Yesterday, all across parts of Spain, there was a massive power outage. No lights, no internet, no screens, and certainly no Photoshop.
It got me thinking… we often talk about survival kits, flashlights, water, battery packs, but what about an artist’s survival kit? What would you need to keep creating without electricity, without tablets, and without digital tools? I rely personally a lot on new technology, and I often need to force myself to reconnect to traditional tools.
Are we still artists if our creativity depends entirely on specific tools, or does artistry stop where our tools can no longer carry us?
Let’s face it, we’ve ALL become a bit too dependent on chargers and undo buttons.
SO... here’s a fun little list of what I’d pack in my offline, post-apocalyptic, no-WiFi, artist survival kit:
1. Pencils. Lots of them.
Not one mechanical pencil that runs out of lead in five minutes. I’m talking real, solid graphite. 2B, 4B, 6B, and a lot of colored pencils, give me a full range, and I’m good. Bonus points for a pencil sharpener you don’t need a USB port for.
2. Pens (because ink forgives nothing)
Microns, brush pens, and a good old fountain pen if you’re feeling fancy. Ink sketching without Ctrl+Z is a humbling experience, but that’s what makes it worth doing.
3. A Sketchbook That Can Take a Beating
One that doesn’t fall apart in the rain and doesn’t smudge every time your wrist touches the page. Spiral, hardcover, softcover, it doesn’t matter as long as you like the paper and it’s ready when inspiration (or boredom) strikes.
4. A Compact Gouache or Watercolor Set
If you’ve ever painted by candlelight, you know it’s both magical and mildly impractical. But having a tiny travel gouache or watercolor kit and a brush with a refillable water tank? Game changer.
5. A Brush Pen or Two (because they do everything)
Sketch, ink, shade, paint, and brush pens are the multitool of the traditional art world. Add a few to your kit and you’re ready for pretty much anything.
6. A Lantern or Headlamp
Because, as romantic as it sounds, drawing in total darkness is less inspiring than you’d think.
7. Imagination (doesn’t need a power source)
The truth is, being “offline” can be a gift. No distractions. No scrolling. Just you, your tools, and your ideas. That’s a creative reset we all need once in a while.
A picture of a random page in my sketchbook.
A picture of a random page in my sketchbook.The blackout might have been annoying (okay, it was annoying), but it was also a good reminder: you don’t need fancy software or a digital setup to make art. Just some basic tools and a brain that likes to ask “what if?”
So next time the lights go out, maybe don’t panic. Maybe open a sketchbook instead.
You never know, your best idea might show up when the WiFi doesn’t.
But here’s the real takeaway: don’t wait for a power outage to unplug.
There’s something grounding about returning to traditional tools now and then. No layers. No shortcuts. No infinite undos. Just you, the page, and the marks you choose to make.
Even in a digital world, it’s worth reminding ourselves that creativity doesn’t depend on electricity. Reconnecting with traditional media sharpens your instincts, clears your head, and reminds you why you started drawing in the first place.
So next time the lights go out, maybe don’t panic. Maybe open a sketchbook instead.
You never know... your best ideas might show up when the WiFi doesn’t.
#AnalogArt #ArtSurvivalKit #NoPowerNoProblem #SketchbookLife #SpainPowerOutage #ApagonEspaña #SimonLocheArt
