The weirdest tool at my drawing board

It's definitely not the first thing you'd expect to find at an artist's work station. Pencils: check. Pens: check. Markers and tape: check. Lint roller? Lint roller? Anyone?

Yep, I keep a lint roller right next to the drawing board and let me tell ya - it's a huge time & money saver!

As an illustrator I often make use of visual reference when I'm working on a project. Authentic details and accuracy are frequently required in my work. Back in the day it meant trips to the library - a HUGE time consumer (plus many coins in the copy machine). Then came the internet and I could print out all my own reference images right at home (but the cost of toner can crush you)! Then, finally, came the Smart Phone.

Now I just look up my visual reference right on my phone and keep it next to me while I work. No trips to the library, no print outs. The cost of time and money is practically eliminated.

My phone has a flexible, silicone case on it which means that it easily and naturally sticks to my angled drawing board...as long as the case is LINT FREE!

And that's where my delightful little lint roller comes in. I keep my phone case free of lint and my phone subsequently keeps me in efficient, low cost reference images.

Yep, definitely not the first thing you'd expect to see at an artist's work station but certainly one of the most valuable.