commissions from purchases made through the links. You can learn more HERE.}

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The Best Tablet + Stylus:

When you're on the go and want to create your art, do you really want to haul along all those art supplies? Of course not! That's why when I'm heading out on vacation, with friends, or even to my local coffee shop... I bring my iPad Pro (or iPad) and Apple Pencil.

This combo is the bee's knees! The touch sensitivity and pressure control of the iPad Pro (or iPad) and Apple Pencil together create beautiful works of art. It may even spark a beautiful new career for you.

Go-To Apps for Creating:

  • The #1 app I use on my iPad is Procreate. The fluidity of the brush strokes combined with the multitude of brushes means that I can create in just about any medium from my sofa or the passenger seat on a road trip. I can create anywhere! And at the fabulous price of $10 you can't beat it.

  • Affinity Designer is the app that I use when I need to create vector designs. I know everyone loves Adobe, but I can't handle the price. Affinity Designer does just about the same amount of work at a fraction of the cost. For a one-time fee of $20, you get this amazing app on your iPad. And better yet, they regularly have half-off sales! So keep your eyes peeled.

  • The next app, Adobe Capture, is great for converting your pixel-based artwork into a vector. I know I just said I couldn't handle the price of Adobe, but this app is FREE for your mobile devices. Now that's a price that can't be beat! I use it regularly when I create beautiful hand-lettered pieces in Procreate. By converting them to vectors, I can add them to any documents in Affinity Designer and change the size whenever I need to without losing any integrity.

 
 

Let’s Talk Brush Packs:

I could search for brush packs all day long! There are so many different places to find them, in so many different mediums created to replicate real brushes. My favorites are from Design Cuts and Uproot Brushes.  

Abby Uproot, from Uproot Brushes, has pretty much made it her life mission to create these mesmerizing brushes for Procreate. You can't miss the amount of time and effort she put into creating these brush packs. Use the code: PERCHHANDMADE, and receive 10% off your purchase. Here are a few of my favorites:

Other things I look for are brushes that you can use in BOTH Procreate and Affinity Designer. It's always a bonus when you get elements that can work in multiple Apps. Check these out:

 
 

Grab the guide with everything on this list.

(clickable links included)

 

Time to Get Messy!

As much as I love using my iPad, finding free time to unwind and create without staring at a screen really helps my mental health. Amazingly, I didn't try this sooner in life. You see if you know my story I didn't start creating art on paper until I was 40. I grew up in a family full of artists, but I never thought I was one of them. That is until I really let myself try! 

Below is a list of some of my favorite art supplies. 


Learning Isn't Complete Without Books:

Now I have to admit I haven't been a real book fan throughout my life. Although a coloring book has always been right up my alley. You see I've always loved filling in the lines but creating those lines... I just didn't know where to begin. Over the past few years, I've become friends with my mentor, Peggy Dean. She has some amazing books to get you started. Her approach… nothing is perfect! A great place to begin if you're a perfectionist like me.

Maybe you're into creating your own watercolors or pigment paints. For that, the book Natural Color is a beautiful way to begin your journey.

I became a fan of Lisa Congdon's bold colors and designs years before trying to become an artist myself. I was searching for my middle name Congdon on the Internet and came across Lisa. Her art was fresh and just spoke to me. Now I have some of her artwork in my own home. In fact, I'm drinking my tea from her Good Morning mug as we speak. She's written multiple books and so far my two favorites ARE

The next few are some must-haves when you're beginning your own business; starting your own journey into the unknown. It's a must to kickstart this adventure with a couple of Jen Sincero's badass books.

You will also want to invest in the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, 16th Edition: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines, a comprehensive reference guide for all artists looking to sell art. I own the 15th Edition, but here is the link for the 16th Edition. (the cover looks different)

 
 
 

All right, as we've slowly gotten into the business side of things let me share with you some of my favorite organizational tools. As a Capricorn, I love organization! I love a good calendar, I love a good list, and I love the combination of both. Below are the essentials for organizing my business.


Go-To Apps for Organizing:

  • Asana: Helps me organize my ideas and plan out all of my classes, blog posts, and scheduling.

  • Planoly: Creates an action plan for all of my social media posts

  • Canva: Makes it easy for me to create clear designs wherever I need them (think Instagram posts, course slides, even funny GIFs)

  • InShot: When it comes to video editing on the go, this is my go-to! It couldn't be easier.

  • Flodesk: This isn't an app, but I wouldn't be able to send beautiful emails without it. For one low price, you get an unlimited email and unlimited subscriber marketing system. And I have a special offer for you, 50% off your first year. That is only $19 a month!

Putting Pen to Paper: 

If you're like me, you need to write it down. Here are the planners and gadgets that I use every single day, to stay organized!

Getting Techy With It:

As a course creator, there are extra things that help to amplify my classes. Although when I first began, I started with just a couple of iPhones and my iPad to record. In fact, I still use my iPhone. Now I use a few more things to get the lighting and the sound right. 

Here's a list of everything I use to create an online course.

Woah, that's a lot!

Thanks for sticking with me. I hope you have fun trying out some of these items. Grab the guide I made for you with everything from this list. Save it on your hard drive so you'll know where to find it when someone asks you if you have any gift requests. Wink wink…

Remember, I'll get a small commission for some of these affiliate links, but that's just a yummy chai when I head out to my local coffee shop. And it cost you nothing!

 

Hi, I’m Katie and this is

Perch Handmade.

I may receive commissions from purchases made through links in this article. I wouldn't promote them if I didn't believe in them wholeheartedly!

(At no additional cost to you)

50% off your first year of Flodesk

Katie Simmons
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