Play has always been a central part of my life. Because it keeps my curiosity stoked, it is what I am drawn to do. My “play personality” is fired up by discovering new things through research, art and travel. What is your play personality? What activities and tools do you use to have fun? Can you get to these activities and tools easily? Will you spend an hour a day doing one thing that is fun and makes you happy?

In the case of art journaling, having all your tools together for fast action—either to create-on-the-spot or grab-and-go—is a must. Below is a list of what’s in my caddy.

Get your “play station” set up:

A caddy filled with all the tools you need to start playing right away is very helpful. What this affords you is the ability to set up and break down fast and maximize your play time. Also, a caddy makes it easy to travel. I meet friends weekly to paint and catch up and when it’s time to pack for a trip, I transfer all the contents to my suitcase.

This entry into my journal was painted at Coachella 2014. We sat in the shade and took in all the sights and sounds of this amazing art and music festival. Life’s experience is my fuel.