What’s in my bag? Well there are actually two bags that I’m including here: my laptop case/bag and my general bag I bring to class and work. Today I have:

• iPad Air
• iPad charger
• Laptop
• Samsung phone
• Bamboo Tablet and usb cord
• Bamboo Pen
• Papers/quizes to to grade
• Sketch book
• 1 woodless pencil
• 1 mechanical pencil
• 4 pens
• Keys
• Wallet
• Pocket screwdriver
• Heavy duty staples
• Receipts
• Lists
• Tissues
• Hair brush
• 1 bottle of water
• 2 rocks

I can say over all I am carrying less than I was as an undergraduate because I can leave a lot of my books that are not digitized, a spare charger for my laptop and other supplies in my office. The iPad has also condensed how much I have to carry. Theoretically the receipts and lists could be converted though these need to go to someone who does not use an iPad so this becomes a problem when not everyone uses the same level of technology.  this also is a factor in the stack of papers I had to bring home from the class I teach. Though the students were allowed to do their in class assignment on a laptop or iPad and email it to me, many either do not have one or chose not to bring it. I plan to scan all of these into my iPad. I would not have to carry my laptop if I had a way to hook the iPad to a projector for my class and if I had an app on the iPad that was capable of competing with photoshop and aftereffects programs which would also eliminate the tablet.

I cannot live with out my cellphone, sketchbook and woodless pencil. My cellphone is still my preferred way of communicating with a lot of people. I like keeping it separate from my other devices and I only upgrade when necessary( hence the very old phone). My sketch book is a must! It never runs out of battery life and I take it everywhere whether it is the small one I am carrying today or the larger one I usually use, I always have one on hand. Though there are some great apps that claim to be sketchbooks and work really well, there is still nothing like a woodless pencil.

Most surprising thing? I don’t think it surprises me but it would probably go to the heavy duty staples and the rocks. The staples were part of a project I was working on and I left staple gun is in my office. I collect things like rocks that I find inspiring for my art that are small enough and I don’t feel a photo does justice.