Sketch Books
I have four different "sketch books" that I use. My first is a 5.5x8.5 inch Canson Universal Sketch book.
This book is micro-perforated near the binding, allowing pages to be removed if desired. While this book is acid-free, it will almost certainly decay over time as it ages. Further, the pages are much lighter in this sketch book than the others. Thus, they do well with dry media, but not well with a water wash.
Still, this sketch book is a great tool to help analyze parts of a picture and prepare for a painting. I often doodle in this, learn to work with pens and other tools.
My second is a 5.5x8.5 inch 140lb watercolor paper Strathmore Visual Journal sketch book.
This paper is also acid-free, but probably not archival quality. However, since it is 140lb paper, it can withstand heavier washes. However, it's 140lb, cold press watercolor paper, which is not ideal for pen & ink drawing. It's great for watercolor sketches, but not the combination of pen & ink with watercolor. The Canson sketch book is unable to deal with other than the lightest of washes.
Finally, because I want to do a lot more pen and ink drawings that I send to people, I purchased the Rhodia Number 16 Dot Pad. This is a notepad that has dotted paper rather than graph paper. It's not as obtrusive, but will allow me to better sketch and maintain fairly straight lines.
I will pair this with a smaller envelope to allow me to send notes (with pen and ink sketches). That should be a fun way to stay in touch with people and to practice sketching.
Finally, I purchased a Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Sketchbook. This sketch book is 180lb, smooth paper that is sized internally and externally. It allows you to paint and scrub the paper. It takes ink well. But it can also take fairly heavy use of water. It's my "go to" sketchbook for urban sketching.
If you had not guessed, I find it more interesting to have a purpose behind my sketching and painting. For example, I intend to make many of my paintings presents to various friends and family. I don't (at this time) intend to try to make a living off my sketches and paintings. If I improve enough, I might in the future. But for now it will be a pleasure to share them.
This book is micro-perforated near the binding, allowing pages to be removed if desired. While this book is acid-free, it will almost certainly decay over time as it ages. Further, the pages are much lighter in this sketch book than the others. Thus, they do well with dry media, but not well with a water wash.
Still, this sketch book is a great tool to help analyze parts of a picture and prepare for a painting. I often doodle in this, learn to work with pens and other tools.
My second is a 5.5x8.5 inch 140lb watercolor paper Strathmore Visual Journal sketch book.
This paper is also acid-free, but probably not archival quality. However, since it is 140lb paper, it can withstand heavier washes. However, it's 140lb, cold press watercolor paper, which is not ideal for pen & ink drawing. It's great for watercolor sketches, but not the combination of pen & ink with watercolor. The Canson sketch book is unable to deal with other than the lightest of washes.
Finally, because I want to do a lot more pen and ink drawings that I send to people, I purchased the Rhodia Number 16 Dot Pad. This is a notepad that has dotted paper rather than graph paper. It's not as obtrusive, but will allow me to better sketch and maintain fairly straight lines.
I will pair this with a smaller envelope to allow me to send notes (with pen and ink sketches). That should be a fun way to stay in touch with people and to practice sketching.
Finally, I purchased a Stillman & Birn Zeta Series Sketchbook. This sketch book is 180lb, smooth paper that is sized internally and externally. It allows you to paint and scrub the paper. It takes ink well. But it can also take fairly heavy use of water. It's my "go to" sketchbook for urban sketching.
If you had not guessed, I find it more interesting to have a purpose behind my sketching and painting. For example, I intend to make many of my paintings presents to various friends and family. I don't (at this time) intend to try to make a living off my sketches and paintings. If I improve enough, I might in the future. But for now it will be a pleasure to share them.
Sketch Book Organizer
I use an AccuraSee Sketch Caddy to help keep a couple water color pencils, a few Sakura Pigma Micron markers, an eraser and a pencil sharpener with me. This is a really handy tool to help keep me and my sketch book and various sketching implements with me.
Of course, I also use my fountain pens. But those ride in my shirt pocket. Perhaps it's time to fine a pocket protector?!
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