Great post, thank you so much! Sketchbooks have always intimidated me (perhaps because I was always told I 'couldn't draw', but hey, guess what, I can!) and I searched long and hard for the 'right one'. Then I found a little tutorial for making your own sketchbook and that was so much fun! I could put in different kinds of paper, even some painted paper and some paper with photocopied images to work over... even fabric pages or tracing paper... and whatever size I wanted. It's still fun to try out different sketchbooks with different papers and in different sizes. No one kind/size of sketchbook works for everything, for me. I'm still nerving myself up to sketch in public so I got a Sneaky Little Sketchbook to take out with me until I'm braver. Thanks again. And at the moment I like landscape orientation. Mostly.
A sneaky little sketchbook is such a great idea, Margaret! This winter I'm going to start making my own sketchbooks too, for the same fun reasons you shared. I want to do the process live with readers over zoom, so I hope you'll be able to join us with some great tips. 🙌
I realise I prefer smaller sketchbooks! It's easier to carry most places and I only pair it with my favourite Unipen (brush pen) and I'll good to go. Convenient in Mumbai locals, weddings, flights - just fits in my little fanny pack and I'm good to go.
Try out all sort of sketchbooks and settle at the one which you feel better for your style of work. If one is a watercolorist, then find the best for this application. For watercolour usage I feel 300 gsm/140 lbs is a standard.
Very appropriately suggested, though this is almost a commonsense. Anyway my preference is A4 size sketchbook, which I feel looks more pro when completely filled with sketches and paintings. I love to paint to complete the artwork.
Pith make lovely hard-cover sketchbooks, though in a limited range of sizes and formats. They are stitched, without a spine so they open perfectly flat. The paper is sturdy, smooth and a lovely creamy colour. They are also manufactured in a very eco-conscious way, and the naked boards used for the covers help keep the price down relative to many competitors. Dont know who supplies them in North America - they are made in the UK.
Janet, I have not heard of Pith before, but this sounds really good. I will try to find them here. I love books that can open perfectly flat. Thank you for sharing this with me!
I loved this post and, also, the utube video "tour" of your sketchbooks showing the development of your drawing practice. I found useful things I could adopt to my own practice, and I especially liked your discussion of how the shape of the page informs how we see.
It seems so basic, but this is something I need to hear over and over. I get so hung up over "the right supplies" that it prevents me from just drawing and experimenting! So. Thank you :)
hi guy hows the fam🙏hope all is well . do you know its a thought i havent had since pearls went out of business? i just touch alot for what strikes me or grab A size i like that moment it can be water color or pen & ink smooth rough? dif day dif choice & depends on pocket book full or empty ❤️ be well✌️
well at 65 i gotta strike while the irons hot lol. but seriously i had the lux as a youngster to pick sketch books often & giant sheets of w/color paper (heaven) i have many still books part full i grab & pick a page(very unstructured ) that i can use im more of a mess 🫣of single sheets of papers or paintings strewn about .For me a book is so organizational in its nature i never got used to the sketch book idea itself🤷♀️For your purpose its total perfection when i go out i take sm ones but at home i spread stuff everywhere theres room 🤷♀️
Stillman and Birn makes hard cover books too! Though hardcover for their toned paper is a bit more limited as they only do the spiral bound for hardcover for the Nova series.
The other lines (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta, etc) do a more traditional hard cover, though they have fewer size options for hard cover vs soft!
I’m a big fan of their toned paper as well, my new favorite being the square trio sketchbook, which has some grey, beige, and black paper.
I did not know they did hardcovers, I've never seen one. But now I want it, although I can't do spiral bound. I'm curious about the trio but not as enthusiastic about black (yet).
This winter, I'm launching a mini project with subscribers to make my own sketchbooks, with all the papers I want in it. 🥰
My doubt. Is there any rule that one should stand or sit in front of a scene and complete his sketch and paint there itself? Need clarification on this.
Great post, thank you so much! Sketchbooks have always intimidated me (perhaps because I was always told I 'couldn't draw', but hey, guess what, I can!) and I searched long and hard for the 'right one'. Then I found a little tutorial for making your own sketchbook and that was so much fun! I could put in different kinds of paper, even some painted paper and some paper with photocopied images to work over... even fabric pages or tracing paper... and whatever size I wanted. It's still fun to try out different sketchbooks with different papers and in different sizes. No one kind/size of sketchbook works for everything, for me. I'm still nerving myself up to sketch in public so I got a Sneaky Little Sketchbook to take out with me until I'm braver. Thanks again. And at the moment I like landscape orientation. Mostly.
A sneaky little sketchbook is such a great idea, Margaret! This winter I'm going to start making my own sketchbooks too, for the same fun reasons you shared. I want to do the process live with readers over zoom, so I hope you'll be able to join us with some great tips. 🙌
Thank you.
You're welcome. 🙏
I realise I prefer smaller sketchbooks! It's easier to carry most places and I only pair it with my favourite Unipen (brush pen) and I'll good to go. Convenient in Mumbai locals, weddings, flights - just fits in my little fanny pack and I'm good to go.
So true!
Try out all sort of sketchbooks and settle at the one which you feel better for your style of work. If one is a watercolorist, then find the best for this application. For watercolour usage I feel 300 gsm/140 lbs is a standard.
Yes 300gsm is must for wet media!
Very appropriately suggested, though this is almost a commonsense. Anyway my preference is A4 size sketchbook, which I feel looks more pro when completely filled with sketches and paintings. I love to paint to complete the artwork.
super crash course on tiny people art.
Pith make lovely hard-cover sketchbooks, though in a limited range of sizes and formats. They are stitched, without a spine so they open perfectly flat. The paper is sturdy, smooth and a lovely creamy colour. They are also manufactured in a very eco-conscious way, and the naked boards used for the covers help keep the price down relative to many competitors. Dont know who supplies them in North America - they are made in the UK.
Janet, I have not heard of Pith before, but this sounds really good. I will try to find them here. I love books that can open perfectly flat. Thank you for sharing this with me!
I loved this post and, also, the utube video "tour" of your sketchbooks showing the development of your drawing practice. I found useful things I could adopt to my own practice, and I especially liked your discussion of how the shape of the page informs how we see.
I'm glad to hear that, Sylvie. I hope this inspires you to try a new format!
It seems so basic, but this is something I need to hear over and over. I get so hung up over "the right supplies" that it prevents me from just drawing and experimenting! So. Thank you :)
Glad to help! Let me know when you're debating between two good sketchbook options. I'd love to know what you decide.
Gorgeous work friend .i just love your pov 🙏💯
Thank you so much!
hi guy hows the fam🙏hope all is well . do you know its a thought i havent had since pearls went out of business? i just touch alot for what strikes me or grab A size i like that moment it can be water color or pen & ink smooth rough? dif day dif choice & depends on pocket book full or empty ❤️ be well✌️
well at 65 i gotta strike while the irons hot lol. but seriously i had the lux as a youngster to pick sketch books often & giant sheets of w/color paper (heaven) i have many still books part full i grab & pick a page(very unstructured ) that i can use im more of a mess 🫣of single sheets of papers or paintings strewn about .For me a book is so organizational in its nature i never got used to the sketch book idea itself🤷♀️For your purpose its total perfection when i go out i take sm ones but at home i spread stuff everywhere theres room 🤷♀️
That makes a lot of sense. I have a studio now, and am gathering up the courage* to buy my first giant sheet of paper!
It's great to decide based on mood like that!
Thanks for sharing !
Hope it gives you some good ideas!
Stillman and Birn makes hard cover books too! Though hardcover for their toned paper is a bit more limited as they only do the spiral bound for hardcover for the Nova series.
The other lines (alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, and zeta, etc) do a more traditional hard cover, though they have fewer size options for hard cover vs soft!
I’m a big fan of their toned paper as well, my new favorite being the square trio sketchbook, which has some grey, beige, and black paper.
I did not know they did hardcovers, I've never seen one. But now I want it, although I can't do spiral bound. I'm curious about the trio but not as enthusiastic about black (yet).
This winter, I'm launching a mini project with subscribers to make my own sketchbooks, with all the papers I want in it. 🥰
My doubt. Is there any rule that one should stand or sit in front of a scene and complete his sketch and paint there itself? Need clarification on this.
No such rule, everyone should do what is most fun to them. I enjoy working on location, and I don't like working out of pics very much.