What's in Your Black Bag?

Cover image by Håkan Dahlström on Flickr.

My father is a mechanic and over the years, he's collected a lot of tools - not just for work on machines but also for hobbies, like woodworking. It is an impressive collection that spills into two barn workshops and part of the garage.

A workshop that reminds me a lot of my dad's, by John Tornow on Flickr.

My father has learned over the years, it pays to be prepared. However, his workshop is hardly portable in this state. Because of that, he carries what he calls his "black bag."

The black bag travels in any car he drives. It contains his most essential tools and if he needs specifics because he knows he is heading to some work, he carries those too. The black bag is a mini-workshop, accessible to him whenever he might need or want it.

This is some serious paternal wisdom. Everyone needs a black bag, and that includes creators of all types. A portable studio allows you take take advantage of your muse, wherever and whenever it suits you.

Over the years, I've defined my creative black bag. Currently, it contains:

• A sketchbook
• A mechanical pencil
• .5 blue and black lead
• An eraser
• My Passion Planner
• My journal (currently a moleskin)
• A variety of colored felt tip pens
• A Pentel brush pen
• Sakura and Copic multiliners
• My phone (for photos, directions, and emergencies)

Some of the items in my creative black bag.

Sometimes, I'll include a tablet and computer, but my digital workflow isn't very portable today. That's on purpose - so I can take advantage of seeing the world and interpreting it away from a screen. 

So, if you haven't already, think about what goes in your creative black bag, and if you have one already, I want to hear about it! What's in your black bag?