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.
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 :)
I have some nice watercolor journals, but they can be a little harder to write on (and I am always writing down quotes; my favorite thing to journal). So currently, I have a (cheap) lined notebook that I keep taping squares pieces of watercolor paper into…I need to come up with a better system or get to know different kinds of paper better (smooth for writing, absorbent for paint)!
Oh I love to both write and draw on the same page, im sorry you hear you're having trouble with the toothy paper. A lot of urban sketchers do both writing and drawing on the same watercolor page, it might be a good idea to check out some of the brands they prefer. What kind of pen are you using? And which journal is it?
The journal is just a cheap notebook from TJ Max, but it has a nice brown leather cover. I have many many pens - I love the muji b/c you can write really small, the gel pilot in one I come back to a lot, and the new fountain pen per your recommendation is great! I will check out more sketchers materials; I know there is a solution that I just haven’t experienced yet - thank you!
In my opinion, whatever feels easy to get into is the best tool! I don't want to push you to buy expensive materials. For watercolor, paper of 150+ gsm thickness works best. Off the top of my head, Handbook Journal Co has some good sizes and is not expensive. They take my POSCA marker, watercolors, and also a lot of ink writing. If you can stretch the budget to a journal with suitable paper, the results could be transformational!
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. 🥰
Enjoyed your India trip sketches a lot. I didn’t know that you were from Kolkata. I was born and brought up there. I mentioned you in my post in Sensational Spain but I am new to Substack and didn’t know how to tag you. Anyway, thank you very much for what you share. Dita Basu
I'm sorry I missed your last hangouts, a small case of surviving with a broken arm (and it's the one I write with- gah!). It's recovering thankfully, but just a nuisance. I have all sorts of notebooks, but the one I spent most time in the last 2 years is the Moleskine. The first book is finished. However I decided to "downgrade" to a Kraft paper covered sketchbook because I had this "save for best" syndrome. This Kraftbook is a thick tome of thinner paper but I've sketched buildings, tiny people, lettering, ideas and all sorts in it - more frequently. Not painted in it though. I have also recently tried the tiniest watercolour sketchbook by Inkberry, it's 5x5 cm. Very cute, but fiddly! I have just started a square sketchbook for abstract watercolours. I also made a concertina sketchbook from an A3 sheet, that's fun, again for watercolour. I like to sketch and paint small but in art class we use A3 which is good practice, latest painting - an owl 😁 - the course tutor chooses the subject. And there's my little Stillman & Birn in my handbag. I'm never short of stationery 🤣 love trying things out, thank goodness I don't live near an art shop!
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.
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 🤷♀️
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. 🙌
Awesome post. Thanks for sharing your insights.
I started sketching here and there about a year ago. I got my supplies from the Vancouver Pen Shop on Howe street. Time to get back on it.
Wonderful to hear from you, Peter! We have an excellent urban sketchers group in Vancouver, it's a great way to get into the habit. Find us on Meetup!
Thanks Nishant. I'm now a SneakyArt paid member. Woohooo.
Peter, I am so grateful for your support! I will organize a meetup for readers and subscribers once I'm back in Vancouver. 🙌
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!
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.
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.
I have some nice watercolor journals, but they can be a little harder to write on (and I am always writing down quotes; my favorite thing to journal). So currently, I have a (cheap) lined notebook that I keep taping squares pieces of watercolor paper into…I need to come up with a better system or get to know different kinds of paper better (smooth for writing, absorbent for paint)!
Oh I love to both write and draw on the same page, im sorry you hear you're having trouble with the toothy paper. A lot of urban sketchers do both writing and drawing on the same watercolor page, it might be a good idea to check out some of the brands they prefer. What kind of pen are you using? And which journal is it?
The journal is just a cheap notebook from TJ Max, but it has a nice brown leather cover. I have many many pens - I love the muji b/c you can write really small, the gel pilot in one I come back to a lot, and the new fountain pen per your recommendation is great! I will check out more sketchers materials; I know there is a solution that I just haven’t experienced yet - thank you!
In my opinion, whatever feels easy to get into is the best tool! I don't want to push you to buy expensive materials. For watercolor, paper of 150+ gsm thickness works best. Off the top of my head, Handbook Journal Co has some good sizes and is not expensive. They take my POSCA marker, watercolors, and also a lot of ink writing. If you can stretch the budget to a journal with suitable paper, the results could be transformational!
Thank you for all of this!
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. 🥰
Thank you.
You're welcome. 🙏
Enjoyed your India trip sketches a lot. I didn’t know that you were from Kolkata. I was born and brought up there. I mentioned you in my post in Sensational Spain but I am new to Substack and didn’t know how to tag you. Anyway, thank you very much for what you share. Dita Basu
You're most welcome, Dita. Yes I was born and brought up in Kolkata, and am going to be home again for the next couple of weeks over Durga puja!
Hi, do you have a title yet for your new book?
I have a couple of working titles, both of which are also under wraps at the moment! Do you have an idea for me? 😁
I'm sorry I missed your last hangouts, a small case of surviving with a broken arm (and it's the one I write with- gah!). It's recovering thankfully, but just a nuisance. I have all sorts of notebooks, but the one I spent most time in the last 2 years is the Moleskine. The first book is finished. However I decided to "downgrade" to a Kraft paper covered sketchbook because I had this "save for best" syndrome. This Kraftbook is a thick tome of thinner paper but I've sketched buildings, tiny people, lettering, ideas and all sorts in it - more frequently. Not painted in it though. I have also recently tried the tiniest watercolour sketchbook by Inkberry, it's 5x5 cm. Very cute, but fiddly! I have just started a square sketchbook for abstract watercolours. I also made a concertina sketchbook from an A3 sheet, that's fun, again for watercolour. I like to sketch and paint small but in art class we use A3 which is good practice, latest painting - an owl 😁 - the course tutor chooses the subject. And there's my little Stillman & Birn in my handbag. I'm never short of stationery 🤣 love trying things out, thank goodness I don't live near an art shop!
You have so many great options! Sorry to hear about the arm, hope it heals quickly. 🙌
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!
super crash course on tiny people art.
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!