Having the Right Tools — Quality Matters!
Have you ever wanted to try something new, so you bought an inexpensive setup just to “see if it was for you,” and then promptly decided it wasn’t because the results were… uninspiring? I have. Especially when I was younger and my patience was thinner than the cheap plastic of whatever gadget I’d impulse-bought.
When I first chased new hobbies I tended to test the waters with inexpensive kits without doing research first. Sometimes it underperformed so badly I left just thinking the problem was me — and didn’t really consider that it may be the tools. I blamed my “lack of talent” instead of thinking that the gear could be playing a large role in holding me back. Over time I learned a different lesson: the right tools — and not just competent tools, but tools you connect with — make a huge difference. They don’t do the work for you, but they fuel curiosity, craft, and staying power.
Why quality matters (and why it’s not snobbery)
A quality tool that performs well and fits your aesthetic or workflow does two things at once: it makes the craft easier, and it makes you want to do the craft. Inspiration and enjoyment are contagious — once you feel them, you practice more, learn more, and improve faster. Just remember that when it comes to creative avenues it’s the person behind the right tools that matters most and is the primary element to anything done well.
A few personal examples
Coffee: I used to think coffee just wasn’t for me — workplace breakroom coffee, chain-shop drip, or my granddad’s dark pot in the kitchen didn’t sit well with me. Then an Instagram ad pushed me toward a roaster that ships weekly-roasted beans. I bought a grinder, learned brewing methods, and settled on cold brew (less acidic, smoother, and gentler on my stomach). Suddenly a cup of coffee wasn’t bitter gas station sludge — it was rich, smooth, and something I wanted to share. Fresh beans, a good grinder, and a brewing method that fit my preferred taste and body changed everything. I was finally one of those folks that was excited for that cup in the morning!
Watercolor: My only memory of watercolor before adulthood was a third-grade Crayola tray on printer paper — faint color, overwhelmed paper, zero joy. Once I learned that paper, brushes, and paint all matter significantly, and so I invested in proper supplies and technique, the medium opened up. Good paper accepts pigment differently. A proper brush feels right in your hand and holds a lot of pigment. The results became worth keeping, and I kept painting.
Photography: As a photographer it would always bother me when someone was complimenting a photograph I had taken and they would give the credit to my camera, not knowing or thinking about all of the elements that had to be put into play which had nothing to do with the type or quality of the camera was me. A good photographer knows that composition, perspective, vision, and timing matter far more than the camera you’re using. You don’t compliment the stove when someone cooks you a delicious meal. For me the camera I use compliments and aids the capturing of my vision in a way that I enjoy working with and it helps me do it with enough ease that inspires me to use it. In addition the bag I carry it in follows an aesthetic that flows with the other things I typically care like my journal, pens, tools, travel art kit, which all looks like me. These elements lead me to holding onto and sharing my hobbies and interests with others as they become part of me.
Practical advice — how to choose when to upgrade
Try before you splurge. It’s okay to start inexpensive to test interest, but be honest: if you keep returning to it, budget for an upgrade and don’t purchase anything without some research.
Invest in the few things that change outcomes the most. For coffee it was beans + grinder + brewing method. For watercolor: paper, brushes, and pigment. Identify the consumables or core tools that actually affect the end result.
Buy tools that match your aesthetic and workflow. If an item looks and feels like you, you’ll use it more. I don’t think that’s vanity — it’s motivation.
Prioritize ergonomics and reliability. Tools that are comfortable and dependable remove friction from the process.
Learn technique alongside gear. A better tool helps most when paired with better technique. Spend time learning, not just accumulating.
Replace thoughtfully. Don’t buy every shiny upgrade. Replace things that limit you or make the process unpleasant.
Share what you love. When the tool helps you create something you feel good about, share it. It multiplies the joy.
Final thought
Tools won’t make you an artist or a master barista overnight. Talent, practice, and curiosity are the engine. But the right tools — especially those that perform well and feel like an extension of you — are fuel. They turn small acts into habits and hobbies into things you carry with you and share with others.
If you’re on the fence about something you tried and abandoned, consider whether the gear or the approach was the problem. Maybe a little upgrade (or a fresh technique) is all that stands between a half-hearted try and a hobby that brings you joy.
