What’s the Oldest Thing I Use Daily? My iPhone 8 Plus, a.k.a. My Portable Art Studio

Let’s get one thing straight: old phones are still pretty damn good.

I’ve been using my iPhone 8 Plus daily since I inherited it from my dad when he passed away in 2020 (friggin miss you, Dad). And honestly, I’m still not convinced I need to upgrade. Sure, it doesn’t fold or shoot cinematic B-roll of a hummingbird blinking in 4K—but it works. And that’s the point.

I’m an environmental hippy and, if I’m honest, a bit of a tight-ass. Which is actually one of the key survival traits of a thriving artist: frugality.

This crusty phone is basically my creative Swiss Army knife. I use it to:

• Edit videos with iMovie
• Create art with Procreate Pocket
• Publish podcasts with Spotify for Creators
• Blog on my WordPress website
• Snap reference photos
• Run my online store
• Record video podcast with artists from all around the world
• Occasionally Google, “How do you become a thriving artist”

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

In today’s creative world, love it or loathe it, artists have to be their own media outlet—pumping out content like an indie TV station run from a garden shed. And what’s the best tool to do that? The phone in your hand. It doesn’t need to be brand new. It doesn’t need a fancy pen. It just needs to work, and more importantly—you need to use it.

The truth is: there’s never been a better time in history to be a creative. It’s still hard. It’s still gatekept—just by different digital landlords now—but the door is cracked open. Anyone can push through. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. But it means it’s possible.

So if you’re not business-minded? Ask AI the right questions.
If you’re not tech-savvy? Use what you’ve got.
If you’re not rich? Join the club.

My advice: stop waiting for perfect gear. Use your old iPhone. Make stuff. Share it. Talk about it. Sell it. Repeat.

Because thriving isn’t about shiny new things. It’s about making the most of what you’ve got—and right now, I’ve got an old phone and a head full of ideas.

And that’s more than enough.