Dear reader,
I can’t believe I actually made a sketchbook! One of my big resolutions for this year was to do more things by hand. This is why I am painting more often in my studio, learning to use brushes with ink/paint media. And this was the motivation behind this year’s first Special Project - teaching myself sketchbook-binding.
This sketchbook was made live in last week’s Insider Hangout with paying subscribers of the SneakyArt Post. We chatted about sketchbooks, about our experiences with binding, using straight v curved needles, and other binding techniques. I cursed a few times as I stabbed myself with the curved needle. The video is only a timelapse in order to preserve the privacy of attendees. (I will share the longer version with paying subscribers soon.)
I am now planning a second session where I make a sketchbook and a journal, using two different binding techniques. And I hope you will join me!
Session Notes
A good, thick cover page is important. I was lazy and did not have one ready.
Threading is difficult and you will stab yourself several times with the needle. I may try a straight needle instead of the curved.
Pressing signatures (i.e. stacks of pages) is tedious but makes a lot of difference to the quality of the final product. Especially when using fine art paper.
Inside a signature, I should not combine papers of different thicknesses, because they will not bend well together. Different signatures for different papers!
With all this in mind, I am curious to have another go at the Coptic Stitch for my next sketchbook. For the journal, I will do a Saddle Stitch. SneakyArt Insiders, scroll to the bottom of this post for the link to the next Special Projects session.
Free readers, if you are curious to make your own sketchbook or journal, join this session and learn with me. Grab this special offer to become a SneakyArt Insider.
🎨 Open Studio of May
I have lots more new art on the walls. As you may know, this year I am exploring new materials, and using sketchbook drawings as references for bigger work. I would love to share the journey with you.
Join me at this month's Open Studio to:
🖼️ Check out my latest work and new art materials,
💌 Buy original art & prints,
📚 Flip through lots of sketchbooks, and
🙏 Talk about anything at all.
📍 The Beaumont Studios, W 5th Ave, Vancouver (Canada).
🗓️ Friday, May 23 | 5pm-7:30pm
✍🏼 Learn to Draw Tiny People
Good news! I am re-opening the waitlist to my popular course - Draw the Tiny People of your World. If you are curious to learn to draw people from observation, to build a sketchbook habit out of people-watching, I think you will love this course.
Sign up to the waitlist to get more information in the coming days, as well as links to free webinars where I answer your questions and demo my drawing technique.
📚 Preorder Make (Sneaky) Art
How would life change if, whenever you found a free moment, you reached for a sketchbook instead of your phone?
If you have already preordered, fill up this webform to enter a lucky draw for a sneaky reader giveaway.
💻 Make (Another) Sketchbook with me
Insiders, are we ready for Session 2 of our Special Project? As mentioned, I am making another sketchbook using the Coptic Stitch method, and a journal using the Saddle Stitch method.
All my journals are unlined (because I hate lined pages), so the only way they differ from the sketchbooks is paper type. Sketchbooks use thicker, more textured paper, while journals use thinner paper that is still durable enough for ink.
