HOW I’M WIRED

“MY MEASURE OF A GOOD GADGET IS ONE I DON’T HAVE TO SPEND TIME FIXING OR LEARNING HOW TO USE,” SAYS INSTA-FAMOUS ILLUSTRATOR JULIE HOUTS (@JOOLEELOREN). SHE SHARES HER ZERO-FUSS GO-TOS

Insta illustrator Julie Houts shares her techie essentials.

1. SAMSUNG The Frame

65” Premium 4K Smart TV

($3,899, samsung.com)

My boyfriend works in television and is also an AV nerd, so a good television is important to him. This one has a frame surrounding the screen and settings that make it look like a picture when it’s not in use. I thought it was somewhat ridiculous at first, but now I am obsessed with it.

2. ULTIMATE EARS Boom

2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

($230, ultimateears.com)

I listen to music all day while I’m working. This one gets the job done – and isn’t that about as much as you can say for any solid product?

3. APPLE 13-inch Macbook Pro (from $1,899, apple.com)

Someone told me this was the one “for art people” and without doing any research of my own, I decided that was true and I bought it. I use Photoshop continually for my work, and the quality of display on the screen seems important. I can’t really tell, but I do love my Macbook Pro!

4. EPSON Perfection V800 Photo ($999, epson.com.au)

I use an Epson scanner to transfer my illustrations onto my computer. It has never given me a single problem and I respect it so much for that simple fact.

5. WACOM Intuos with Bluetooth ($149, wacom.com)

This tablet is like a little sketchpad with a pen that attaches to my laptop. I draw everything by hand, scan it in, then fill in the colour in Photoshop using the tablet. It helps provide subtlety in the weight of my brush or pen stroke when colouring.

VS SASSOON 25mm Ceramic Curler ($32.95, vssassoon.com.au, not pictured)

I’ve used this curling iron since I was 16. I also do my hair more or less the same way I did when I was 16 years old. I should give a master class in this iron – I know everything about it. It is my longest relationship.