1. My studio has great daylight, but at the drawing table, I need a combination of warm and cold light to get the right look while I work. I have my separate lamps set up for each so I can alternate and adjust my light sources as needed. With all the mixed media combinations I use in my artwork, this is a crucial tool for me. 

2. My wireless headphones are a must-have. I love the freedom to move about my studio while continuously listening to my favorite podcasts and music. 

3. My favorite drawing easel that I use the most is the old drafting table that belonged to my dad. He designed and drew many house plans here, including several for the homes I grew up in. When he retired from building, he gave me the table, and I love the height and the surface for creating my small and medium-sized works. 

4. I couldn’t begin to choose a favorite drawing or painting tool, so I would have to say that the whole, movable cart set-up is a favorite. I have so many types of charcoal, pastels, paints and an ongoing collection of erasers and blending tools, from the standard art supply versions to the less traditional makeup brushes and sponges. Anytime I discover a new tool for mark-making and texture exploration, it winds up on the cart.

5. I’m a very sentimental person, and I keep a beloved piece of framed artwork by my niece, Bonnie, nearby. She drew my favorite cinnabar moth for me, and it is a permanent, inspirational fixture in my studio.  —