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Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

What’s The One Tool Or Material You Can’t Live Without In Your Art Practice?

What’s the one tool or material you can’t live without in your art practice?

From brushes to software to specific brands of paper. Computer programmes or even the device you use?

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Shelli Fitzpatrick

15 Days Ago

GIMP

I've used it for every image I have ever posted. Sometimes I also use other software and stack effects but GIMP is always used for my finishing touches.

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

I like Gimp also. Very good for a freebie! I like you can add many PS plugins to it

 

Shelli Fitzpatrick

15 Days Ago

Great thread idea btw!

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

Thank you kindly ;)

 

Philip Preston

15 Days Ago

The one thing I could not live without for my artwork is a computer! Without one, there would be no photography or digital images in my life.

I have used a number of different software tools over the years, but the best one for me these days is Studio Artist, its been around for about 20+ years apparently but I only discovered it 2 years ago, and while it has its pros and cons (the latter appearing to be an uncertain future and about 5 years behind the times in some respects), without a doubt its the most interesting artwork program I have ever bought.

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

I have not used Studio Artist. Will have to take a look :) Love experimentation

 

David Bridburg

15 Days Ago

Epic Unreal Engine 5.4.4

3D and AR/VR game making a few checked-off boxes and 3D becomes VR



 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

that made my eyes twizzle for some reason. I recognised the VR LOL

 

Philip Preston

15 Days Ago

Abbie, they have had a 50% discount price for all of this year, but they do a free trial (think its 14 days).

https://synthetik.com/

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

Thanks, Philip!

 

Darice Machel McGuire

15 Days Ago

Brushes and palette knives are the most valuable tools I have. Without them I'd be using my fingers to paint with LOL

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

Have you ever finger painted?

 

Shelli Fitzpatrick

15 Days Ago

Finger painting is fun. LOL

 

Ed Meredith

15 Days Ago

i don't know, when i don't have what i need,
i'll just use something else or what's ever at hand.

 

Tricia-Maria Hovell

15 Days Ago

I'll list two :-) My laptop and Inkscape where I do my art.

 

Carmen Hathaway

15 Days Ago

 

We're none of us up to much without the resources in the grey and white matter parked in our skulls.

The brain is often considered to be a powerful tool.

 

Mike Savad

15 Days Ago

Wacom tablet. It doesn't have to be wacom, but the pen feels better than others, price isn't ideal though. I can't really shade things in unless I can adjust the brush size with pressure or adding light shades of things. Just wish it had more buttons and was more comfortable on a lap. I had to build a wrist rest for it and it makes it heavy. That and a sheet of window glass with tablet glass attached to that so the tip glides and doesn't wear down like it did.


----Mike Savad

 

David Bridburg

15 Days Ago

Twizzle?

Yep, it makes my head hurt. It takes me 5 video viewings of everything and anything to get out of the pain and comprehend anything.

Becoming a prima ballerina would be a bit more difficult at age 16.

 

Roger Swezey

15 Days Ago

Besides my Brain to decide what art I do

My Eyes to visualize the art I do

My Hands to accomplish the art I do

My Legs to shlep most of the art I do


I suppose at the age I'm currently at, it's this computer, and the friends of made , that give me that encouragement to KEEP ON PRACTICING MY ART

 

Hugh Warren

15 Days Ago

Lightroom - not that it's necessarily the best ever or the best value (it IS pretty good), but it's what I've got used to using.

 

Darice Machel McGuire

15 Days Ago

Yes, I've finger painted. In fact I still use my fingers for blending clouds. They work great LOL

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

hmm never thought of that. Clouds are hard for me. May have to get the fingers moving

 

Stephen Fuller

15 Days Ago

Because I don't create in a singular genre, I can't narrow it down to one tool. First and foremost a hefty computer with lots of speed and storage space. After that would be Affinity Designer (geometric vector designs) and Affinity Photo (raster painting and drawing) with add-on virtual brushes, and an old Wacom Intuos drawing pad. But without my brain and eyes, they would be pointless. I'm feeling a lot of trepidation about the upcoming cataract surgery and losing my near vision.

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

Oh Stephen, that's rough. My aunt had cataract surgery and she squealed .. loudly.... when she could see so well afterwards :)

Lots of people mention Wacom. Best or would generic ones be as good

 

David Bridburg

15 Days Ago

Stephen,

I am 61. In the next 4 to 5 years, I also have my lenses corrected for cataracts. I am using 3.0 readers now. I will revert to 2.0 after the surgery. It is a pain to take glasses off and on but reverting to 2.0 would be a blessing. I'd be happier.

 

Jessica Jenney

15 Days Ago

NIK Collection editing software

https://nikcollection.dxo.com/

 

J L Meadows

15 Days Ago

My talent.

 

Bill Swartwout

15 Days Ago

I am beginning to rely more and more on my iPhone. I have an iPhone 16 Pro scheduled to be delivered this afternoon. I am also endeavoring to complete this Challenge using only a smart phone(s).

So my response is: my iPhone.

 

Abbie Shores

15 Days Ago

Can we stick to software or hardware please? I expect you to have talent and brains or you would not be here

 

Western Exposure

15 Days Ago

Photoshop (CS6). From processing photos to creating digital art to stitching together scans of analogue works.

 

Lucia Waterson

15 Days Ago

I can't think of anything really except for an eraser when I draw... :)

 

Roger Swezey

15 Days Ago

Since the only art that really matters today, is my tangible art

SO

The one item I always need, are the cartons I scrounge, to ship out my art I've sold

 

J L Meadows

15 Days Ago

My Cintiq 21ux. Best investment ever.

 

TIMED OUT

15 Days Ago

...

 

Rose Santuci-Sofranko

15 Days Ago

My Laptop...and PhotoImpact

 

Lois Churchward

15 Days Ago

I have to use 3D paint to add my name on all of my art.

 

L A Feldstein

15 Days Ago

Good brushes and pencils with sharp points. And agree with Lucia -- a good eraser.

 

Laurie's Intuitive

14 Days Ago

My iPad and pen, and the many apps I use to create digital art. Procreate, Artset, and Impresso Pro to name a few.

 

Richard Reeve

14 Days Ago

Camera...

 

Sandi OReilly

14 Days Ago

Computer and Photoshop. Photoshop with 300 brushes at least and plug ins of other programs for digital artwork. When I paint naturally, I can photograph it and then if I want to, add to the painting usually in Photoshop.

 

Abbie Shores

14 Days Ago

I never use a rubber (eraser). Mistakes become a part of the image

I have heard of some new programmes to look into. :)

 

Gaby Ethington

14 Days Ago

I think my computer is the most important so I can upload my photographs and edit them. I also have to have my external drive and thumb drives for back up as some years ago I lost all my old photographs due to a system failure in my old computer. I have 2 backups now so hopefully I won't have that problem again.

 

Andrew Pacheco

14 Days Ago

Tripod

 

David Manlove

14 Days Ago

My computer / phone

 

Becky Titus

14 Days Ago

My purple Tul .7mm mechanical pencil :-)

 

Patti Deters

14 Days Ago

Camera...that's where it all starts.

 

Lisa Kaiser

14 Days Ago

My right hand is the one tool I need mostly. All others are just for fun.

 

Rudy Umans

14 Days Ago

As far as software is concerned, SIlverfast 9 Studio scanning software for my Epson V850 flatbed scanner. There are other programs out there I could use If I have to, but without Silverfast, I would be sad.

 

Rudi Prott

13 Days Ago

My DSLR camera (with a dozen batteries !),
my laptop,
Photoshop Elements 14
and the free NIK collection

 

Valerie Hartman

13 Days Ago

I could not do my artwork without PicMonkey, which is the website I use. I also could not work without my HP laptop. And finally, my most important tool, my imagination.

 

Stephen Fuller

13 Days Ago

Replying to Abbie regarding drawing tablets, I've only ever used the Wacom tablet I have now (a CTH-480; released about 11 years ago, but I don't recall how long I've actually had it.) The one I have is the small size - 8-1/4 inches wide x 7 inches tall, about 3/8 of an inch at the thickest point. (20.955 cm x 17.780 cm, 9 mm thick.) It has four customizable express keys at the top (which I don't use) and the pen itself has a customizable two-function button (click, and double click as the two defaults.) The pen also has an "eraser" at the opposite end from the drawing tip. My graphics software let's me turn pressure on and off, which is nice for digital painting.

I don't know about other, more current options that are available for drawing tablets. I've seen people online saying this model was the last really good one made, but opinions can obviously vary.

 

VIVA ANDERSON

12 Days Ago

When my tremors took over, I couldn't do handwork/painting, anymore,..BUT........with a lot of hours input, I v.simply use all that Picasa offers for my photography
images. yep: the camera shakes! too.
sigh, not that I could/should have recently avoided somehow! clicking/removing!!! an entire page from my Collections.....live/learn/cope...no complaints.

 

Mark Papke

8 Days Ago

My camera and computer

 

Carmen Hathaway

8 Days Ago

 

CC Cleaner — to keep my main device in good condition — is a freeware (home version) utility used to clean potentially unwanted files and invalid Windows Registry entries from a computer.

It is one of the longest-established system cleaners, first launched in 2004. (Wiki description)

Cleared out 50 + GB from my system's main drive recently. Will gut other drives soon.

Lots of external backups in place, of course.

 

Judy Kay

8 Days Ago

Topaz Studio

 

Abbie Shores

8 Days Ago

Thank you Stephen

Thanks everyone :)

 

Ekta Gupta

6 Days Ago

My camera/phone - I use the images as my reference pictures when I create with my colored pencils.

 

Sofia Goldberg

1 Day Ago

My beads & rhinestones - I use them to beautify some of my artworks, or use to created one-of-a-kind bead embroidery art. I like to create beadworks because it is impossible to copy as printers can do, and it is almost-impossible to make same even going same way, I mean hand-made embroidery as I do. So beads and rhinestones are important things in my art

 

Andrew Lawrence

1 Day Ago

My 3 photo editing apps.

 

Bradford Martin

1 Day Ago

Of recent camera innovations I can't live without phase detection touch screen focusing. When on a tripod I just touch where I want it to focus, pretty much anywhere on the screen. Off tripod I am using the rear screen more than the viewfinder these day with full on autofocus. Just keep pushing until it give you what you want. I trust it far more than my old failing eyes and it has never missed. Well except for a few weeks ago when it got stuck one one point. I had to immediately order a used Nikon D780 for about $1200 and then add some for taxes and extended warranty. No time to ship it off for repair as it is required for some of my gig work. My other 2 cameras are current Nikon but not full frame.

As for software I need my editing program which is mainly Lightroom. I have the subscription and there are constant new updates, including things like remembering the skin tones I set for individual people, useful for gig work, and quick selection of the sky so I can change the tone and hue. One thing I like is to finish off with Topaz Denoise, but I think LR is just about caught up to Topaz, so I won't be updating that.

 

Rudy Umans

1 Day Ago

RE: pen tablets, I am extremely happy with my XP-pen Deco-pro. Have it for years and never had a problem (unlike with the Wacom I had before the XP-Pen)

 

Jane Linders

1 Day Ago

the sun

 

Tibor Tivadar Kui

1 Day Ago

Light...is energy, not material.

 

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