Rethinking How I Create

I kind of ghosted my YouTube channel because life got messy and beautiful at the same time. I’m seven months pregnant, my daughter is 15 months, and we’re about to welcome baby number two. Between diapers, naps, and managing creative work, I had to rethink how I make art and produce content.

Why simplify my creative workflow

Raising small kids means less time for sprawling, messy studio sessions. Traditional painting and analog processes require space, setup, and cleanup - luxuries I don’t have right now. Moving almost everything digital has given me the flexibility to work in short bursts: stop, restart, and keep the house intact.

I always dreamed of working primarily on an iPad. It felt like a weirdly specific goal when I said it out loud, but it made sense: a tactile, portable canvas that fits into the rhythm of parenting. That dream is now my everyday reality.

My compact, mobile studio

I condensed my entire digital life into a few pieces of gear that actually get used. The idea is simple: make the process so easy that I will actually do it.

• iPad Pro (M5) with the nano texture display — I chose the 1TB option so I could get that textured, paper-like feel. As a visual artist, that tactile experience matters.
• iPhone 17 Pro — pocketable, discrete, and powerful enough to shoot 4K footage. I even got the orange one because, well, orange is life.
• iPhone mini as a small monitor to check framing and recording status.
• AirPod Pros — surprisingly excellent as a wireless mic alternative for simpler shoots.
• Apple Pencil Pro and a matte screen protector for the iPad when drawing and animating.

How the workflow actually looks

The flow is straightforward and repeatable:

1. Shoot everything on the iPhone 17 Pro — 4K, Apple Log when needed.
2. Use the iPhone mini as a monitor so I can stay in frame and confirm recording.
3. AirDrop or beam footage straight to the iPad Pro — it takes less than a minute for 4K clips to transfer.
4. Edit on the iPad using Final Cut for iPad. I run my channel, edit, and do photo editing exclusively on the iPad.

The result is a tactile, stripped-down experience. Less gear on my shoulders, less mental load, and more real-time creative decisions.

What I love about this setup

• Speed — quick transfers, instant edits, and the ability to produce between nap times.
• Portability — everything fits in a small bag when we travel, which is huge when dealing with two kids.
• Low mess — digital art means no paints on the floor, no brushes in mouths, and no cleanups that, frankly, suck time and energy.
• Tactile drawing — the nano texture screen gives a paper-like feel that keeps the analog drawing energy alive.

Limitations and simple workarounds

Final Cut for iPad is powerful. There are a few features I’d love to have, but for now the missing bits aren’t enough to push me back to a laptop. There are workarounds that bridge most gaps.

Consumerism is real, and I try to keep my gear excitement in check. Coming from a photography background, I used to carry heavy camera setups everywhere. Now I choose ease most days.

Practical tips for creators traveling with kids

• Prioritize multipurpose tools — pick devices that handle capture, editing, and sharing so you don’t carry redundant gear.
• Keep backups simple — a fast transfer method and a reliable portable charger will save many meltdowns.
• Design for pauses — choose workflows that let you stop mid-project and pick up again without losing momentum.

On creativity and consistency

“The more simple of a process you can make something, the higher likelihood you are to do it.”

This is the core takeaway. When creativity fits the life you actually live, it happens more often. Right now that means iPad-first art and iPhone-first video. It doesn’t mean abandoning higher-end tools forever, it means being practical about what will consistently get done.

Final thoughts

I’m excited about where this streamlined process will take my work. It keeps me present with my family while still letting me create and share. Down the road, when there’s a dedicated messy studio again, I’ll gladly dive back into traditional media. For now, this mobile, tactile, and simple setup is exactly what I need.

If you’re juggling creative work and parenting, consider paring your tools down to the essentials. Small changes in workflow can make the difference between an idea that stays stranded and one that actually becomes something.