Software & Tools
Are you looking for the best software and tools that will bring you closer to your dream of a creative business? In my seven years of marketing, I have put one or the other tool and software to the test and here it is: my all time favorite list. Some of the items are affiliate links, which means that I get a small share if you buy something. But you don't have any extra costs.
Udemy
Udemy is an online learning platform where there are many different courses. From creative courses like learning to illustrate to business courses for example around marketing. There is something for everyone here. Here you can find the link to the platform.
Skillshare
Skillshare is the first online learning platform I've come across. Their creative audience is just what you need if you want to teach others more about your art. Click here to check out my Skillshare classes.
iPad Pro 11 inch
The iPad Pro is part of my basic equipment. It opens up so many great possibilities in the field of digital art that I no longer want to do without it. My iPad Pro is already older, but at some point I'll have to get a new one. Looking forward to it.
Apple Pencil
The Apple Pencil is essential for working smoothly with the iPad in ProCreate. It's a great tool that you can update with all sorts of exciting brushes. I love how the pencil glides across the tablet, it feels similar to real drawing.
Crayon Sleeve for iPad Pencil
I gave my Apple Pencil a special outfit and put these stickers on it. So it looks like I'm drawing with a Crayon pen. How cool is that, please? You can buy it here on Etsy.
Procreate App
Procreate is the app for you if you want to get artistic. You can experiment with different brushes and design some great works of art. A must-have for every creative person. Check it out here.
Bardot Brushes
I discovered my favorite midcentury brushes for illustrating here at Bardot Brushes. I'm also a huge fan of the warm-hearted Lisa Bardot, she has a great YouTube channel where you can learn to draw. Have a look at her YouTube channel here.
Pack & Smooch Case for iPad Pro
The Pack & Smooch iPad cases are a bit more expensive, but definitely worth the money. Mine has lasted for decades and I can't imagine storing my expensive iPad anywhere else. You can buy the Pack & Smooch Case here.
Overhead Lighting & Smartphone Holder
This great overhead smartphone holder I use for all my videos when I show others how I paint. The holder is small to assemble and wonderful to take along when traveling. I also like the dual function as a tripod when I need a small tripod. You can buy it on Amazon here.
Tablet & Smartphone Tripod
This tripod is great for shooting YouTube videos and online classes. You can use your iPad as a teleprompter (I use this Teleprompter app for that) and film the scene with the iPad at the same time. It looks very natural because the teleprompter app is running and you are looking directly into the camera. Alternatively, I use it with my smartphone to film social media content. Buy it here on Amazon.
Canva
Canva is my favorite design app. Of course, I also work in Adobe, but I have to say Canva is catching up fast. Canva's user interface is more intuitive than Adobe's and I've been able to implement most of my design ideas in Canva without any problems. I am also a Canva Creator, which means I design templates for them. Check out Canva and my portfolio here.
Adobe Illustrator
Illustrator is a vector-based drawing program, which means that individual points together make a whole work of art. The advantage of vectors is that you can print out as large as you want, which is perfect for posters, etc. I prefer Illustrator for my vector work. Check out the software here.
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Metricool
Metricool is, for me, the best social media automation tool out there. I've tried them all: Buffer, Later, Hootsuite, Tailwind and more. Always something was not optimal or missing. With Metricool I finally found the right tool. It even schedules YouTube videos and TikToks. Here you can find more info.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a newsletter program and has expanded its offering quite a bit in the last few years. You can now even send out automatic email series, for example a welcome sequence when someone becomes a new newsletter subscriber. Try Mailchimp here.
Little Theme Shop
The Little Theme Shop has great templates on offer, which you can also easily customize on Canva, for example. I use the email newsletter template for Mailchimp, the matching email footer and the Instagram kit, so that my brand has a cohesive look. For this I simply adapted the templates to my colors & fonts.
Google Drive
Google Drive is an essential organization place for me. I store all the files I want to have available in the cloud here. This way I can keep track of them at any time, from anywhere in the world. I also use Google Calendar and Google Photos.
Pinterest Trends
Pinterest is a search engine and perfect for driving traffic to your blog. With Pinterest Trends you can find the right keywords to gain more visibility. You always have an eye on the trends of the last years. Check out the website here.
Tube Buddy
I use Tubebuddy to optimize my YouTube channel for keywords. You can also always see what the competition has for keywords. An important tool to achieve greater visibility on YouTube. Find out more about Tube Buddy here.